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…
This op-ed was first published in Policy Magazine on May 19, 2025. We have published the entirety of the piece below with permission. The original post can be viewed on Policy Magazine‘s website at this…
ISAC has been actively monitoring and providing feedback to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) consultations on proposed changes to its Rules of Procedure since consultations began in November 2024. At that time, ISAC…
After years of advocacy from workers’ groups, the federal government created the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal (EI BOA). The Board of Appeal will take over responsibility from the Social Security Tribunal – General Division…
Employment Insurance (EI) has always been an important program for workers in Canada who lose their jobs. It’s even more important now in the face of US tariffs. The tariffs are expected to cause wide-ranging…
Every federal budget cycle includes a period for public submissions well in advance of budget deliberations. Last August, we posted our initial federal pre-budget submission linked here. In the months ensuing, we modified our submission…
On Friday, January 24, 2025, ISAC was invited to provide a deputation on our priorities for the 2025 Ontario Budget at a Ministry of Finance budget consultation in North York. Members of the panel included…
In late October, ISAC launched a survey aimed at gathering data and stories from individuals who are receiving or who have recently received provincial social assistance (OW and ODSP specifically.) We received over 250 responses…