Income Security Advocacy Centre

ISAC works to address issues of income security and poverty in Ontario

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

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ISAC’s Federal Budget 2025 Response: ‘Generational Investments’ Rhetoric Conflicts with Budget 2025’s Status-Quo Social Safety Net

The new federal government’s first and much-anticipated budget introduces what it describes as “generational investments” to empower Canadians. However, when it comes to the social safety net that protects low-income families, persons with disabilities, workers,…

Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Disability Justice, Federal Budgets, Indigenous Justice, Policy Advocacy, Workers' Rights

On the 33rd International Day to Eradicate Poverty, let’s stop wasting time and make permanent changes to improve the lives of Ontarians.

The International Day to Eradicate Poverty occurs every year on October 17. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1992, reflecting on the aspirations of the declaration today brings mixed feelings. Poverty in Canada dipped…

Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Community Organizing, Disability Justice, Poverty Reduction, Social Assistance
Blue arc which is part of ISAC's logo

Federal Budget 2025: ISAC’s Pre-Budget Submission to the Department of Finance

Building a strong, thriving economy requires improving affordability for all Canadians, especially the most vulnerable. With record-high income inequality, the affordability crisis is hitting low-income households the hardest. Now is the time for bold social…

Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Employment Insurance (EI), Federal Budgets, Indigenous Justice, Workers' Rights

New Intervention: Challenging the Exclusion of Workers with Severe Disabilities from Receiving Pandemic Benefits

The Ontario Court of Appeal granted the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) intervener status in Jacob v. Canada (Attorney General). This legal challenge concerns workers living with severe disabilities and their exclusion from receiving pandemic…

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Disability Justice, Government Benefits - General, Litigation, Workers' Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

Federal Budget 2024: ISAC’s Pre-Budget Submission (February 2024)

Every federal budget cycle includes a period for public submissions well in advance of budget deliberations. The federal government first solicited submissions for Budget 2024 in August 2023 (you can read our August 2023 submission…

Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Employment Insurance (EI), Federal Budgets, Indigenous Justice, Migrant Workers, Poverty Reduction
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

Federal Budget 2024: ISAC’s Pre-Budget Submission (August 2023)

Every federal budget cycle includes a period for public submissions well in advance of budget deliberations. ISAC submitted recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance during the first 2024 Federal Budget pre-budget submission period which…

Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Disability Justice, Employment Insurance (EI), Employment Standards, Federal Budgets, Indigenous Justice, Migrant Workers, Policy Advocacy

On debt forgiveness of pandemic benefits, the AG says one thing, the CRA says another. We say there’s a third option.

Recently, the federal Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP) met to discuss the Auditor General’s December 2022 performance audit report, Report 10 – Specific COVID-19 Benefits, on the treatment of pandemic benefits.  ISAC’s analysis found…

Access to Justice, Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Government Benefits - General, Policy Advocacy