In her first press conference after being elected Liberal Party leader, Kathleen Wynne said social assistance reform will be among her top priorities as Premier
“We have a social assistance system in this province that penalizes people, that does not support people getting into jobs and keeping them there, so I’m going to be looking for ways to do that because ultimately, it’s in the best interests of the economy.”
Here’s some coverage
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The Canada Revenue Agency is no longer mailing personalized tax packages, and the simplified form has been discontinued
Anti-poverty rally at Liberal leadership convention tomorrow
More on PC’s “Welfare to Work” white paper
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Toronto Star endorses Sandra Pupatello for Liberal leader
Sandra Pupatello vows to transform social assistance
Kathleen Wynne wants to be the “social justice Premier”
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Star editorial: Hudak’s position on welfare “reflects a profound ignorance about the depth of poverty in this rich province”
More thoughts on the PC’s white paper
ISAC and ACTO have prepared an update on CSUMB, along with a one-stop info centre and impact tracking tool
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Hudak releases PC’s white paper on social assistance
Star picks up on proposed benefit reductions
Globe focuses on proposed downloading
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On December 27, the Ontario government announced a last-minute, $42 million fund to “ease the transition” to consolidated housing and homelessness funding
CBC coverage
Note that ISAC will be circulating information about the impact of the transition fund in the coming days
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Ontario Communities Uniting event in Hamilton today
I’m there speaking and participating in the discussions and mobilization. If you’re not attending, you can see the livestream here
And if you haven’t already, send an email to protest the decision here
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It’s not a frill: The province’s sickening decision on CSUMB
12 cities coming together in Hamilton on CSUMB this Friday (I’ll be there. Will you?)
Social services groups appeal to Waterloo regional council to save the CSUMB
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As before, please use this link to send an email to the ministers protesting the elimination of this critical benefit – and circulate it among your colleagues and friends
Northumberland County searching for solutions to CSUMB elimination and other funding cuts
Niagara Region raising taxes by 1.97%, in part to deal with loss of CSUMB
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The 25 in 5 Network’s fourth anniversary progress report on poverty reduction says
– poverty reduction is possible – child poverty declined between 2008 and 2010
– but government austerity is threatening to put the brakes on progress
– good policy, political leadership, and immediate action are required
– all Ontario’s political leaders should say what they’ll do to meet the 25in5 target and get the next five-year strategy underway
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Here’s the link to last night’s The Agenda with Frances Lankin and Munir Sheikh
5 Reasons reform must remain a political priority – from Pedro Barata at United Way Toronto
Op-Ed in the Spec: An improved social-assistance model must include health and well-being
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Sandra Pupatello says she’ll review social assistance cuts, but comes out swinging against “welfare cheats”
MCSS Minister John Milloy backs Pupatello for the leadership
Gerrard Kennedy has entered the race
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