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Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

ISAC works to address issues of income security and poverty in Ontario

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Workers' Rights

Temporary Improvements to Employment Insurance in Response to Tariff Threats Don’t Go Far Enough

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…

April 1, 2025
Disability Justice, Employment Insurance (EI), Employment Standards, Policy Advocacy, Workers' Rights
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“My dreams are shattered”: Immigration Program Shut Down Within Hours Leaving Thousands of Migrant Care Workers Stranded

MEDIA RELEASE: Migrant Rights Network is calling on the government to stop the caps and exclusions and ensure permanent resident status for all. Toronto & Vancouver, March 31, 2025 – Migrant care workers across Canada…

March 31, 2025
Campaigns, Migrant Workers, Press Release, Workers' Rights
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Ontario Budget 2025: ISAC’s Recommendations

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…

January 27, 2025
Disability Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Provincial Budgets, Social Assistance Rates, Workers' Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

New! Changes to Employment Standards Act on Unpaid Job-Protected Leave due to Long-Term Illness

The Government of Ontario has approved changes to the rules that govern unpaid leave due to long-term illness. Some workers will now have access to a 27-week long-term illness leave. During that time, their employer…

January 15, 2025
Employment Insurance (EI), Employment Standards, Minimum Wage, Workers' Rights
Blue arc which is part of ISAC's logo

ISAC’s Analysis of Ontario’s 2024 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review

The Ontario Government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement (FES) has revealed that the province is in an improved fiscal position compared to earlier projections in the 2024 Budget. This is mainly due to an overall deficit…

November 15, 2024
Employment Standards, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Provincial Budgets, Social Assistance, Workers' Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

Improve Equity and Fairness in the Hiring Process: Our Recommendations to the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MLITSD) on Job Postings

ISAC, together with the Workers Action Centre and Parkdale Community Legal Services, recently responded to a consultation held by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) on potential changes to the Employment…

September 25, 2024
Employment Standards, Migrant Workers, Policy Advocacy, Workers' Rights

Pandemic benefits program discriminated against persons with disabilities but was justified due to the COVID emergency, say Ontario Court of Appeal

ISAC intervened at the Ontario Court of Appeal in a legal challenge concerning workers living with severe disabilities and their exclusion from receiving pandemic benefits. To be considered a “worker”, claimants must have earned at…

September 23, 2024
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Disability Justice, Litigation, Workers' Rights
Crowd image of June 2023 Rally in Toronto with Old City Hall in the background, and marchers holding round signs on sticks that say different slogans including Justice for Workers and "Salud y Educación Publica" (Health and Public Education)

Say Yes to Immigrant Justice and No to Racism: Myths and Facts that Cut Through The Noise (re-post from Migrant Rights Network)

*Note: This post was originally drafted by the Migrant Rights Network and was posted with permission and with minor edits for length Parliament returns next week! This is why on September 12-15, we are taking…

September 11, 2024
Campaigns, Community Organizing, Disability Justice, Migrant Workers, Poverty Reduction, Public Education, Workers' Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

Federal Budget 2025: ISAC’s Pre-Budget Submission (August 2024)

*September 10, 2024, Update: Our recommendations for improving the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) have changed slightly. To read the most up-to-date ISAC recommendations on the CDB, click here* Every federal budget cycle includes a period…

August 6, 2024
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Disability Justice, Employment Insurance (EI), Federal Budgets, Indigenous Justice, Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Workers' Rights
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In the Media: “Ontario auto insurance reforms offer no real “choice” for low-wage workers”, Policy Options

ISAC staff members Anu Bakshi and Asif Khan recently co-authored an article published in Policy Options, the digital magazine for the Institute for Research on Policy Policy (IRPP), about a small change with big implications…

June 13, 2024
In the Media, Policy Advocacy, Provincial Budgets, Public Education, Social Assistance, Workers' Rights

2024 Federal Budget Reaction

Since its announcement, the 2024 Federal Budget has continued to generate much conversation, speculation, and expectation. Now that the dust has settled, let’s look at what the Budget offers and misses from an income security…

May 15, 2024
Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Disability Justice, Employment Insurance (EI), Federal Benefits - General, Federal Budgets, Indigenous Justice, Migrant Workers, Poverty Reduction, Refugee Law, Workers' Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

5 Recommendations to the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MLITSD) on Developing a New Personal Long-Term Illness Leave

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development recently held a consultation on a proposal to include a new 27 week job-protected medical leave in the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). There are…

May 14, 2024
Employment Standards, Government Benefits - General, Policy Advocacy, Workers' Rights
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1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Tel: (416) 597-5820 • Toll Free: 1-866-245-4072 • Fax: (416) 597-5821

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This site contains general legal information for people in Ontario, Canada. It is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem. ISAC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization. ISAC is funded by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). The funding for this website is also provided by LAO. The views expressed in any of ISAC’s publications (including written, oral, or visual) are the views of the clinic and do not necessarily reflect those of LAO.