First British Columbia, and then Nova Scotia, recently ended immigration detention in provincial jails. See this Human Rights Watch story for more details. 

If you were held in a prison for immigration-related purposes, you could be part of a class action lawsuit.

A proposed class action lawsuit has been started against the Government of Canada for people who were placed in prison by the Canada Border Services Agency ("CBSA"). You do not have to pay anything to join this class action. YOu also will not have to pay any money if the case is not successful. The lawyers will get paid only if the lawsuit is successful, and only at the end. See here for more information and who to contact. 

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) has revised the Disability Determination Package (DDP) and Medical Review Package (MRP). The new forms have been made available to new ODSP applicants and existing clients undergoing a medical review starting Friday August 7.
 
Changes to the DDP include: 

• more examples and more blank space;
• reminders to attach medical and supporting information
• a new section for information on addictions and mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders and cognitive impairments;
• a new a warning about criminal offenses under the Criminal Code s.s.380 (1) and ODSP S. 59 in the Health Status Report and Activities of Daily Living. This is directed to the medical professionals completing the forms.
• a revised Intellectual and Emotional Wellness Scale; and
• a revised Self Report.

Samples of these new forms can be accessed here and here. 

Through our partnership with the St. Mike's Family Health Team (the Health Justice Program), we have observed that child support "payors" turning 65 find their old age income (OAS/CPP) garnished at 50%. This comes as quite a shock after years of being on social assistance, which was not garnished.

Resolving this issue requires lots of patience and paperwork; effectively payors have to return to court to get the earlier child support Order changed. We believe the legal regime - while set up to ensure children and their primary caregivers get the financial support they need - is punishing for dads with disabilities. Please see this slidedeck presentation (approx. 30 mins) in which we share what we have learned in helping folks navigate this issue.

​We hope this helps service providers working with older men to issue spot and connect their clients/neighbours to appropriate resources before turning 65, when this sudden income garnishment creates cascading crises. 

​Apart from the obvious benefits that are associated with Canadian citizenship – such as the ability to vote and run for political office, the travel benefits (a Canadian passport makes travel, obtaining visas and even re-entering the country significantly easier), and of course, benefits to your children in the form of automatic citizenship–there is a lesser-known, somewhat unnerving benefit that also comes with Canadian citizenship.