NOTE: As of June 31, 2018, all of these changes are now “on pause” and will not come into force this fall as scheduled. Please see these links for more information: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/ontarios-cuts-to-social-assistance-will-hurt-the-most-vulnerable/ http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/ontarios-social-assistance-system-100-days-to-fix-it-or-to-break-it/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ – la version française suit dessous – A number of changes to Ontario Works and ODSP rules have recently been made or are …
Public Education
Ontario’s Political Parties on Income Security & Social Assistance Reform
– la version française suit dessous – The outcome of the June 7 provincial election will be very important for low-income people in Ontario. We sent four political parties in Ontario – the Liberals, NDP, Progressive Conservatives, and Greens –questions on where they stand on five important issues: What they would do to improve OW and ODSP …
Election 2018: Tools That You Can Use
ISAC’s election kit and associated resources are ready for you to use in your community. Election Day is June 7, and the official election campaign started on May 9. An election period provides a vital opportunity to advocate on issues that are important for low-income people across Ontario. It’s a time when the political parties …
Ontario Budget 2018: ISAC Analysis and Budget Details
Important First Steps to Transformation but No Meaningful Progress on Rates The 2018 Ontario Budget introduced today proposes to make a number of critically important changes to social assistance and other benefit systems, which would start to move the system away from the punitive, intrusive system that currently exists and toward the supportive approach that …
Federal Budget 2018: Income Security Highlights
The federal Liberal government introduced its third budget last Tuesday, February 27. The Budget and all associated documents are available at this link: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2018/docs/nrc/2018-02-27-en.html Here are a few highlights on income security and related issues. This list is not exhaustive – some helpful resources are included at the end of this email that can provide …
Ontario Budget 2018: Take Action on Income Security / Passons à l’action pour la sécurité du revenu
– la version française suit dessous – It’s pre-Budget time in Ontario. As we noted recently, now’s the time to tell the Government and the Opposition parties that they must take bold steps on income security in Ontario. These steps must include major investments in transforming social assistance, starting with raising the rates, and employment standards enforcement. …
Our Response to “A Roadmap for Change”
The new report called “Income Security: A Roadmap for Change” was released in November, as we have mentioned in previous emails. The provincial government is looking for feedback on the Roadmap report by January 5, 2018. ISAC and the legal clinic system’s Steering Committee on Social Assistance have written a joint submission to the Minister …
ISAC Annual Report / Rapport annuel 2016-2017
– la version française suit dessous – The past year has been one of growth and expansion at ISAC, and of progress in a number of areas in our work. Check out our annual report for news about: Our expansion into employment law, which is increasing our ability to serve a segment of our community …
WEBINAR: A Roadmap for Change: What it says, why it matters, and what you can do
An important new report called “Income Security: A Roadmap for Change” provides community members, advocates, and decision-makers an important opportunity to push for major new investments and transformation in Ontario’s income security system, including social assistance. ISAC and Your Legal Rights hosted a webinar on the Roadmap on Friday, December 8. This webinar introduces people …
A Roadmap for Change: Tools You Can Use to Have Your Voice Heard
– la version française suit dessous – A new report called “Income Security: A Roadmap for Change” was released on November 2, 2017. The Roadmap was written by three working groups that were asked by the Minister of Community and Social Services in 2016 to give advice to the government on how to reform Ontario’s …
