covid-19 & your legal rights​

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The COVID-19 virus continues to have a changing impact on our lives. From housing and social assistance to immigration and employment, it is important to stay up to date on changing policies as well as your legal rights. 

We will continue to update this page regularly to keep you informed!      

Specific areas of law

For information about specific areas of law, please select a link below

HOUSING

EMPLOYMENT

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE & PENSIONS

IMMIGRATION, REFUGEE & CITIZENSHIP

frequently asked questions

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Steps to Justice has developed a resource to answer frequently asked questions about legal rights as they relate to COVID-19 measures. CLICK HERE to access it.

• Misinformation is contagious! Follow guidelines set out by reputable sources for the most up to date and reliable information about COVID-19. We recommend:
  • Our City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam is maintaining daily updates on her site with the latest information from the City of Toronto.
  • Our Member of Provincial Parliament Suze Morrison’s website contains practical tips on staying safe during this time, and looking out for vulnerable friends and neighbours.
  • Our Federal Member of Parliament Bill Morneau’s site maintains online updates from the Federal government, including interactive Q/A.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT COURTS AND TRIBUNALS

• The Ontario Social Justice Tribunals (including the Landlord and Tenant Board and the Social Justice Tribunal) are postponing in-person hearings but will proceed with written, telephone or video hearings wherever possible.

• The Ontario Superior Court of Justice (ie. 393 University) has suspended regular operations. It is hearing emergency matters in family, civil and criminal cases only, but this information changes day by day. Check their website for more specific guidance. Presently it advises that accused persons with matters scheduled in the Superior Court of Justice in the month of March, 2020 are adjourned until June 2, 2020. Those accused must appear in court on June 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the court location at which they were to appear in March, 2020.
• The Ontario Court of Justice (ie. 311 Jarvis or 47 Sheppard) has issued a statement saying that as of Monday March 16, if you have a Provincial Offences Act, family or criminal court appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice you do not need to attend court at this time, unless the matter is an in-custody or urgent criminal matter or an urgent family matter.

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

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If you have COVID-19 symptoms and want to get assessed,  click HERE for our local assessment centres.
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THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT HAS WAIVED THE 3-MONTH OHIP WAIT PERIOD, AND ENSURES THAT UNINSURED PEOPLE CAN BE TESTED AND TREATED WITHOUT CHARGE.