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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 14 October 2016

October 14, 2016

Top Stories

Report finds significant gaps in Ontario health care, depending on income:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/13/report-finds-significant-gaps-in-ontario-healthcare.html

  • Here’s the report: http://www.hqontario.ca/System-Performance/Yearly-Reports/Measuring-Up-2016

Social assistance cuts making it harder to regain custody:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/10/09/social-assistance-cuts-making-it-harder-to-regain-custody.html

  • Sarnia residents to Stand Up Against Poverty today: http://www.theobserver.ca/2016/10/12/city-residents-urged-to-stand-up-against-poverty

Toronto fund to prevent homelessness stacked against kids and disabled, advocates say:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/08/fund-to-prevent-homelessness-stacked-against-kids-disabled-advocates-say.html

  • OCAP and SALCO’s report: https://ocaptoronto.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/left-in-the-lurch.pdf
  • Homelessness funding increase not enough to address growing need in Niagara:
    http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2016/10/13/closeup-homelessness-funding-falls-short-of-need

Cities’ housing and homelessness plans doomed to fail without federal investment, says report:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/10/cities-homelessness-plans-doomed-to-fail-without-federal-cash-report.html

  • Here’s the report: http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/pdf/news/20161010.pdf

Homeless group asks federal Liberals to focus housing plan on poor and Indigenous people:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/homeless-liberals-housing-plan-1.3799638?cmp=abfb

  • Stop building junk on reserves, says Mike Holmes: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/stop-building-junk-on-reserves-says-mike-holmes-1.1083657

Unifor’s pension concession signals new reality:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/09/26/GM-Union-Pension-Concession/

  • Death of private pensions puts more pressure on CPP: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/09/27/death-of-private-pensions-puts-more-pressure-on-cpp-cohn.html
  • Editorial: Changes ahead for pensions plans: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/changes-ahead-for-pension-plans-394907991.html
  • Small and medium-size businesses say CPP increases are “not modest”:
    http://www.metronews.ca/life/money/2016/10/11/smes-say-cpp-increases-not-modest.html

Quebec is still holding out on pension reform:
http://montrealgazette.com/business/quebec-is-still-holding-out-on-pension-reform?__lsa=b548-21cfAdvocates demand better protection for Ontario workers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/07/advocates-demand-better-protection-for-ontario-workers.html

  • October 7 was World Day for Decent Work: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=7a9f5f205f&e=51059eb750
  • The October 1 Make It Fair! Rally in full on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-834249604/make-it-fair-rally-in-full

Ten things to know about Canada’s guaranteed annual income debate:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/10/07/ten-things-know-canadas-guaranteed-annual-income-debate/

  • The soul of poverty: http://institute.plan.ca/blog/the-soul-of-poverty/

Trudeau says Liberals not looking at raising federal minimum wage:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-minimum-wage-trudeau-1.3796315

  • Liberals launch consultations on changes to EI parental leave: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-launch-consultations-on-changes-to-parental-leave/article32274517/

People who are poor in Canada urged to file their taxes to get access to benefits:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/filing-taxes-poverty-benefit-1.3792408

Idle No More protest Monday calls on Trudeau to keep promises on Indigeous, environmental issues:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/idle-no-more-trudeau-thanksgiving-1.3799110?cmp=rss

Sanger: How to offset the hardship from carbon pricing:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/sanger-how-to-offset-the-hardship-from-carbon-pricing

Citizenship applications plummet as fees soar:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2016/10/12/citizenship-applications-plummet-as-fees-soar.html

 

Ontario

Escalating energy bills a concern for protesters:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/10/11/escalating-energy-bills-a-concern-for-protesters

  • Home energy costs a greater burden on low-income residents, says fiscal watchdog: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/home-energy-spending-financial-accountability-office-1.3780485

Some northern Ontario farms are bringing in migrant Mexican workers:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/migrant-farm-workers-northern-ontario-1.3795537

Government release: Ontario added 16,200 jobs in September:
https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2016/10/ontario-adds-16200-jobs-in-september.html

Ontario’s plan to de-list opioids could lead to more overdoses, death, say drug addiction experts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-opioid-plan-ottawa-reaction-1.3802718

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Be part of Canada Without Poverty’s Thunderclap for UN Eradication of Poverty Day on October 17:
http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=389075e355b60ea9c8d3e4044&id=0698fc0e53&e=be99085c7f

Two anti-poverty rallies planned for today and October 17 in Sarnia-Lambton:
http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarnia-news/2016/10/13/anti-poverty-rallies-planned/

Report: OAS / GIS are key drivers against hunger; why aren’t they available to everyone?:
https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2016-10-12/should-security-provided-old-age-security-be-age-centric

  • OAS must be boosted to keep up with wage inflation: http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/old-age-security-is-melting-away-so-more-of-you-will-rely-on-low-income-support-cheques-when-you-retire

Toronto event October 23: Push for Change to end youth homelessness:
http://homelesshub.ca/events/push-change-arrives-toronto

New book: Pandemic Preparedness and Homelessness: Lessons from H1N1 in Canada:
http://homelesshub.ca/lessonsfromH1N1

Racialized community coalition launches Legislative Framework for the Ontario Anti-racism Directorate:
http://mtcsalc.org/en/what-s-new1/racialized-community-coalition-launches-legislative-framework-ontario-anti-racism-directorate/#ARAlegislation

Two new publications on Basic Income from the CCPA:
http://basicincome.org/news/2016/10/canada-research-organization-releases-two-new-reports-basic-income/

RESPs: Free money from government that half of Canadians don’t ask for:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/resps-peter-armstrong-kerry-taylor-1.3794444

 

Around the Province

OCAP demands fixes to housing fund at Toronto City Hall:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6907411-ontario-coalition-against-poverty-demands-fixes-to-housing-fund-at-city-hall/-v1/

Toronto rooming house conversions to Airbnb worry housing advocates:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/10/11/rooming-house-conversions-worry-housing-advocates.html

Toronto’s new Presto transit fare system may be a good idea, but only if you can afford it:
http://basicsnews.ca/presto/

Daily Bread, others may cut ties with troubled Flemingdon Community Food Bank:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/10/daily-bread-others-may-cut-ties-with-troubled-flemingdon-community-food-bank.html

North Hastings Children’s Services coordinating efforts to stop domestic violence:
http://www.bancroftthisweek.com/?p=7155

North Simcoe report says addressing poverty key to reducing hospital visits:
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/6899040-north-simcoe-report-says-addressing-poverty-key-to-reducing-hospital-visits/

Young mothers and public health nurses will forge close relationships in a new London / Middlesex County program:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/10/10/teen-mom-remembers-nurses-help-kindness

Basic income already proven to work:
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2016/10/11/basic-income-already-proven-to-work

Sudbury conference explores basic income:
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/never-heard-of-a-basic-income-guarantee-you-might-want-to-read-this-435746

Campaign collecting new socks to help those in Peel living in poverty:
http://www.mississauga.com/community-story/6901242-campaign-collecting-new-socks-to-help-those-in-peel-living-in-poverty/

 

Across the Country

Hunger Free Manitoba campaign asks for social assistance increase from current $3.96 per day:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/premier-asked-to-hike-social-assistance-396386831.html

  • Manitoba NDP government’s poverty reduction plan failed miserably: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/10/12/ndp-failed-miserably-at-reducing-poverty

New report shows Vancouver renters squeezed to the streets:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ugm-uvic-homelessness-report-1.3801413

  • The link between Vancouver’s homelessness and soaring housing prices: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-link-between-vancouvers-homelessness-and-soaring-housing-prices/article32304886/
  • Critics say Greater Victoria BC landlords are taking advantage of tight housing market to raise rents: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/landlords-seizing-on-tight-market-to-raise-rents-poverty-groups-say-1.2363103
  • Single women in poverty being forced into predatory sex-for-rent arrangements in Vancouver: http://bc.ctvnews.ca/ctv-investigation-i-posed-as-a-woman-willing-to-exchange-sex-for-rent-1.3091162

BC’s welfare laws rob women of choice in relationships:
http://theprovince.com/opinion/kendra-milne-b-c-welfare-laws-rob-women-of-choice-in-relationships

BC advocate touts basic income for people with disabilities:
http://institute.plan.ca/blog/a-basic-income-for-people-with-disabilities/

BC government’s Disability Jobs Plan critiqued as uninspiring:
http://rankandfile.ca/2016/10/12/the-bc-liberals-and-a-disability-jobs-plan-that-does-not-deliver

For some BC children with mental illness, poverty is the diagnosis:
http://www.metronews.ca/features/vancouver/vancouvering/2016/10/07/bc-children-with-mental-illness-poverty-is-the-diagnosis.html

Op-Ed: Let’s demand action on poverty in BC:
http://theprovince.com/opinion/trish-garner-its-time-to-demand-action-on-poverty-in-b-c

Minimum wage fears in Alberta are imagined, while the benefits to the working poor are real:
http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-minimum-wage-fears-imagined-but-benefits-to-poor-real

 

National

Bank of Canada governor says economy should soon get a boost from Canada Child Benefit and new infrastructure spending:
http://www.timescolonist.com/sluggish-exports-continue-to-confound-says-bank-of-canada-governor-1.2361490

Minister Morneau says global anxiety about change best tackled by first helping families:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1405304-global-anxiety-about-change-best-tackled-by-first-helping-families-says-morneau

Morneau says housing market rule changes will take time to play out:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bill-morneau-economists-1.3802924

The best and worst cities in Canada to be a woman:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/what-is-the-best-and-worst-city-in-canada-to-be-a-woman-1.3113113

How Canada’s immigration laws make migrant sex workers’ jobs more dangerous:
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/how-canadas-immigration-laws-are-making-migrant-sex-workers-jobs-more-dangerous

Tony Clement pulls out of Conservative leadership race:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tony-clement-dropping-out-1.3801305

 

International

Striking new research on inequality: “Whatever you thought, it’s worse”:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/06/striking-new-research-on-inequality-whatever-you-thought-its-worse/

Privatizing the public sector is actually costing taxpayers money:
http://www.salon.com/2016/10/06/privatizing-the-public-sector-is-actually-costing-tax-payers-money_partner/

Thomas Piketty recommends increasing property taxes to curb rising inequality:
http://www.smh.com.au/business/increase-property-taxes-to-curb-rising-inequality-thomas-pikettys-first-australian-interview-20161008-gry23l.html

Welfare offers short-term help and long-term poverty:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2016/10/13/welfare-offers-short-term-help-and-long-term-poverty/#966105964baf

How can housing end poverty in the UK?:
https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/sep/26/housing-end-poverty-numbers-joseph-rowntree-foundation

UK Conservatives deliberately driving immigrants into poverty, says opposition:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-deliberately-driving-immigrants-into-poverty-snp-warns-a7360306.html

Welfare and pension increases to be increased in Irish budget:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/welfare-and-pension-increases-to-be-announced-in-budget-1.2824546

Ireland to unveil new universal childcare payment:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/universal-childcare-payment-to-be-unveiled-in-budget-1.2824542

Australia’s “Healthy Welfare” card won’t solve youth unemployment:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/healthy-welfare-card-wont-solve-youth-unemployment/news-story/16d9c847ea1959ef5b2e10ac7bd0c0ae

Wealthy San Francisco tech investors bankroll bid to ban homeless camps:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/san-francisco-homeless-proposition-q-tech-investors

No vouchers for families on welfare to buy diapers after California governor vetoes plan:
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-no-voucher-for-welfare-families-to-buy-1474836219-htmlstory.html

Germany approves new law to curb social benefits for EU immigrants:
https://www.enca.com/world/germany-approves-new-law-to-curb-social-benefits-for-eu-immigrants

New Zealand child poverty a source of deep concern, says United Nations:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/07/new-zealand-child-poverty-a-source-of-deep-concern-says-un

New Zealand Police Minister says child poverty is caused by bad parenting:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/85282990/judith-collins-criticised-for-comments-about-parental-responsibility-and-poverty

Trump tax plan gives 47% of cuts to richest 1%, new analysis finds:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2016/10/11/trump-tax-plan-gives-47-of-cuts-to-richest-1-new-analysis-finds/#73ea2e9c59fc

Warren Buffet calls Trump’s bluff and releases data showing paying tax in every year since 1944:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/business/buffett-calls-trumps-bluff-and-releases-his-tax-return.html?_r=0

There’s no way out of poverty in the US without reducing wealth inequality:
http://origin-nyi.thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/300123-no-end-to-poverty-without-reducing-wealth-inequality

World Bank says tens of millions face poverty unless cities plan for climate change:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-cities-poverty-idUSKCN12C2A5

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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.