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Media & Policy News: 15 December 2017

December 15, 2017

Here’s the last MPN for 2017. Happy Holidays and see you in the new year! – ed.

 

Top Stories

Being on social assistance draws more spite than race, colour, gender… but not more than being Muslim: survey:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/12/08/being-on-social-assistance-draws-more-spite-than-race-colour-gender–but-not-more-than-being-muslim-survey.html

  • Ontario Human Rights Commission’s survey report: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/sites/default/files/Taking%20the%20pulse_Peoples%20opinions%20on%20human%20rights%20in%20Ontario_accessible_2017_0.pdf

ISAC and Steering Committee on Social Assistance feedback submission on “Income Security: A Roadmap for Change”:
https://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/our-response-to-a-roadmap-for-change/

  • Watch the recorded ISAC Webinar on the Roadmap report here: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/income-security-roadmap-change-what-it-says-why-it-matters-and-what-you-can-do
  • Other ISAC resources: Backgrounder and Feedback Kit – deadline for feedback is January 5: https://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/a-roadmap-for-change-tools-you-can-use-to-have-your-voice-heard/

The CRA “picks on people who can’t defend themselves,” says single mother battling agency:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cra-regina-saskatchewan-battle-1.4445674

  • CRA to review disability tax credit applications after backlash from diabetics: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cra-may-memo-committee-1.4439173
  • Long-term savings plans are in jeopardy for Canadians with disabilities: http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/long-term-savings-plans-are-in-jeopardy-for-canadians-with-disabilities/
  • CRA unable to handle high call volumes: Auditor General:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/11/21/canada-revenue-agency-unable-to-handle-high-call-volumes-auditor-general.html

“Absolutely inadequate”: Halifax advocates call for reform of Nova Scotia social assistance:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2017/12/14/absloutely-inadequate-halifax-advocates-call-for-reform-of-nova-scotia-social-assistance.html

  • Nova Scotia anti-poverty groups call for immediate increase to income assistance: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-anti-poverty-groups-call-for-immediate-increase-to-income-assistance-1.3722009

Store vouchers instead of cash violate human rights, rules NWT Tribunal:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/vouchers-ruled-discriminatory-1.4444928

Woman wants Ontario to raise $4 HST exemption for prepared food:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/hst-tim-hortons-ontario-jennifer-brown-aitken-1.4442642

WSIB to abolish policy that slashed benefits for thousands:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/15/wsib-to-abolish-policy-that-slashed-benefits-for-thousands.html

  • “They threaten them from reporting”: Ontario employers pressure workers to drop workplace injury claims, lawyer says: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/checkup/are-employers-getting-away-with-too-many-injuries-and-deaths-on-the-job-1.4427978/they-threaten-them-from-reporting-employers-pressure-workers-to-drop-workplace-injury-claims-lawyer-says-1.4432807

Labour Minister dismisses “fear mongering” over minimum wage increase:
https://www.timminstoday.com/around-the-village/labour-minister-dismisses-fear-mongering-over-minimum-wage-increase-786219

  • New minimum wage boosts pay of Toronto crossing guards by $580,000: http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/new-minimum-wage-boosts-cost-of-crossing-guards-almost-600000

Woman who says her employer docked pay for washroom breaks will have human rights hearing:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/05/woman-who-says-her-employer-docked-pay-for-washroom-breaks-will-have-human-rights-hearing.html

Quebec to offer basic income for $84,000 people unable to work:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-proposes-basic-income-poverty-economic-plan-1.4441986

  • Quebec government flirts with guaranteed minimum income in $3 billion anti-poverty plan: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-government-flirts-with-guaranteed-minimum-income-in-3-billion-anti-poverty-plan-1.3715160
  • Basic income to be given to 84,000 people in Canada: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/basic-income-quebec-canada-poverty-unemployment-ontario-a8103616.html
  • Quebec to launch world’s biggest basic income scheme: http://www.theweek.co.uk/90388/quebec-to-launch-world-s-biggest-basic-income-scheme
  • Quebec to offer basic income for 84,000 people unable to work: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-proposes-basic-income-poverty-economic-plan-1.4441986
  • Quebec’s new basic income plan has proponents dreaming big, others skeptical: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-basic-income-plan-francois-blais-1.4442902
  • Quebec’s bold new basic income offer: Does it benefit the right people?: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/quebecs-bold-new-basic-income-offer-does-it-benefit-the-right-people/article37291369/
  • Universal basic income: Renaissance for a 500 year-old idea: https://www.ft.com/content/3b7938e6-c569-11e7-b30e-a7c1c7c13aab
  • Wanted: 2000 people from Lindsay who need a better income: http://lindsayadvocate.ca/wanted-2000-people-lindsay-need-better-income/
  • Toward a National Universal Guaranteed Basic Income: Canadian Public Policy, June 2017:
    https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/bicn/pages/57/attachments/original/1512576226/2017_Toward_a_National_Universal_Guaranteed_Basic_Income_%28Stevens_and_Simpson%29.pdf?1512576226
  • A meaningful definition is important when it comes to basic income:
    http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/meaningful-definition-important-when-it-comes-to-basic-income

Child care fee hikes outpace inflation with Toronto parents hardest hit:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/12/child-care-fee-hikes-outpace-inflation-with-toronto-parents-hardest-hit.html

Visible minorities feel less safe than other Canadians: Statistics Canada:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/visible-minorities-feel-less-safe-than-other-canadians-statistics-canada

Overcrowded Ontario hospitals “on the brink,” province warned:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/13/overcrowded-ontario-hospitals-on-the-brink-province-warned.html

 

Ontario

Most mental-health patients don’t get timely psychiatric care in Ontario, study finds:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/most-mental-health-patients-dont-get-timely-psychiatric-care-in-ontario-study-finds/article37285740/?click=sf_globefb

Ontario groups seeking retirement income for all:
http://www.pionline.com/article/20171211/PRINT/171219955/ontario-groups-seeking-retirement-income-for-all

PCs demand apology from Barrie MPP over minimum wage comments:
https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7991509-pcs-demand-apology-from-barrie-mpp-over-minimum-wage-comments/

Horwath to introduce law banning pre-paid hydro meters:
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/horwath-to-intro-law-banning-pre-paid-hydro-meters-788157

Government release: New projects with Indigenous partners to break the cycle of poverty across Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/prs/en/2017/12/new-projects-with-indigenous-partners-to-break-the-cycle-of-poverty-across-ontario.html

Government release: New child care spaces coming to nearly 200 schools across Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/12/new-child-care-spaces-coming-to-nearly-200-schools-across-ontario.html

Government release: Ontario working to build an inclusive and equitable society for all:
https://news.ontario.ca/ard/en/2017/12/ontario-working-to-build-an-inclusive-and-equitable-society-for-all.html

Government release: Creating fairness and opportunity for people in Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/12/creating-fairness-and-opportunity-for-people-in-ontario.html

 

Election 2018

Elections Ontario invites feedback on accessibility of proposed voting locations for 2018 general election:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/elections-ontario-invites-ontarians-to-provide-feedback-on-accessibility-of-proposed-voting-locations-for-the-2018-general-election-662045963.html

PCs still lag behind Liberals despite launch of new platform:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/12/08/pcs-still-lag-behind-liberals-despite-launch-of-new-platform.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Sign the RNAO Petition Campaign: Eliminate the three month OHIP wait:
http://rnao.ca/policy/action-alerts/Eliminate-the-three-month-OHIP-wait

Warning: Fraudulent phone calls claiming to represent Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada:
http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/NewsNouv/Pages/phone-scamOct017.aspx

Stats Can: Survey of Household Spending 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171213/dq171213b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Employment Insurance coverage survey 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171215/dq171215b-eng.htm

What I learned: Question assumptions and listen to the client: Legal rights of migrant sex workers:
http://plelearningexchange.ca/learned-question-assumptions-listen-client/

Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/defining-and-measuring-an-end-to-homelessness?e=6da7d6f883

If someone asks me for legal information, what should I do?
http://plelearningexchange.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2.-Giving-legal-information-October-2017-LATEST.pdf

 

Around the Province

Thunder Bay injured workers group claims WSIB system deeply flawed:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/group-claims-injured-workers-compensation-system-flawed/article_1c77a718-df57-11e7-b3ac-8fd233213b03.html

Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay gets funding for ID bank:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/program-helps-vulnerable-people-get-id-788338

Toronto Mayor Tory’s dangerous shelter shell game:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/john-tory-dangerous-shelter-shell-game/

Toronto tenant fighting to get back $3,200 after finding cockroaches, mould on move-in day:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tenant-cockroaches-1.4442776

Donated TTC bus in Toronto to offer showers for homeless:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/07/donated-ttc-bus-to-offer-showers-for-homeless.html

Michael’s Story: I wouldn’t have survived without The Scott Mission:
https://www.thestar.com/sponsored_sections/lifestories/2017/12/01/michael-s-story.html

Peterborough shelters struggling to stay clean amid housing crisis:
https://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/7993687-peterborough-shelters-struggling-to-stay-clean-amid-housing-crisis/

Grey Bruce Health Unit backs basic income idea:
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2017/12/15/health-unit-backs-basic-income-idea

Many in Grey Bruce can’t afford healthy food:
http://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/midwestern-ontario-news/2017/12/07/many-grey-bruce-cant-afford-healthy-food/

 

Across the Country

Op-Ed: Building a better Halifax for all includes a poverty-free community:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1525756-opinion-building-a-better-halifax-for-all-includes-a-poverty-free-community

Halifax campaign aims to end period stress for low-income women:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-diva-cup-fundraising-menstrual-supplies-1.4427931

Income assistance recipients in Halifax to receive free bus passes:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/poverty-reduction-free-bus-passes-income-assistance-government-1.4447378

Halifax anti-poverty funding targets transit, community groups:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1529336-infographic-halifax-anti-poverty-funding-targets-transit-community-groups

Study finds people with disabilities in New Brunswick living in deep poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/disabled-poverty-study-1.4428859

“You don’t gain, you just exist”: Low wages keeping New Brunswickers from getting ahead:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/net-worths-report-reaction-migrant-worker-1.4442098

Meat from Cape Breton moose cull used to fight poverty in First Nations:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/moose-meat-child-poverty-parks-canada-cape-breton-highlands-cull-1.4440269

PEI receives mostly failing grades on poverty report card:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/news/pei-receives-mostly-failing-grades-on-poverty-report-card-170453/

Workplace injures in Saskatchewan health care system related to insufficient staff levels, unions say:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/workplace-injuries-in-health-care-related-to-insufficient-staff-levels-unions-say

Study links increased demand for Calgary Food Bank with other social assistance needs:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/u-of-c-study-links-increased-demand-for-calgary-food-bank-with-other-social-assistance-needs

Study shows how much responsibility for the poor falls to non-profits:
http://www.660news.com/2017/12/13/new-study-shows-much-responsibility-poor-falls-non-profits/

An epidemic of inequality, with a focus on Alberta:
http://www.parklandinstitute.ca/an_epidemic_of_inequality

BC struggles to warn opioid users after spike in overdose deaths:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-emergency-workers-put-to-the-test-as-wave-of-opioid-overdoses-overwhelms-the-system/article37170256/

BC acts to stop landlords from raising rents based on higher rates in an area:
https://www.straight.com/news/1006241/province-acts-stop-landlords-raising-rents-based-higher-rates-area

New funding to replace mouldy daycare in Ucluelet, BC – in tsunami path:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ucluelet-daycare-funding-replaces-mould-tsunami-risk-1.4445346

Investment in child care would have immediate benefits to BC’s economy, researcher says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/investment-in-child-care-would-have-immediate-benefits-to-b-c-s-economy-researcher-says-1.4444498

How income inequality is reshaping Metro Vancouver:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/how-income-inequality-is-reshaping-metrovancouver/article37196565/

Notorious Vancouver landlords slapped with 500 new building violations by city inspectors:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3913239/notorious-downtown-eastside-landlords-slapped-with-500-new-building-violations-by-city-inspectors/

“Sometimes I can’t eat or drink”: Syrian refugee living in BC faces $10K dental bill:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-december-07-2017-1.4436013/sometimes-i-can-t-drink-or-eat-syrian-refugee-living-in-b-c-faces-10k-dental-bill-1.4436052

Fort Good Hope NWT couple builds their own home in face of housing shortage:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/fort-good-hope-housing-1.4438889

 

National

Finance ministers to rethink CPP changes, will also look at drop-out clauses and death benefit:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3907942/finance-ministers-meeting/

New round of CPP changes end age restrictions on survivor benefits:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/new-round-of-cpp-changes-end-age-restrictions-on-survivor-benefits

Canadians want Ottawa to ban use of tax havens, poll finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/13/canadians-want-ottawa-to-ban-use-of-tax-havens-poll-finds.html

  • Tax havens should be illegal, 87% of Canadians say: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/12/14/tax-havens-should-be-illegal-87-of-canadians-say_a_23307554/

No movement on scrapping mandatory victims surcharge:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/author/shannon-kari/no-movement-on-scrapping-surcharge-15069/

Prescription drug costs should be fair – not cheap:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/prescription-drug-costs-should-be-fair-not-cheap/article37178981/

Supreme Court Chief Justice McLachlin exits with great sadness and gratitude; new top judge to be named this week:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/12/10/chief-justice-mclachlin-exits-new-top-judge-named-this-week.html

 

International

US Republican officials say targeting welfare programs will help spur economic growth:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/06/house-republicans-welfare-restrictions-are-needed-for-the-economy-to-grow/?utm_term=.20aa8ef446e7

  • Welfare reform moving to centre of Republican agenda: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/365018-welfare-reform-moving-to-center-of-republican-agenda

A journey through a land of extreme poverty: Welcome to America:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/15/america-extreme-poverty-un-special-rapporteur

Alabama has the worst poverty in the developed world, UN official says:
http://www.newsweek.com/alabama-un-poverty-environmental-racism-743601

California minimum wage hike, savings plan will boost retirement incomes, reduce poverty:
http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/12/12/california-minimum-wage-hike-savings-plan-will-boost-retirement-incomes-reduce-poverty/

One in three of Ireland’s children is at risk of poverty or social exclusion:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/one-in-three-of-irelands-children-at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion-graphic-817053.html

Some UK mental health services are telling patients: “If you really wanted to kill yourself, you would have done it”:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mental-health-nhs-suicide-crisis-untrained-staff-high-risk-underfunding-a8110186.html

Indigenous work-for-the-dole scheme in Australia “cannot and should not continue”, Senate committee report warns:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-15/work-for-the-dole-scheme-cannot-continue-report-finds/9261510

New Zealand’s prime minister calls capitalism a “blatant failure” for homelessness and low wages:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-new-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-capitalism-blatant-failure-a8012656.html

World’s richest 0.1% have boosted their wealth by as much as poorest half:
https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/dec/14/world-richest-increased-wealth-same-amount-as-poorest-half?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

100 million people pushed into poverty by health costs in 2010:
http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/chart-100-million-people-pushed-poverty-health-costs-2010

 

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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.