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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 21 April 2017

April 21, 2017

Top Stories

Housing

  • New tax, rent controls part of Wynne’s plan to protect tenants and homebuyers: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/04/20/wynne-unveils-plan-to-protect-tenants-and-homebuyers.html
  • “We know we have a problem”: Ontario lays out measures to curb high rents, home prices:
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/wynne-housing-market-1.4077094
  • Ontario’s rent and housing reform: 16 big changes, explained in charts:
    https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/toronto/ontario-housing-16-big-changes-explained-in-charts/article34757648/
  • Read Ontario’s 16-point plan to cool Toronto and the GGH region’s red-hot housing market: http://business.financialpost.com/news/property-post/ontarios-16-point-plan-to-cool-torontos-red-hot-housing-market
  • Bye bye 1991 loophole – rent control to expand to all rental units in Ontario: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rent-byebye-1991-loophole-1.4077446
  • Tenant advocates welcome plan to curb rent increases: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/20/tenant-advocates-welcome-plan-to-curb-rent-increases.html
  • News Release: Making Housing More Affordable:
    https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/04/making-housing-more-affordable.html
  • Backgrounder: Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan:
    https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2017/04/ontarios-fair-housing-plan.html
  • Housing is a human right, not a commodity:
    https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/if-housing-was-a-human-right-the-bubbles-would-burst/article34492283/
  • Why this Toronto man would rather be homeless than live in an appalling apartment:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/10/why-this-man-would-rather-be-homeless-than-live-in-appalling-apartment.html

Basic Income

  • Ontario embraces no-strings-attached basic income experiment: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/18/ontario-embraces-no-strings-attached-basic-income-experiment.html
  • Toronto residents pin hopes on basic income:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/18/toronto-residents-pin-hopes-on-basic-income.html
  • A guaranteed basic income? Humbug!:
    https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/14/a-guaranteed-basic-income-humbug-salutin.html
  • A short history of the poverty-busting power of basic income: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/18/a-short-history-of-the-poverty-busting-power-of-basic-income.html
  • Audio: April 13 Debate on Basic Income – A way forward for the left? http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/needs-no-introduction/2017/04/universal-basic-income-yea-or-nay
  • Trick, or new hope? Toronto activists are split on basic income pilot: https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7249335-trick-or-new-hope-toronto-activists-are-split-on-basic-income-pilot/
  • The Basic Income debate: http://rankandfile.ca/2017/04/19/the-basic-income-debate/
  • Basic Income is no silver bullet, but it may still save us: http://torontoist.com/2017/04/basic-income-no-silver-bullet-may-still-save-us/
  • Star Editorial: Don’t make basic income an excuse for inaction: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/04/18/dont-make-basic-income-an-excuse-for-inaction-editorial.html
  • Op-Ed: Benefits of basic income will be felt by everyone: http://www.lfpress.com/2017/04/14/baranyai-benefits-of-basic-income-will-be-felt-by-everyone
  • Op-Ed: Guaranteed income won’t help women: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/20/guaranteed-income-wont-help-women-opinion.html
  • Commentary: The problem(s) with a guaranteed annual income: http://globalnews.ca/news/3388252/commentary-the-problems-with-a-guaranteed-annual-income/

Social Assistance

  • Parents won’t have social assistance slashed if kids placed in temporary care: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/11/star-gets-action-parents-wont-have-social-assistance-slashed-if-kids-placed-in-temporary-care.html
  • How Ontario traps those with disabilities in lives of poverty:
    https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/15/how-ontario-traps-those-with-disabilities-in-lives-of-poverty.html
  • City of Thunder Bay to lobby province for $1 billion increase to social assistance:
    https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/city-lobbies-for-1-billion-social-assistance-increase-586374
  • Note: ISAC’s pre-budget submission: $1 billion for OW and ODSP: https://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/1-billion-for-ow-odsp-isacs-2017-pre-budget-submission-1-milliard-de-dollars-pour-ot-le-posph-soumission-prebudgetaire-2017-du-casr/

Employment Standards and Good Jobs

  • Hard at Work: Why this city employee says years of contract work led to her mental breakdown:
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/city-of-toronto-worker-mental-breakdown-1.4064135
  • Poll shows 70% of Torontonians support a $15 minimum wage:
    http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/poll-majority-of-torontonians-support-15-minimum-wage-1.3365263#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=ok6kabD
  • New motion proposes stronger protections for temp agency workers: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/13/new-bill-proposes-stronger-protections-for-temp-agency-workers.html
  • Precarious workers need protection now: http://startouch.thestar.com/screens/3d47669c-ad60-4ed5-8014-77e7fc00c552%7C_0.html
  • Workers Action Centre update:
    http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=8b5fd8f69a

Child Care

  • Federal Liberals look to target child care funding to “vulnerable” families: http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/04/07/liberals-look-to-target-child-care-funding-to-vulnerable-families.html
  • Liberal budget’s child-care funding commendable, but won’t help families any time soon: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/liberal-budgets-child-care-funding-commendable-but-wont-help-families-any-time-soon/article34689318/

City of Toronto gives homeless budget the slip:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/city-gives-homeless-budget-the-slip/

Food bank use goes up due to rising prices for housing, food, Daily Bread says:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/food-bank-housing-1.4071283

Ottawa pilots “name-blind” recruitment to reduce unconscious bias in hiring:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/04/20/ottawa-pilots-name-blind-recruitment-to-reduce-unconscious-bias-in-hiring.html

It’s not an Aboriginal problem. It’s a Canadian problem:
http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/7237705–this-is-not-an-aboriginal-problem-it-s-a-canadian-problem-/#.WO6fC8XnaZw.facebook

Canada Without Poverty: Reflections on the UN’s first review of Canada under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2017/04/rightsmatter-reflecting-on-the-1st-review-of-canada-at-un-crpd/

Community Food Centres Canada are next-gen food banks:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/13/community-food-centres-canada_n_15864140.html

 

Ontario

Equal Pay Day April 10: Ontario urged to tackle gender pay gap with transparency law:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/11/ontario-urgently-needs-pay-transparency-law-advocates-say.html

5 things Ontarians can do to avoid hydro disconnection on May 1:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3350584/hydro-5-things-ontarians-can-do-to-avoid-disconnection-on-may-1/

Government release: Ontario passes legislation to put consumers first:
https://news.ontario.ca/mgs/en/2017/04/ontario-passes-legislation-to-put-consumers-first.html

Op-Ed: Ontario’s Liberals take a big step to the left:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/ontarios-big-step-to-the-left/article34750555/

NDP outlines sweeping priorities in 2017 vision for Ontario’s document:
http://ipolitics.ca/2017/04/19/ndp-outlines-sweeping-priorities-in-2017-vision-for-ontario-document/

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Endorse the call to stop the citizenship bill language / knowledge test amendment:
http://www.ocasi.org/stop-bill-c-6-citizenship-bill

Recorded webinar: ODSP and Arts Council Grants – ODSP Action Coalition:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/odsp-and-arts-council-grants

  • New brochure: ODSP and Arts Council Grants: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/odsp-and-arts-grants

April 25 – Windsor: Federal Poverty Reduction Strategy Consultation:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/federal-poverty-reduction-strategy-consultation-tickets-33679401998?aff=efbnreg

Upcoming workshops in Toronto: Retiring on a low income:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?Ntt=retiring+on+a+low+income

Non-Profit Tech for Good: Social and mobile media webinars:
http://www.nptechforgood.com/social-and-mobile-media-webinars-for-nonprofits/

Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=61233be4a0bcc87d8977b631e&id=6e7c6649b7&e=6da7d6f883

StatsCan: Employment Insurance February 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170420/dq170420a-eng.htm

StatsCan: Study: Recent developments in the Canadian economy, Spring 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170420/dq170420f-eng.htm

StatsCan: Consumer Price Index, March 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170421/dq170421a-eng.htm

Stats Can: New housing price index, February 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170413/dq170413c-eng.htm

 

Around the Province

Northern Ontarians suffer from poor health and access to care: Report:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/18/northern-ontarians-suffer-from-poor-health-and-access-to-care-report.html

Chatham-Kent health board supports dental care expansion:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2017/04/19/health-board-supports-dental-care-expansion

Pickering bylaw to save low-income seniors, people with disabilities $200:
https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/7231594-pickering-bylaw-to-save-low-income-seniors-people-with-disabilities-200/

Facing eviction, Burford mobile home park residents eye legal action:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2017/04/10/facing-eviction-park-residents-eye-legal-action

Windsor MP introduces private members bill on access to programs for persons with disabilities:
https://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/7238073-mp-hardcastle-introduces-bill-to-help-persons-with-disabilities-access-programs/

Alberta example could help Ottawa with low-income bus pass:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/cullen-alberta-example-could-help-ottawa-with-low-income-bus-pass

Niagara social assistance caseload stabilizing:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/04/18/niagara-social-assistance-caseload-stabilizing

Toronto seniors at high risk of ending up homeless, report finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/14/torontos-seniors-are-at-high-risk-of-ending-up-homeless-report-finds.html

Toronto Community Housing units set to close despite residents’ pleas:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/04/19/toronto-community-housing-units-set-to-close-despite-residents-pleas.html

The race is on to build affordable housing, as TCH units close:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/affordable-housing-focus-at-meeting-1.4066352

Toronto executive committee OKs shuttering of community housing units:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jane-finch-tch-closure-1.4076430?cmp=rss

Nine MetCap buildings in Toronto’s Parkdale organize rent strike for May 1:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7246959-nine-metcap-buildings-in-parkdale-organize-rent-strike-for-may-1/

Toronto rental prices jump 30% in six months, other cities soar too:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/13/rental-prices-canada-toronto-padmapper_n_15994150.html

$2.5 billion daycare plan could serve half of Toronto’s young children:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/11/25b-daycare-plan-could-serve-half-of-torontos-young-children.html

 

Across the Country

Saskatoon food bank faces “serious shortage in stock” as demand rises:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/saskatoon-food-bank-faces-serious-shortage-in-stock-as-demand-rises

Saskatchewan finance minister looking for school board wage cuts or layoffs:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-school-boards-letter-1.4064299

  • Saskatchewan cutting community-based organization funding by 10 per cent: http://leaderpost.com/news/politics/government-cutting-community-based-funding-by-10-per-cent
  • Saskatchewan needle exchanges, Planned Parenthood at risk: http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/needle-exchanges-planned-parenthood-at-risk-from-saskatchewan-budget
  • Letter: Fightback against austerity in Saskatchewan is essential: http://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/fightback-against-austerity-is-essential

Manitoba government to table austerity budget:
http://canadians.org/blog/manitoba-government-table-austerity-budget

“Isolated and alone”: The struggle of living in Nova Scotia without home internet:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/nova-scotia/home-internet-costs-accessibility-1.4072415

Economic insecurity touches BC seniors’ lives in profound ways:
http://www.policynote.ca/seniors-stories/#.WO29yLNhanc.facebook

Number of people who are homeless in Metro Vancouver jumps 30% since 2014:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/metro-vancouver-homeless-numbers-have-jumped-30-since-2014

  • Shocking homeless count needs provincial help, says mayor: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/homeless-count-vancouver-response-1.4066499

BC anti-poverty activist says welfare rates need to increase:
http://www.inews880.com/syn/112/297523/anti-poverty-activist-says-welfare-rates-need-increase

  • Should welfare rates be raised in BC? Parties’ election promises differ:
    http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/should-welfare-rates-be-raised-in-b-c-1.15703645
  • Poverty fighter says election platforms by major BC parties deny people on welfare a life with dignity:
    http://www.straight.com/news/896391/poverty-fighter-says-election-platforms-major-bc-parties-deny-people-welfare-life

Opinion: Child poverty in BC is outrageous and unhealthy:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/trevor-hancock-child-poverty-is-outrageous-and-unhealthy-1.14992073

 

National

Basic Income or a reduced work week? An old labour debate:
http://rankandfile.ca/2017/04/11/basic-income-or-a-reduced-work-week-an-old-labour-debate/

Poll shows high concern among Canadians for better policies to fight income inequality:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/canadians-oppose-policies-that-would-align-canada-with-those-of-donald-trump-poll

Worth Repeating: Canada is the world’s newest tax haven:
http://projects.thestar.com/panama-papers/canada-is-the-worlds-newest-tax-haven/

The National ViewPoint: The middle class is about policy more than people:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/viewpoint-the-middle-class-is-about-policy-more-than-people-1.4074915

 

International

Utopian thinking: Free housing should be a universal right:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/10/free-housing-universal-right-free-market?CMP=fb_gu

Hundreds of children’s playgrounds in England close due to cuts:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/13/hundreds-of-childrens-playgrounds-in-england-close-owing-to-cuts?CMP=share_btn_tw

Living standards in the UK fall for the first time since 2014:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/12/living-standards-fall-first-time-since-2014-uk-inflation-pay-growth?CMP=share_btn_fb

Housing crisis: more than 200,000 homes in England lie empty:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/20/over-200000-homes-in-england-still-lying-empty-despite-housing-shortages

How the six-hour workday actually saves organizations money:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/six-hour-workday-saves-money-how-organisations-businesses-gothenburg-sweden-study-a7688276.html

The surprising truth behind tax day: Where taxes in the US go:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/40206-the-surprising-truth-behind-tax-day-where-your-taxes-go

Supply-side economics, but for liberals:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/15/upshot/supply-side-economics-but-for-liberals.html

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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.