An important consultation is happening right now on the way that Canada measures poverty. The federal government has said that it will make the Market Basket Measure (MBM) Canada’s official poverty line, and will use the MBM to measure its progress on meeting its poverty reduction goals. But if the MBM isn’t set up properly …
Updates
ISAC Annual Report / Rapport annuel 2017-2018
– la version française suit dessous – The past year has seen many development in the income security and employment landscape, with many more to come in the near future. Check out our annual report to see the key milestones of our work in 2017-2018, including: The release of Income Security: A Roadmap for Change …
A year of Bill 148: Not what the big business lobby predicted
A full year of big changes to labour law in Ontario has just passed. Newly released jobs numbers let us measure the impact of these changes, and gauge whether the nightmarish predictions of job losses and economic upheaval have come true. Last January, Bill 148 ushered in a sweeping set of labour law reforms in …
Migrant Rights Network Launches on International Migrants Day / Lancement du Réseau Des Droits des Migrant(e)s à l’occasion de la Journée Internationale des Migrant(e)s
On December 8th and 9th, the Income Security Advocacy Centre joined nearly 60 representatives of 35 organizations in Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishinabe, Mississaugas of the New Credit territory (Toronto). Today, December 18th, 2018, International Migrants Day, we are part of a new cross-Canada organization, the MIGRANT RIGHTS NETWORK, which will combat racism and fight for migrant justice. …
Supreme Court strikes down “cruel and unusual” mandatory victim surcharge
In a landmark group of cases, the Supreme Court today struck down the mandatory victim surcharge, finding that it was cruel and unusual in its effects on people living in poverty. The mandatory victim surcharge requires every person who is convicted of a criminal offence in Canada to pay a fine as part of their …
What Changing the ODSP Definition of Disability Would Mean / Que signifierait changer la définition d’invalidité du POSPH?
On November 22, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services announced proposed changes to the social assistance system in Ontario. One change would make the ODSP definition of disability more like definitions used in federal government benefit programs. This proposed change would result in many low-income people with disabilities in Ontario who would qualify …
Working while on OW: What Minister MacLeod’s changes to income exemptions would mean
On November 22, Minister Lisa MacLeod announced a number of changes to Ontario’s social assistance programs. One of these is a change to the way that earned income will be deducted from the benefits of people on Ontario Works (OW). Our analysis shows that: The proposed changes will improve the incomes of people on OW …
Webinar: Changes to Social Assistance: What will they mean?
On November 22, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Lisa MacLeod, announced a number of changes to Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). These changes include: changing the definition of disability in ODSP to make it more restrictive changing the amounts of money that people in both OW and …
Many questions, few answers, and great risk for people with disabilities
Minister Lisa MacLeod’s announcement today about a new direction for social assistance in Ontario shows promising directions for Ontario Works, but leaves many unanswered questions and creates serious risks for people with disabilities. There is also no mention of addressing the most critical problem, which is improving the inadequate benefit rates for people on OW …
Bill 47 is a Step Back for Ontario’s Workers
On October 23, Ontario’s government tabled Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act. The legislation, which will repeal portions of Bill 148 (the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act), is a major setback for workers’ rights in Ontario. Bill 148, passed in November 2017, was the result of years of campaigning and advocacy for …
