News & Events
Welcome to our News & Events page. Don Valley Community Legal Services actively participates in a variety of community activities, public legal education workshops, and community networking tables. One key component that allows members to be self-empowered is knowledge of what is happening around them. This page will allow us to share what is happening in the communities we serve.
Here we will share legal information articles, local law reform campaigns, news stories, community events and details for our Annual General Meeting.
For community events, workshops, public legal education (PLE) information or membership, please contact our Community Development Worker at 416-441-1764 ext. 22.
Legal Info Articles & News
Toronto man’s deportation deferred after UN requests interim measure
The following article is from Toronto Today September 23, 2026 By Cherise Seucharan An ex-refugee who has lived in Toronto for nearly 30 years has had his deportation deferred, due to an interim measure granted by the United Nations. On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Committee confirmed it was considering a petition filed on behalf of 58-year-old Roman Slepcsik,
Read moreIRCC’s Pilot Project to Sponsor Undeclared Family Members – NOW EXPIRED
The following is legal information and not legal advice. If you need further information or need legal advice, please call our Intake Line at 416-441-1764 ext. 1. The Government of Canada Public Policy Pilot Program that allowed certain immigrants who did not declare family members on their original applications to still sponsor them (to come to Canada) has now expired.
Read moreStop Roman’s Removal
Sign the petition!
https://www.change.org/stopromansremoval
Click here for more information and learn how you can contact your MP and the Minister of Immigration. We need you support!
Roman Slepcsik has lived in Canada for almost 30 years. He came here as a refugee from the Czech Republic in 1997 after a group of neo-Nazi skinheads targeted his family.
New Resource: Requesting Debt Relief for Pandemic Benefit Overpayments
The following information is from the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) and was published on August 19, 2026. Link: https://incomesecurity.org/new-resource-requesting-debt-relief-for-pandemic-benefit-overpayments/ Between 2020 and 2022, many people received COVID-19 income support benefits from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). These income support benefits include the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB),
Read moreNew social assistance rules exclude vulnerable people based on immigration status
The following information is from the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) and was published on August 20, 2026. Link: https://incomesecurity.org/new-social-assistance-rules-exclude-vulnerable-people-based-on-immigration-status/ On August 13, 2026, the Ontario government made changes to the rules about social assistance eligibility that may affect people with temporary status or no immigration status in Canada.
Read moreRental Building Violations & Inspections
The City of Toronto has launched a new Rental Building Violations and Inspections Database. The database provides members of the public with access to information about enforcement activity in rental apartment buildings. This tool was developed in response to Council’s direction to develop a cross-divisional database for tracking investigation and enforcement activity (EX29.14).
Read moreCanada Disability Benefit Rates Sheet
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a new monthly federal benefit for people with disabilities who earn under a certain income and who maintain other eligibility requirements (such as being eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.) After many years of advocacy by people with disabilities, their loved ones, and disability advocates across the country,
Read moreSocial Assistance rates are stuck in time. Time to move forward together!
Help us call on the Ontario Government to fix the rules for OW recipients so they are not stuck in poverty while they are face difficult life situations. Over 470,000 Ontarians rely on support from Ontario Works. They live in every riding in the province, and they are single parents, young people who can’t find adequate work,
Read more2026 Update to the Parents and Grandparents Program
July 16, 2026 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP Program). Unfortunately, this program that was largely closed off is now completely closed off until further notice. IRCC will continue to process existing applications and they plan to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP Program in 2026,
Read moreBill 60 Update – July 2026
Written by: Alexa Bain, Summer Law Student, edited by Michelle Choe, Staff Lawyer Several amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, will come into effect throughout 2026, through the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 and the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 – many of which will make eviction quicker and easier.
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