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New Policies to Speed Up Reunification for Spouses, Common-Law Partners and Dependent Children in Family Class Sponsorship Applications
Important: If you are considering filing an application, it is important to first consult with a lawyer regarding your and your family’s particular circumstances. This article contains very general information about options, rules and criteria, but may not apply in every situation. There may be exceptions to rules or exemptions available for missed requirements.
Read moreAm I able to work while collecting OW or ODSP?
If you are able to work while being on Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you should be aware of the employment earning exemption rules for both support programs. Earnings exemptions are the rules that let you earn some money without OW or ODSP reducing your assistance by the full amount that you earn.
Read moreSmall Wins and Missed Opportunities with Bill 97
Renovictions are a growing concern for the communities we serve. Since 2021, our clinic has seen a 30% increase in the number of tenants seeking assistance because their landlord wants to either demolish or undertake significant repairs or renovations to the residential complex or to their unit.
The tenants we help are fearful of their landlords abusing this type of eviction to capitalize on a loophole in rent control known as vacancy decontrol: this is the ability of the landlord to raise the rent of a vacant unit by any amount they want,
Your First Employment Law Negotiation: What You Need to Know
By: Richa Sandill, Staff Lawyer and Team Lead, Don Valley Community Legal Services/TEEILS
Thanks to courtroom dramas and movies, many people envisage the legal process as a dramatic series of events that culminates in a day in court. And while this is true for some cases, the reality, especially in employment law cases,
The One Year Window Program for Family Members
The One Year Window (OYW) Program allows for the reunification of family members for those who entered Canada as settlement refugees under the government assisted stream or the privately sponsored refugee stream. It applies to all parts of Canada except for Quebec who has its own system.
The permanent resident in Canada who came as a settlement refugee must submit the One Year Window (OYW) application package for their family members within the first year that they arrive in Canada.
These Toronto lawyers want South Asian newcomers to know their employment rights
CBC News interviewed our Staff Lawyer Richa Sandill and Anchal Bhatia, a Staff Lawyer from the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, about the Tareekh Pe Tareekh: Know Your Employment Rights campaign. The campaign breaks down the ins and outs of workers’ rights through informational videos in South Asian languages.
Read moreSpeaking at the Standing Committee on Bill 97
On May 10, 2023, Bhavin Bilimoria, Director of Legal Services and head of our Housing Team, and Karly Wilson, Staff Lawyer on our Housing Team, spoke at the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy about Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023.
You can watch their presentation here:
https://www.donvalleylegal.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Video-of-Bhavin-and-Karlys-Submission-on-Bill-97-May-10-2023.mp4
CERB and CRB Overpayments
Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government introduced several temporary measures to provide income support to individuals who were out of work, or had reductions in their incomes due to COVID-19.
Between March 15, 2020 and September 26, 2020, the government issued the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). CERB provided a $500.00 weekly benefit for individuals who met eligibility criteria,
Information on Parent/Grandparent Super Visas
*Note: on July 22nd, 2022, the Super Visa program was updated. The information below is related only to applications made after this date, and is current to April 17th, 2023.
The Parent/Grandparent Super Visa is a visitor visa designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, which allows them to visit and stay in Canada for up to five years at a time.
Discretionary Benefits for Recipients of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
Question: In your previous article, you set out some mandatory benefits that one can receive from Ontario Works and Ontario Disability benefits. You indicated that that there are also benefits which are discretionary. Could you explain these?
Answer: As mentioned in the previous article, as a recipient of either Ontario Works or Ontario Disability benefits,