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Joint Letter to City Council: We Need to Invest in a City for All!

We were proud to join other community and faith-based organizations co-signing a letter to Mayor Chow and the members of Toronto City Council urging them to support key investments in affordable housing, transit, youth employment, poverty reduction, and more in this year’s City Budget.
Read the our letter below:
Dear Mayor Chow and Members of Toronto City Council,

Guarantee the Canada Disability Benefit!

We call on the Government of Canada to finalize the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) regulations by March 7 to “Guarantee the CDB” will be paid out as promised on July 1, 2025.
Finalizing the regulations is the last step in getting the CDB across the finish line. We know it’s not perfect but if the CDB regulations aren’t finalized before a federal election is called,

Can My Spouse Get a Work Permit Before We Get Canadian Permanent Residence?

Coming to Canada as a foreign-national has never been easy, and over the last few months it has become harder. In the fall of 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a number of changes intended to curb Canada’s population growth. Amongst the casualties are programs that allow people to bring their families to Canada while they await a permanent residence decision.

What government sources of income are available?

There are various sources of income which are administered by the government. These income supports may be available depending on your particular situation. The following is a brief overview of some of the common sources of income.
Employment Insurance (EI)
If you have been employed or self-employed, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

Domestic Workers and the Employment Standards Act, 2000

The Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), sets out the basic workplace rights of most employees in Ontario. Employers are required to act in accordance with these rights.
However, depending on the job you perform, you may be subject to special rules and/or exemptions. Work performed by Domestic Workers is one such example.

Immigration Update: 2025 Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship Program

Government of Canada pauses the acceptance of Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship applications as of January 1st, 2025.
According to an announcement in the Canada Gazette, this year (2025), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will only be accepting and processing Permanent Residence applications made under the PGP program that were already submitted by the end of 2024.

Marjorie Hiley awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal

Our Executive Director, Marjorie Hiley, received the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal in recognition for her contributions to our community. Thank you MPP Stephanie Bowman for nominating Marjorie!

BEWARE: SCAMMERS EXPLOITING NEW GOVERNMENT REBATE PROGRAM TO TARGET SENIORS

Ontario homeowners—particularly seniors—are being warned about scams linked to the recent launch of government energy efficiency rebate programs.
On January 7, 2025, the Government of Ontario announced new rebate programs designed to help homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades. These programs cover rebates for:

Windows and doors
Insulation and air sealing
Smart thermostats and heat pumps
Rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems

Unfortunately,

Letter of Support for Bill 230, Housing Equity and Rental Transparency Act, 2024

Our MPP Stephanie Bowman, Don Valley West, introduced Bill 230, Housing Equity and Rental Transparency Act, 2024, at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on November 27, 2024. We were pleased to provide our feedback and a letter of support.
The amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act proposed in this Bill would improve not only the lives of tenants,

Temporary Layoffs: Know Your Rights

Has your employer ever stopped giving you work without actually terminating your employment? Or perhaps your employer suddenly gives you fewer shifts? If so, then you may have been put on a temporary layoff.
A temporary layoff happens when an employer stops or significantly cuts back on the work they give to an employee without actually terminating their employment.