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
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,
Read moreThe 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.
Read moreThese 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
Read moreCERB 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,
Read moreInformation 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.
Read moreDiscretionary 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,
Read moreThe Legal Max for Sub-Tenancies
Q: What is the maximum amount of time a tenant is legally allowed to sublet their apartment? A: Under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the “Act”), subletting refers to the situation in which a tenant vacates their apartment and gives another person (known as the subtenant) the right to occupy their apartment for a term ending on a specified date.
Read moreIRCC’s Pilot Project to Sponsor Undeclared Family Members – Expiring Soon
Please see our updated article as this program has been extended. The Government of Canada has extended a pilot project that allows certain immigrants who did not declare family members on their original applications to still sponsor them so they can come to Canada. When a person applies for permanent residence in Canada,
Read moreOne-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit – Deadline March 31, 2023
The one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit aims to help low-income renters with the cost of renting. You may be eligible for a tax-free one-time payment of $500 if your income and the amount that you pay on rent qualify. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers this one-time payment. To apply for this new federal one-time payment,
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