Campaigns and Law Reform: Our Past Work

Cuts Hurt Kids! Alert

Starting in 2008,the Back-to-School and Winter Clothing allowances provided through OW and ODSP will no longer be paid out in lump sum payments, as the provincial government starts to move benefits for children out of social assistance and into the monthly Ontario Child Benefit program. Families onOW and ODSP are expected to save up to buy winter clothes and school supplies throughout the year, despite the fact social assistance rates are so low most families can't afford to pay rent and eat three meals a day.

For more information, click here.

Ontario Election 2007

ISAC used the Ontario election in 2007 to push all of the parties to make concrete commitments to reduce poverty across the province.

For more information on ISAC's work around the 2007 Ontario Election, click here

Hands Off! Campaign

ISAC's Hands off! Campaign against the clawback of the National Child Benefit Supplement from families on social assistance ended in June 2007.

For more information on ISAC's past Hands Off! Campaign, click here

Matthews Review of OW and ODSP

In December 2004, Deb Matthews, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services, released her long-awaited report on social assistance with several recommendations for improving the system in ways that actually work for low-income people.

Read the Review of Employment Assistance Programs in Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.

For ISAC's response to the Matthew's Report please see: The Matthew's Report: Moving Towards Income Security - June 2, 2005

The Justice with Dignity Campaign

In August 2001, Kimberly Rogers died in her Sudbury apartment while under house arrest for welfare fraud. Only 3 of the 14 recommendations resulting from the inquest into her death have ever been implemented. Justice With Dignity continues to push the provincial government to implement all of the recommendations...

For more information on ISAC's past Justice with Dignity Campaign, click here

To see the now defunct Pay the Rent and Feed the Kids campaign website, click here

Review of Social Union Framework Agreement

In late 2002, the Federal/ Provincial/ Territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal undertook a review of the Social Union Framework Agreement and its implementation. Read ISAC's submission...

For more information on the past Review of Social Union Framework Agreement, click here

Income Security Consultation and Reform Project

ISAC is undertaking a major consultation on the income security system to identify priority concerns for litigation and generate new ideas for law reform...

For more information on ISAC's past Income Security Consultation and Reform Project, click here