The Ontario Divisional Court granted the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) intervener status in Ministry of Community and Social Services v. Robinson-Cooke. This legal challenge concerns whether the strict training and accreditation requirements for the Guide…
The Income Support Advocacy Centre is pleased that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has found that some provisions of the Safe Streets Act violate the freedom of expression and presumption of innocence of people who panhandle to survive,…
TORONTO, ON – A long-awaited constitutional challenge seeking to strike down the Safe Streets Act and end the criminalization of panhandling in Ontario will be heard in Superior Court starting Tuesday. Lawyers representing Fair Change,…
Social assistance is inadequate in Ontario. People who depend on Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program live in deep poverty, and many do not have enough to afford food, rent, medicine and winter boots.…
Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offer a monthly Guide Dog Benefit for routine care of a guide dog. Those on social assistance could receive $84 per month only if the…
ISAC is profoundly disappointed that the Ontario Government plans to end a vital program that provides OHIP coverage to uninsured people living in Ontario. This program successfully improves health outcomes and reduces financial hardship for…
In a typical year, provincial budget season lasts from January to early Spring, and includes pre-budget and budget submission periods, meetings, and hearings. On February 13, 2023, ISAC’s Senior Policy Analyst, Devorah Kobluk, spoke at…
The Income Security Advocacy Centre and Lake Country Community Legal Clinic jointly represented an Indigenous Elder in a legal challenge to the discrimination and wrongful termination he experienced while working as an Elder for the…
Informed by ongoing consultation with our community partners on issues relevant to our mandate, ISAC has made the following eight recommendations for the Spring 2023 budget: Invest in Income Security Programs Recommendation #1: Raise social…
In a typical year, provincial budget season lasts from January to early Spring, and includes pre-budget and budget submission periods, meetings, and hearings. ISAC’s Senior Policy Analyst, Devorah Kobluk, was invited to present to MPP…
** Français ci-dessous ** What the coming changes mean for Ontario’s social assistance recipients The Ontario government is changing how employment services are provided in the province. The most concerning aspect of the proposed changes is that…
Tomorrow is International Workers Day – here’s an important call to action from our partners at the Migrant Rights Network. * Go to a May 1st action near you, take a picture of yourself with this placard and…