On December 10, International Human Rights Day, ISAC participated in a press conference hosted by Defend Disability at Queen’s Park, urging the Province to protect the right of people with disabilities to an adequate standard of living. Defend Disability, a coalition of people with lived experience of disability, legal clinics, health care providers, experts and …
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ISAC Press Release: Response to the Auditor General’s Report on ODSP
Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) cautions against relying on the Auditor General’s fundamentally flawed report on ODSP The report misunderstands the purpose of ODSP and relies on erroneous assumptions The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides monthly income supports and health benefits to low-income persons with disabilities who have no other means to pay for …
ODSP expenditures have increased because the program is better meeting the needs of Ontarians with disabilities: ISAC responds to the Auditor General’s Report
On December 4, 2019, the Auditor General released an audit of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). ODSP is a critical program that provides monthly income supports and health benefits to low-income persons with disabilities who have no other means to pay for their basic necessities such as food and shelter. The focus of the …
Fact Sheet: Social Assistance Update
It has been almost a year since the Ontario government announced a number of proposed changes to our social assistance programs on Nov. 22, 2018. Many of these changes have been cancelled or postponed as a result of community resistance. This fact sheet explains where we are today. Proposed changes that have been cancelled The …
Access to Justice for Workers: Uber v. Heller
** Français ci-dessous ** In Ontario, if your boss refuses to pay the minimum wage or violates your other employment rights, you can go to court or contact the Ministry of Labour. But can your boss make you sign an agreement to give up that right? On November 6, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear …
Changes coming to Employment Insurance Appeal Process
The Government of Canada has announced that it is making changes to the way that workers appeal Employment Insurance (EI) decisions. Starting in April 2021, workers will appeal to a new Employment Insurance Boards of Appeal that includes decision-makers that reflect the interests of workers. The announcement is a victory for the workers and advocates …
Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) budget cut by 25%: Provincial government’s cut to legal aid will hurt the most vulnerable
ISAC was advised this morning that our budget will be cut by 25% over the next two years. We have been directed to de-prioritize law reform and community development work. This cut is a direct attack on low-income people in this province, including the social assistance recipients and low-income workers that ISAC serves. The cuts …
New law allows migrant workers facing abuse to change jobs
On June 4, 2019, migrant workers in Canada working for an abusive employer finally got a process for changing jobs – a right that other workers can take for granted. In order to work in Canada, non-permanent residents or citizens must have a work permit. Most migrant workers are issued what are called “closed” work …
Benefit for Children To Be Cut from OW/ODSP
We have recently learned that the Ontario government plans on eliminating a benefit that allows some parents on Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Program to feed and clothe their children. The Transition Child Benefit provides up to $230 per child per month to parents on OW or ODSP who are not eligible for the …
Public Forum: Access to Justice for All!
If you are in Toronto, please join us for a public forum on funding cuts to legal aid and community legal clinics! When: Thursday, May 16, 7:00 pm Where: Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Room 309 RSVP via Eventbrite by clicking here or via Facebook by clicking here. Community legal clinics are facing 15% funding …
