Ontario’s current Poverty Reduction Strategy, Building a Strong Foundation for Success: Reducing Poverty in Ontario (2020–2025), is nearing its end without having delivered meaningful or lasting reductions in poverty. Despite its stated ambition, the strategy…
Disability Without Poverty (DWP), a national disability justice organization, is holding a virtual symposium on December 3, 2025, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The symposium, titled “Disability Poverty in Canada: Learning from Today…
The Government of Ontario has opened up its pre-budget consultation period for submissions from members of the public. This is a great time to share your thoughts on what should be included and prioritized in…
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,…
Every day the top headlines include news about factory or plant closures and layoffs, job instability across industries, and the federal government’s potential plans to support workers by investing in new or “shovel-ready” projects. Missing…
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is finally here. The Benefit has been open for applications since late June, with funds being distributed starting in late July. Some applicants have reported problems with their receipt of…
Doctors often charge patients to write reports and to provide access to the patient’s own medical records. This is a key issue for people applying for the Ontario Disability Support Program and other public disability…
As we submit our budget recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance this year, Canada stands at a critical crossroads. Low-income households are teetering under the weight of record-high income inequality, while escalating tariff wars…
The federal government has opened the pre-consultation period for the upcoming budget. There are usually two periods of consultation, one in March and one in August. You can find out more about the consultation process…
The Ontario government’s record high $232.5-billion 2025 Budget bills itself as “A Plan to Protect Ontario” from the threat and impacts of U.S. tariffs on the province’s economy. Ontarians struggling with low incomes and living…
TORONTO – The Ontario government has announced it will exempt the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) as income, which will allow people receiving social assistance to keep both provincial social assistance income and CDB income. This…
Note: Shortly after this Update was posted to our website, on May 27 the Ontario government announced that they will not claw back social assistance from individuals who will also receive the CDB. This is…