Campaigns and Law Reform: Our Current Work
Poverty Reduction in Ontario
ISAC has been very involved in working to advocate for a poverty reduction strategy in Ontario, and in helping communities voice their needs and expectations for poverty reduction.
ISAC has also forwarded policy proposals to government, particularly on improving the lives of people living on social assistance in Ontario.
On December 4, the provincial government released Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy. In this document, the province commits to reduce child and family poverty in Ontario by 25% in the next five years.
Read more about Poverty Reduction in Ontario by clicking here.
OW / ODSP Reforms
Social Assistance Rate Restructuring
Starting in July 2008 – when the new monthly Ontario Child Benefit began (see above) – the provincial government made changes to social assistance rates that impact on families with dependent children only. Single people, couples without children, and parents without dependent children have not been affected. See ISAC’s Rate Restructuring and Child Benefits fact sheet for more information.
UPDATE: Starting in July 2009, the Ontario Child Benefit will increase to $92 per month per child. However, social assistance rates for families with dependent children are being further restructured.
See our June 2009 updated Rate Restructuring and Child Benefits fact sheet for more information.
ODSP Action Coalition
ISAC works closely with the ODSP Action Coalition, which is a province-wide coalition of community based organizations and people with disabilities pushing for improvements to ODSP so that people with disabilities can live with justice and dignity.
ISAC is a member of the Coalition’s Policy and Research and Public Awareness and Advocacy committees.
For information on becoming a member, download the Coalition’s Welcome Package.
Bringing in Women's Voices project
ISAC and Campaign 2000 are working with low-income moms across Ontario to ensure their experiences and ideas are included in discussions on the income security issues that affect women’s lives.
Learn more about our Bringing in Women’s Voices from the Margins project.
And check out our Facebook page!
Ontario Child Benefit
The Ontario Child Benefit goes to all eligible low-income families with children between the ages of 0 – 18, whether they are working or receiving Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). ISAC is monitoring the roll-out of the OCB closely and working to ensure no families on social assistance are left out or left worse off as a result of the changes.
Read more about the Ontario Child Benefit by clicking here.
Transition Child Benefit
Some families receiving social assistance do not get the maximum OCB or NCBS. To make sure that these families are not negatively affected by the restructuring of social assistance rates (see above), the government has created the Transition Child Benefit. This will affect families with dependent children only. Single people, couples without children, and parents without dependent children will not be affected.
See ISAC’s Transition Child Benefit Fact Sheet for more information.
Stop Wage Theft! Campaign
ISAC supports the Stop Wage Theft! Campaign and has endorsed a call to stand-up for workers struggling with job insecurity and poverty.
The campaign is led by the Workers’ Action Centre.
Read the campaign’s demands, and take action!
Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN)
LIEN was formed in 2004 by anti-poverty, affordable housing and environmental groups in response to the impact of rising energy prices on low-income Ontarians.
ISAC sits on LIEN's Steering Committee.
Read more about LIEN by clicking here.
Links to Other Income Security Campaigns
Step It Up Campaign
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