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Copy That! A Tenant’s Right to Withhold Rent
By John Wigle, Student-at-Law, and Bhavin Bilimoria, Director of Legal Services, Don Valley Community Legal Services
Question: Can I withhold my rent if my landlord does not provide me with a copy of the lease?
Answer: If a tenancy agreement is in writing (i.e. a lease),
Dealing with an Employer Who Doesn’t Pay You
By Richa Sandill, Staff Lawyer and DVCLS Employment Law Team Lead
At our legal clinic we receive far too many calls from people whose employers fail to pay them their wages. These calls can range from employers who pay wages haphazardly, to employers who don’t pay wages on time,
Citizenship Applications – Common Causes of Complications: Criminal Matters
Below is the first in a series of information posts from our Immigration Team about some of the most common factors that could cause complications with the processing of Citizenship Applications.
Number One: Criminal Charges or Recent Convictions
There are two ways that being charged or convicted of a criminal offence could have an impact on your eligibility to apply for citizenship and/or the processing of your ongoing citizenship application.
Have the ODSP and OW rates been changing recently?
The benefit rates of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) have seen a 6.5% increase in July 2023, based on the cost of living formula established by the Ontario Government which takes inflation into account. The ODSP rate is now roughly $1308 a month for a single person with disability and maximum shelter allowance.
Read moreRicha Sandill of DVCLS elected to Executive Committee of SABA of Toronto Board
We are proud to share that Richa Sandill, Staff Lawyer at Don Valley Community Legal Services and head of our Employment Law Team, was elected to the Executive Committee of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto Board of Directors. She will serve in the role of Secretary for the 2023-24 term.
Read moreWorkplace Harassment: What is it and what can you do about it if it’s happening to you?
By: Soheila Azimi, DVCLS Employment Law Team, Student Intern, Queen’s Law ‘24
What is Workplace Harassment?
When we think of workplace harassment, we usually think that it only includes sexual harassment. However, harassment covers an entire range of actions and comments. In short, harassment occurs when someone says or writes something or acts in a way that is known to be unwelcome,
What to Consider Before Applying for a Visitor Visa
At Don Valley Community Legal Services, we sometimes receive calls from community members asking how they can help a relative get a visitor visa to come to Canada. We do not usually assist with these applications due to our limited resources. However, there is some general information we ask clients to consider before they invest in a private lawyer and the visa application process.
Read moreEast Toronto residents in need can get help from lawyers and paralegals at Don Valley Community Legal Services
July 11, 2023 | Beach Metro News | By NASFISAT ALAO
Don Valley Community Legal Services is a not-for-profit, government-funded legal clinic helping residents in the East Toronto area.
It is an amalgamation of two legal clinics – East Toronto Community Legal Services and Flemingdon Community Legal Services — that continues the work of both organizations under one umbrella.
ODSP and OW Overpayments
My friend told me that she has been assessed with an overpayment from the Ontario Works office. What is this and how can I avoid it?
If you receive social assistance, an overpayment occurs when you receive money from the Ontario Works (OW) office or the Ontario Disability (ODSP) office that you are not entitled to and you are expected to pay it back.
Everything You Need to Know about Submitting an E.I. Reconsideration Request
By: Soheila Azimi, DVCLS Employment Team’s Student Intern, Queen’s Law ’24.
Being terminated from a job is difficult for everyone. Luckily, the Government of Canada has resources like Employment Insurance Benefits to provide you with financial assistance until you secure a new job.
You can apply for Employment Insurance (E.I.) immediately after being fired from your job by filling out the application on the Service Canada website and providing all of the required information with your application.