• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

  • Our Work
    • Litigation
    • Policy
    • Community Organizing
    • Public Education
  • Publications
  • Updates
  • Campaigns
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision & Mandate
    • Staff Members
    • Members
    • Board Members
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
  • Share Your Story
  • Twitter

Media & Policy News: 29 January 2016

January 29, 2016

Top Stories

Injured workers being systematically disentitled from WSIB; labour asks Ombudsman to investigate:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/29/provincial-watchdog-urged-to-investigate-wsib.html

Proposed Quebec legislation is “a direct attack against human rights” of people receiving social assistance:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2478596/new-quebec-bill-could-mean-trouble-for-the-homeless/

  • Coalition of social groups decries attack on Quebec’s most vulnerable: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bill-70-quebec-welfare-1.3418086

Human Rights Commission rules Ottawa discriminates against First Nations kids on reserve:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/01/26/ottawa-discriminated-against-kids-on-reserves-human-rights-panel-says.html

  • APTN coverage: Ruling is historic: http://aptn.ca/news/2016/01/26/ottawa-discriminates-against-first-nation-children-says-historic-ruling-from-canadian-human-rights-tribunal/
  • Pam Palmater: Decision is a game changer for First Nations: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Canada-Human-Rights-Decision-a-Game-Changer-for-First-Nations-20160127-0041.html
  • Here’s the ruling: https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/2016%20CHRT%20Ruling%20on%20FN%20child%20welfare%20case.pdf

New report from Ontario Human Rights Commission strongly links mental health disabilities and poverty:
http://www.cp24.com/news/ohrc-report-strongly-links-mental-illness-to-poverty-unemployment-1.2754681

  • By the Numbers: A statistical profile of people with mental health and addiction disabilities in Ontario: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/numbers-statistical-profile-people-mental-health-and-addiction-disabilities-ontario
  • How my job at Bell Canada gave me mental health issues and no benefits: http://canadalandshow.com/article/lets-talk-about-how-my-job-bell-gave-me-mental-health-issues-and-no-benefits

Federal, provincial and territorial social services ministers meeting Feb 4/5 “on social outcomes for Canadians”:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=index&crtr.page=4&nid=1029579

  • Ontario being urged to champion child care on the national stage: http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/01/26/ontario-urged-to-champion-child-care-on-national-stage.html
  • Disappearing middle class is “defining issue of our time” that federal government must address, say participants at Hill Times event: http://www.hilltimes.com/news/2016/01/26/disappearing-middle-class-defining-issue-of-our-time/45043
  • Canadian immigrants are unemployed or underemployed; could earn $17Billion more if their credentials were recognized: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canadian-immigrants-could-earn-17b-more-annually-if-their-credentials-were-recognized-study-says-1.3422322
  • Progressive Economics guest post: Redistribution, Inequality and Federal Policy: http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2016/01/20/redistribution-inequality-and-federal-policy-guest-post-by-edgardo-sepulveda/
  • Jackson: Fighting seniors poverty – OAS and GIS aren’t cutting it: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/andrew_ajackson/fighting_seniors_poverty

Details emerging on Ontario pension plan, like the ORPP will be indexed to inflation:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kathleen-wynne-ontario-pension-1.3420058

  • News Release: Province completes design of Ontario Retirement Pension Plan: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/01/province-completes-design-of-the-ontario-retirement-pension-plan.html
  • Chamber of Commerce warns 2017 start for ORPP is “very aggressive”: http://london.ctvnews.ca/chamber-of-commerce-warns-2017-start-for-ontario-pension-plan-is-very-aggressive-1.2752796
  • Why our outdated pension plans need a fix now: http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/6248620-why-our-outdated-pension-plans-need-a-fix-now-cohn/
  • Is flexible federalism the best fix for CPP reform? http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/is-flexible-federalism-the-best-fix-for-cpp-reform/

 

Ontario

Letters to the editor: Fix lax standards in the workplace:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2016/01/25/fixing-lax-standards-in-the-workplace.html

News Release: Ontario hiring more mental health workers for children and youth:
https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2016/01/ontario-hiring-more-mental-health-workers-for-children-and-youth.html

News Release: Ontario increasing wages for early childhood educators:
https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2016/01/ontario-increasing-wages-for-early-childhood-educators.html

Developmental Services Housing Task Force of the Ministry of Community and Social Services has issued a call for proposals for “creative, inclusive and cost-effective housing projects”:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/developmental/htf/index.aspx#full

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things

Excellent upcoming workshops with Tools for Change in Toronto:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=93fc295adc37a22f7f3b68bb9&id=ca690208b0

CCAAC: Shared framework for building an early childhood education and care system for all:
https://ccaacacpsge.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/sharedframework_jan2016.pdf

New migrant workers rights fact sheets from Migrant Workers Alliance for Change:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9de587703062110954e080261&id=7b19267530

Jan 31: Toronto’s Beach United Church is hosting an event with Michael Shapcott about affordable housing and homelessness:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6248658-learn-about-affordable-housing-homelessness-at-beach-united-church/

 

Around the Province

Task force recommends big changes to Toronto Community Housing:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/task-force-recommends-new-non-profit-version-of-toronto-community-housing-1.3419969

Toronto’s promising alternative to child protection is in demand:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/child-protection-toronto-1.3412298

Toronto’s poverty reduction strategy needs a big infusion of investment, says Commitment 2 Community:
http://www.povertyreductionto.ca/uploads/2/0/7/8/20780132/draft_release_jan_26_final.pdf

  • Council won’t fund poverty reduction properly. On Feb 9, come to the Rally and Bake Sale for Anti-Poverty Action: https://www.facebook.com/events/890072094439315/

It’s Anti-Poverty Week in Peterborough:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2016/01/26/anti-poverty-week-begins

Flooded-out tenants get more money from landlord after intervention by Hamilton Community Legal Clinic:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/flooded-rebecca-st-building-landlord-offers-tenants-more-money-1.3419005

Report says poverty levels in Hamilton are no better today than 10 years ago:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6253522-poverty-levels-no-better-than-10-years-ago/

  • More on the Hamilton Roundtable’s report: http://www.chch.com/anti-poverty-group/
  • Audio: Hamilton groups are sending report on poverty to the UN’s Human Rights Committee: https://soundcloud.com/am900chml/hamilton-anti-poverty-groups-are-sending-a-report-on-poverty-in-hamilton-canada-the-uns-committee

Welland city council becomes the second to endorse a basic income guarantee:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/01/21/council-supports-basic-income

  • Activists say Kingston’s endorsement of Basic Income should lead Sault Ste. Marie to agree: http://www.saultthisweek.com/2016/01/26/local-activists-urge-adoption-of-anti-poverty-plan
  • City of Kawartha Lakes council “backs away” from the conversation: http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6251871-council-backs-away-from-conversation-about-basic-income-guarantee/

Thunder Bay father shocked by allegations that his son was murdered:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-student-deaths-inquest-father-shocked-by-allegations-of-murder-1.3414512?cmp=abfb

Windsor Public Library creating community hub to help people who are homeless and living in poverty:
http://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/6249761-windsor-public-library-to-create-community-hub-to-help-homeless-and-those-in-poverty/

Councillors in Hamilton blame province and feds for gap in trusteeship program funding:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6237971-councillors-blame-province-feds-for-trusteeship-gap/

Tim Hortons owner reaches out to unemployed GTA Goodwill workers, many of whom have disabilities:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/24/tim-hortons-owner-reaches-out-to-unemployed-goodwill-workers.html

 

Across the Country

Saskatchewan Social Services Minister defends decision to allow developer to walk from low-income housing construction contract:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/minister-defends-decision-to-return-low-income-housing-to-private-company-1.2760211

Report: The experience of homelessness in Red Deer: An ethnographic perspective:
http://homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/Final_Ethnography2015.pdf

Tulita, NWT, food prices jump as Northern Store flies in groceries:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/tulita-food-prices-road-1.3414228

BC jails have become “default mental health facilities” says the union representing jail staff:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/jails+have+become+default+mental+health+facilities+union/11670650/story.html

Vancouver set to approve first Downtown Eastside tower with 60% social housing requirement:
http://www.straight.com/news/622561/city-set-approve-first-downtown-eastside-tower-60-percent-social-housing-requirement

Victoria BC group planning a supervised injection site with or without federal permission:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-group-supervised-injection-1.3423147

EI claims continue to increase in BC’s oil-dependent Peace Region:
http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/regional-news/peace-region-ei-claims-rose-in-2015-statscan-1.2158543

 

National

Migrant workers petition the feds for permanent residence upon arrival:
http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/25/migrant-workers-asking-liberal-government-for-permanent-residency-upon-arrival/

  • National Post coverage: http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com%2Fnews%2Fmigrant-farm-workers-call-for-permanent-residency-ability-to-bring-families-to-canada
  • Harvesting Freedom campaign for migrant worker rights: https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-migrant-workers-harvesting-freedom-50-years-of-farm-worker-resistance

CP Rail to cut up to 1,000 jobs as rail volume slumps:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cp-rail-jobs-profits-1.3413696

Waiting for the ruling on whether Canada has discriminated against First Nations children on reserves:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/behind-canadas-great-cauliflower-crisis/article28367845/

The economic realities behind Canada’s “great cauliflower crisis”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/behind-canadas-great-cauliflower-crisis/article28367845/

Postal banking would put a dent in the payday loan business:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/letters/1332902-postal-banking-would-dent-payday-loan-business

What the Liberal government will be up to as Parliament resumed this week:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hall-parliament-returns-liberals-commons-1.3417851

The top staffers in the PMO:
http://www.hilltimes.com/news/news/2016/01/25/meet-pmos-no-2-top-dog-jeremy-broadhurst/45019?mcl=&muid=

Fraser Institute says “only” 1.5% of Canadians are stuck in poverty permanently:
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/01/25/poverty-can-be-persistent-or-temporary-fraser-institute-report

  • Fraser Institute’s ideas for a national poverty strategy: http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/how-politicians-can-get-at-the-real-poverty-problem

 

International

In the US, mass incarceration creates “million dollar blocks”:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/07/30/how-mass-incarceration-creates-million-dollar-blocks-in-poor-neighborhoods/?postshare=5611453694109584&tid=ss_fb

Clinton-era welfare reforms were an attack on women:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2016/01/25/welfare-reform-attack-women/0CYmsKni3Qh2fQUE9UAmrI/story.html

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, isn’t just about water – it’s about poverty:
http://www.justinwedes.com/2016/01/21/the-flint-crisis-is-not-just-about-the-water-its-about-poverty/

Google pays Britain $185 million to settle back taxes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/technology/google-pays-britain-185-million-to-settle-back-taxes.html?_r=1

UK Tory welfare cuts to people with disabilities defeated in the House of Lords:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smith-defeated-over-7260502

UK Lib-Dems to fight welfare cut that will cost single parents £1,000 a year:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/libdems-to-fight-welfare-cut-that-will-cost-single-parents-1000-a-year-a3165206.html

Media and Policy News E-list Archive

Primary Sidebar

Blog sidebar

Subscribe

"*" indicates required fields

Name

Income Security Advocacy Centre

Footer widget

1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Tel: (416) 597-5820 • Toll Free: 1-866-245-4072 • Fax: (416) 597-5821

  • Contact

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.