Community Voices

Contributions from others in the community

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Recent Posts

Poverty law as threatened as the poor by Ontario austerity measures

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By Deborah O’Connor

Legal clinics, the seemingly silent side of Legal Aid Ontario, may be home to many idealistic, justice seeking lawyers, but they are still part of the government funded, and very official, legal system, subject to the same been counting instincts of administrators everywhere. Like so many other public services, they have grown bit-by-bit, region-by-region, until every geographic corner of Ontario has been covered, each clinic a unique entity. Perhaps grown complacent after years of steady funding, the clinics seem somewhat shocked that bean counters at head office are less impressed with their noble attributes than in the past and looking for radical change in how they conduct their business now. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Social Justice

Prescription for legal clinics from Legal Aid Ontario

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By Deborah O’Connor

In the first article of our series we looked at Ontario’s system of legal clinics and how Legal Aid Ontario, their funder, sees their operations. In their discussion paper of May 2012 LAO calls upon clinics to examine their most fundamental views of the system and find more responsive, and more cost effective ways to deliver their services. Predictably, the clinics are feeling threatened by this latest challenge since they have already had several years of belt tightening and increased pressure to do more with less. Contained in LAO’s report are many criticisms of how clinics do business. There are complaints small clinics in rural areas are inefficient, despite the fact that the clinics provide what is usually the only life-line for low income residents caught up in legal problems threatening their income, housing, and well being. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Social Justice

Tightening the screws on Ontario’s legal clinics: part one

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By Deborah O’Connor

Since 2008 there have been three major discussion papers examining the state of the Province’s legal clinics, the latest released in May 2012 with the intimidating title of “Ideas for the Future Development of Clinic Law Delivery Services in Ontario”. This one is the most critical of the system yet, and announces its purpose is to challenge clinics to “address fundamental questions about long term structure and sustainability of clinic law services in Ontario”. With a background that includes taking part in the formation of the Northumberland Community Legal Clinic based in Cobourg, and many years of employment there as a community legal worker, this writer admits upfront that legal clinics are dear to my heart. While criminal and family law matters eat up the lion’s share of legal aid funding and use private bar lawyers to assist clients, the clinics, that part of Legal Aid Ontario that deals with poverty law specifically, are unique in how they practice the fine art of securing social and economic justice for clients. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Social Justice

Poverty: Premier just doesn’t get it

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By Deborah O’Connor

Sunday’s charming scene showing Dalton McGuinty shooting hoops with low income kids at a recreation centre in Toronto was a heart-warming sight that belied the message he delivered to Ontario’s poor while he was there. Claiming he won’t balance the books on the backs of the poor, he proceeded to announce a freeze on welfare rates and a 50 percent cut to previously planned increases to the Ontario Child Benefit over the next two years. If these measures don’t hurt the poor, it’s hard to imagine why not. For starters, Statistics Canada reports the Consumer Price Index for Ontario rose almost three percent in the last year, making his welfare rate freeze a cut in any practical sense. Boasting that his government has restored twelve percent of the twenty two percent welfare rate cuts imposed in 1995, he chooses to ignore the fact that ten percent remains unrestored, and that inflation has brought the impact of the 1995 cuts all the way up to a fifty percent loss for recipients by now. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices

Client shares insight into welfare reform

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By Christine Watts

It is hard to feel hopeful or mentally stable when I think about the upcoming provincial budget and report from the Commission Reviewing Social Assistance.  My concern is no longer whether they plan to slash the net out from under us – but when and by how much they will reduce our income, benefits and supports. If the under-employed and those who lack access, mobility and ability are suddenly expected to find work and this requirement is imposed through an inhumane and unrealistic program; the clients will no doubt be blamed for laziness and lack of effort.  (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Social Justice

Welfare reform an attack on disabled

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By Deborah O’Connor

When 40-some years of Conservative rule in Ontario ended in 1985 with the Liberal-New Democrat accord, the creaky and inadequate welfare system was just one of the areas needing reform, and it was achieved quickly after the groundbreaking Transitions Report was released in 1987. Although many of the recommendations made then are still awaiting implementation now, the most important one, to significantly increase the rates, was in place by 1988. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Social Justice

Fixing welfare: the never-ending story

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By Deborah O’Connor

Just in time for Valentine’s Day the Committee for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario has released another paper on welfare reform. This one, titled “Discussion Paper Two: Approaches for Reform”, provides details on input provided during the consultation phase of the review and poses questions people can answer if they hustle to meet the March 16th deadline. The final report of the committee is expected in June. Added to their original list of commitments, the committee wants to ascertain how a proposed housing benefit would align with social assistance reform, a sure sign the Ontario government is planning to introduce one. Some 2,000 people contributed ideas over the course of 11 “community conversations” held last year, with an additional 700 written submissions received. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Social Justice

Northumberland residents silent on growing county budget

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By Deborah O’Connor

Here we are at budget setting time again, and while the lower tier municipalities can expect a few stirrings of interest from the public as they proceed, the County process seems to attract little attention from anybody. With a budget that grows each year and a levy that will exceed $43 million once approved for 2012, that’s surprising to say the least. The proposed total budget for the County is $91.4 million, with the operating budget accounting for $77 million and the capital portion at $14.9 million. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Politics

Worker lockouts a bad omen for labour in Canada

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By Deborah O’Connor

On New Year’s Day, while most of us were relaxing and contemplating our resolutions for 2012, some twelve hundred Canadian workers were learning their employers had locked them out of their jobs, drawing a hard line in the sand to demonstrate their intractable contract positions. In the wake of the brand new Conservative government’s quick action last June to introduce back-to-work legislation to force Canada Post workers back on the job, along with threats to do the same to striking Air Canada workers, many Canadian trade unionists and their allies are feeling some anxiety about labour relations in the coming year and beyond.   (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices

More fractured mental health care in Northumberland

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By Deborah O’Connor

A press release from the Central East LHIN was widely circulated on Dec. 16 announcing public consultation on a new and improved service delivery model for mental health care provided in Kawartha Lakes, the city and County of Peterborough, Haliburton and Northumberland Counties. The focus of the review is actually somewhat more restricted than that, dealing essentially with the future of two branches of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA); those in Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough. The recommendations up for discussion were developed by senior managers at those branches, along with their equivalents at the Central East LHIN and CMHA national head office. There was an initial consultation process last summer and this last kick at the can is to review and comment one final time before they’re presented to the board of LHIN in late January. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Community Voices, Health