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Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

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Send a Letter to the Premier to Fix Ontario Works Now!

Ontario Works rates are too low for people to live on. The low rates and punitive rules are a widespread problem for everyone in Ontario. We care about people on social assistance and we want the system fixed! Send a letter to the Premier and other policymakers to tell them it’s time to fix OW!

Click here to read more and send a letter

We advance the systemic interests and rights of low-income and equity-seeking communities and meaningfully support Indigenous Peoples and communities, with a focus on improving income security programs and ending low-wage precarious employment.

Updates

Decision-makers must look at the “whole person” in assessing ODSP eligibility

People living with mental health-related disabilities who apply to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are often turned down. This may be because the decision-maker believes that the medical treatment they are getting isn’t comprehensive…

March 2, 2026
Access to Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Social Benefits Tribunal
Four simple black and white icons positioned in each corner of the image around a thin blue circle. The images are of a folded newspaper, a microphone on a desktop stand, a black circle surrounding a white square with a black triangular "play" icon inside of it, and a video camera on a stand.

In the Media: “Court bars tribunal from using legal standard that led to dismissal of many human rights complaints”, Law Times

ISAC Staff Lawyer Nabila F. Qureshi was interviewed by the Law Times about the recent victory at Divisional Court in the case of Bokhari v. Top Medical Transportation Services. The decision is considered an important…

February 27, 2026
Disability Justice, Human Rights, In the Media, Litigation, Public Education

Community Legal Clinics Win Major Human Rights Decision at Divisional Court of Ontario in Bokhari v. Top Medical Transportation Services

Decision removes a serious access to justice hurdle for applicants alleging discrimination at the Human Rights Tribunal Toronto, ON. – The Divisional Court of Ontario has released a new decision, Bokhari v. Top Medical Transportation…

February 24, 2026
Access to Justice, Disability Justice, Human Rights, Litigation, Press Release, Workers’ Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

ISAC Lawyers Promote Health Justice with New Book for Primary Health Care Providers

In our work on income security at ISAC, we know that unmet legal needs can harm people’s health. Unsafe working conditions can lead to illness or injury. Members of marginalized groups may face discrimination in…

February 23, 2026
Access to Justice, Disability Justice, Public Education, Social Assistance, Workers’ Rights
Blue arc which is part of ISAC's logo

ISAC Submission on Automatic Federal Benefits for Lower-Income Individuals

The federal government has recently taken steps to implement a long-awaited automatic tax filing system in Canada, first announced in 2020. People who owe taxes must file a tax return each year with the Canada…

February 9, 2026
Federal Benefits – General, Poverty Reduction

The Black Inmate Abuse Class Action Case & Anti-Black Racism in Federal Prisons

Mr. Araya, a formerly incarcerated person, brought a case against Corrections Services Canada (CSC) in which he alleges that he was subjected to human rights violations due to his race. In a 2023 hearing, the…

February 5, 2026
Access to Justice, Human Rights, Public Education

More Updates

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Updates

Decision-makers must look at the “whole person” in assessing ODSP eligibility

People living with mental health-related disabilities who apply to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are often turned down. This may be because the decision-maker believes that the medical treatment they are getting isn’t comprehensive…

March 2, 2026
Access to Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Social Benefits Tribunal
Four simple black and white icons positioned in each corner of the image around a thin blue circle. The images are of a folded newspaper, a microphone on a desktop stand, a black circle surrounding a white square with a black triangular "play" icon inside of it, and a video camera on a stand.

In the Media: “Court bars tribunal from using legal standard that led to dismissal of many human rights complaints”, Law Times

ISAC Staff Lawyer Nabila F. Qureshi was interviewed by the Law Times about the recent victory at Divisional Court in the case of Bokhari v. Top Medical Transportation Services. The decision is considered an important…

February 27, 2026
Disability Justice, Human Rights, In the Media, Litigation, Public Education

Community Legal Clinics Win Major Human Rights Decision at Divisional Court of Ontario in Bokhari v. Top Medical Transportation Services

Decision removes a serious access to justice hurdle for applicants alleging discrimination at the Human Rights Tribunal Toronto, ON. – The Divisional Court of Ontario has released a new decision, Bokhari v. Top Medical Transportation…

February 24, 2026
Access to Justice, Disability Justice, Human Rights, Litigation, Press Release, Workers’ Rights
Simple graphic icon which includes an outline of a piece of paper with the top left corner folded in, and two star shapes on the right side of the piece of paper. These elements are in dark blue, and they are placed inside a light blue circle.

ISAC Lawyers Promote Health Justice with New Book for Primary Health Care Providers

In our work on income security at ISAC, we know that unmet legal needs can harm people’s health. Unsafe working conditions can lead to illness or injury. Members of marginalized groups may face discrimination in…

February 23, 2026
Access to Justice, Disability Justice, Public Education, Social Assistance, Workers’ Rights
Blue arc which is part of ISAC's logo

ISAC Submission on Automatic Federal Benefits for Lower-Income Individuals

The federal government has recently taken steps to implement a long-awaited automatic tax filing system in Canada, first announced in 2020. People who owe taxes must file a tax return each year with the Canada…

February 9, 2026
Federal Benefits – General, Poverty Reduction

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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

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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.