Ontario’s 2015 pre-budget consultations are about to start. ISAC will appear before the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on January 30th to present recommendations for Ontario’s 2015 budget. In addition to presenting our…
Increase in reviews coming in 2015 If you get benefits from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you may get a notice that your disability status is being reviewed. These “medical reviews” have always been…
We’ve been working hard this fall with our partners to oppose federal legislation that would restrict access to social assistance benefits for refugee claimants and others without status in Canada by allowing the provinces to…
A federal Private Members Bill that will have serious implications for the income security of refugee claimants and others without permanent status in Canada has been delayed. Bill C585, introduced by backbench Conservative MP Corneliu…
A test of success for Ontario’s second five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy The provincial government unveiled its second five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy earlier today, called ‘Realizing Our Potential’. ISAC commends government for continuing to focus on…
Bill C-585 is a federal Private Member’s Bill which has serious implications for the income security of refugee claimants and other people without permanent status in Canada. If passed, the Bill would allow provinces to…
The College of Physicians and Surgeons recently asked for feedback on its “Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights Code Policy”. You can see the call for feedback and the current policy at the College’s website…
Budget Re-introduced: More Comment Required The new Ontario government re-introduced the 2014 provincial Budget yesterday – the same Budget that was originally introduced on May 1. The Budget includes a social assistance rate increase, with proportionally…
Immigrant seniors to be denied equal access Right now, the House of Commons and a committee of the Senate are reviewing a federal government Bill that will deprive elderly immigrants of equal access to benefits…
Important Commitment on Social Assistance Reform Announced Today There was important news today about the future of social assistance reform in Ontario. Ted McMeekin, the Minister of Community and Social Services, said today that OW and…
Only three weeks into the new year and already one round of provincial pre-budget consultations is complete.ISAC presented recommendations for Ontario’s 2014 Budget to the Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on January 16. Our…
Communities across Ontario need more funds for housing and homelessness supports Right now, local and regional municipalities across Ontario are planning their budgets for 2014. One of the issues they’re debating is how to respond…