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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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Media & Policy News: 10 February 2017

February 10, 2017

Top Stories

Ontario utilities continue to threaten disconnection during winter:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3233433/ontario-utilities-continue-to-threaten-disconnection-during-winter/

  • Utility assistance program to double in Bruce-Grey: http://www.thepost.on.ca/2017/02/07/utility-assistance-program-to-double
  • Brantford Power under investigation by Ontario Energy Board: http://globalnews.ca/news/3226430/brantford-power-investigated-ontario-energy-board/

New benefits called “game changers” for ending child poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/poverty-low-income-benefits-child-wages-1.3975061

  • The Canada Child Benefit is consistent with Basic Income principles:
    http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/2017/2/7/opinion–basic-income-needs-differ.html
  • Old Age Security indicates federal government already embraces Basic Income model:
    http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/2017/2/8/marie-burge—seniors-connect-to-b-i-g-.html

Ottawa should suspend refugee pact with US, Harvard report says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/02/08/ottawa-should-suspend-refugee-pact-with-us-harvard-report-says.html

  • We are not all immigrants here: Kanji: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/09/we-are-not-all-immigrants-here-kanji.html

Time to acknowledge hate crimes against Indigenous people as reality, says legal expert:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/aboriginal-hate-crimes-1.3970320

  • Government asks judge to postpone ruling in ‘60s Scoop case, outraging plaintiffs: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/08/government-attempt-to-stop-60s-scoop-ruling-slammed-as-galling.html
  • Ottawa promised millions in new spending on First Nations health – less than 10% made it out the door: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/first-nations-children-health-care-fraction-spending-1.3969042

Ontario invests an additional $140 million in mental health services:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/140-million-ontario-mental-health-1.3972346

  • Government release: Ontario providing faster access to mental health services for thousands of people: https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2017/02/ontario-providing-faster-access-to-mental-health-services-for-thousands-of-people.html

Federal government looking for ways to improve job prospects for disabled Canadians, minister says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/disabilities-employment-legislation-1.3968555

  • Canadians with Disabilities Act to focus on employment:
    http://globalnews.ca/news/3228515/canadians-with-disabilities-act-to-focus-on-employment-minister/
  • Consulting with Canadians on accessibility legislation – you have until February 28 to have your say: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/consultations/accessibility-legislation.html?=undefined#h2.1

Federal government revives Court Challenges program to give funding to groups who take government to court:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-restore-and-expand-court-challenges-program/article33924559/

  • New Court Challenges program expanded to include more rights: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/new-court-challenges-program-expanded-to-include-more-rights-1.3274682?autoPlay=true

First releases from 2016 Census:

  • Population size and growth in Canada: Key results from the 2016 Census: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170208/dq170208a-eng.htm
  • Immigration fuels Canada’s population growth of 1.7 million in five years: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/02/08/canadas-population-grew-17m-in-5-years.html
  • New data collection methods will be watched closely by Statistics Canada: http://globalnews.ca/news/3232012/census-2016-new-data-collection-methods-will-be-watched-closely-by-statistics-canada/

 

Ontario

Toronto Mayor presses Premier Wynne to address daycare crisis:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/06/john-tory-presses-premier-to-address-daycare-crisis.html

Star launches legal challenge to end secrecy in Ontario tribunals:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/02/07/star-launches-legal-challenge-to-end-secrecy-in-ontario-tribunals.html

Ontario announces investments in Indigenous projects in Ontario:
http://www.niagara-news.com/ontario-invests-in-indigenous-projects/

Advocacy Centre for the Elderly offers tips to prevent elder abuse:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/community-story/7105868-toronto-s-advocacy-centre-for-the-elderly-offers-tips-to-prevent-abuse/

CD Howe author: We have a lot better ways to relieve poverty than the outdated Guaranteed Minimum Income:
http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/we-have-a-lot-better-ways-to-relieve-poverty-than-the-outdated-guaranteed-minimum-income

Government release: Ontario adds 28,800 jobs in January:
https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2017/02/ontario-adds-28800-jobs-in-january.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

$15 and Fairness: Time to show workers some love!:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=7f6eda8171&e=f3bab51a7a

February 15: Have a Heart and Stop the Cuts: Rally for a Fair Toronto City Budget:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1082065165273493/

OPSEU: Understanding Basic Income: A position paper:
https://opseu.org/news/understanding-basic-income-opseu-position-paper

Status of Women Canada: Gender-Based Analysis training tool for public policy makers:
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/gba-acs/course-cours/eng/mod00/mod00_01_01.html

What has caused high electricity prices: Ontario’s Electricity Sector: Privatization and deregulation:
http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2017/01/29/ontarios-electricity-sector-privatization-and-deregulation/

HUMA’s poverty reduction strategies study: Written submissions due March 3, 2017:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/HUMA/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=8845428

Stats Can: New housing price index, December 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170209/dq170209a-eng.htm

 

Around the Province

Ottawa group wants province to top-up low income transit pass:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2017/02/07/ottawa-group-wants-ontario-government-to-boost-transit-pass-.html

First Nations trade school opens in Thunder Bay:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/first-nations-trade-school-officially-opens-532680

Tenants in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood go on rent strike:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7105084-tenants-at-87-jameson-ave-in-parkdale-go-on-rent-strike

  • No repair? No rent: Parkdale residents say they won’t be bullied into paying more: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/toronto-real-estate-parkdale-rent-strike-protest-1.3970664
  • Parkdale tenants take to the street to fight rent hike: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/08/parkdale-tenants-take-to-the-street-to-fight-rent-hike.html

Working with Frail Elders conference a first for Manitoulin:
http://www.manitoulin.ca/2017/02/08/working-frail-elders-conference-first-manitoulin/

 

Across the Country

Making a stink: BC welfare rates have “bean” too low, say fundraiser protest planners:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/02/06/bc-welfare-rates-bean-too-low-critics-fundraiser-protest.html

Opinion: Human rights, basic needs: BIG difference possible in the lives of people with disabilities in PEI:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/2017/2/9/opinion–human-rights–basic-needs.html

Plan for double-digit Manitoba hydro rate increases worries business owners and poverty advocates:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-hydro-rate-increase-pallister-business-low-income-1.3969221

Why the Saskatchewan government can’t cut its way to growth:
http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/why-the-saskatchewan-government-cant-cut-its-way-to-growth

End Poverty Edmonton holds first event to get started on anti-poverty work:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2017/02/09/endpovertyedmonton-poverty-numbers-2017-faith-communities-.html

Poverty simulation in Fort Saskatchewan, AB dispels myths:
http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2017/02/09/poverty-simulation-dispels-myths

Medicine Hat, AB council throws support behind poverty reduction strategy:
http://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2017/02/07/council-throws-support-behind-poverty-reduction-strategy/

Powell River, BC debates recreation program for low-income residents:
http://www.prpeak.com/news/city-of-powell-river-council-debates-recreation-program-1.9716140

Looking poverty in the eye in regional BC:
http://www.rosslandnews.com/news/412937483.html

 

National

Stable housing critical to success of mental health treatment:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/mental-health-homelessness-housing-first-strategy-wlu-1.3961857

EI system “frustrating” says Cape Breton MP:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ei-employment-insurance-panel-cuzner-mp-1.3966072

Liberals accused of backing away from EI break after pledge disappears from mandate letter:
http://www.hilltimes.com/2017/02/08/liberals-accused-backing-away-ei-break-pledge-disappears-mandate-letter/95364

Morneau’s growth council calls for higher retirement age:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/morneaus-growth-council-calls-for-higher-retirement-age/article33908384/

When you don’t get the CPP survivor benefit you expect:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/retirement/retire-planning/when-you-dont-get-the-cpp-survivor-benefit-you-expect/article33949647/

CPP managers try to weigh risks of climate change:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/canadian-pension-plan-managers-try-to-weigh-risks-of-climate-change

Did a Canadian court just establish a new right to be forgotten online?:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/did-a-canadian-court-just-establish-a-new-right-to-be-forgotten-online/article33915916/

Federal funding for health falls short, new study finds:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-health-funding-provinces-report-1.3968615

 

 

International

Housing stress “dire” as elderly Canberra women resort to sleeping in cars:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/housing-stress-dire-as-elderly-canberra-women-resort-to-sleeping-in-cars-20170117-gtt156.html

Australian government moves to cut welfare benefits in order to overhaul childcare benefit:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/08/coalition-faces-uphill-battle-after-linking-childcare-package-to-rejected-welfare-cuts

Disabled child refugees entry to UK suspended by Home Office:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/disabled-child-refugees-uk-suspend-entry-home-office-resettlement-unhcr-united-nations-lord-dubs-a7571451.html

Last year worst for social housing construction in Ireland since 1970s:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/last-year-worst-for-social-housing-construction-since-1970s-1.2968497

Proposed legislation in Rhode Island would allow drug testing for welfare recipients:
http://wpri.com/2017/02/07/bill-would-allow-drug-testing-for-welfare-recipients/

International development projects should look at creating prosperity instead of alleviating poverty:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/feb/08/obsession-with-ending-poverty-is-where-development-is-going-wrong

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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.