Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

Updates

ISAC Welcomes Decision to Reverse Cut to TCB / Se réjouit de la décision d’annuler la suppression de la Prestation transitoire pour enfants

** Français ci-dessous ** The Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) welcomes the provincial government’s decision to reverse the cancellation of the Transition Child Benefit, a program that helps feed and clothe 32,000 Ontario children every month. The Transition Child Benefit (TCB) provides up to $230 per child to social assistance recipients who do not receive federal or …

New data shows Ontario to deny basic needs to approximately 32,000 children

The Ontario government has introduced a law that will cancel the Transition Child Benefit on November 1, 2019. With Ontario’s changes, families living in poverty who are ineligible for child tax benefits will experience a significant loss of up to $230 per month per child. A typical two-parent households with two children, for example, will …

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 …

Defend Disability!

In November of last year, Minister MacLeod announced her intention to change the definition of disability that her ministry uses to determine if a low-income person is eligible for ODSP benefits. This is just one of a number of other changes that were announced at that time. Minister MacLeod’s proposal would make the definition more …

Take Action! Community Legal Clinic Services Under Threat

The provincial government’s recent budget made cuts to a number of public programs and services, which will hurt low-income people in Ontario. This includes cuts to social assistance, public health, library services, prescription coverage for children and youth, public education, and many others. It also includes a massive 30% cut to legal aid funding. And …