Income Security Advocacy Centre - ISAC

10/07/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
Do you have questions about your rights at work or disability-related accommodations?

Join ARCH Disability Law Centre on Friday, October 23 at 1:00 p.m. for a free virtual webinar about workplace accommodations and human rights in Ontario.

We’ll discuss:
• Your right to workplace accommodations
• What Ontario law says about disability-related accommodations
• When and how to request accommodations in non-unionized employment
• Where to find more information and support about your rights at work

This webinar is for people with disabilities who are employed or seeking employment.

ASL interpreters and CART captioning will be available throughout the webinar.

📅 Friday, October 23, 2026
⏰ 1:00 p.m.
💻 Online via Zoom
🔗 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_gRB2JF_TuWgSR1WojejZw

10/01/2026

Join us on Oct 14 for the Tackling Child and Youth Poverty Community Symposium in Hamilton! 4:00 pm, October 14, 2026. Hamilton Public Library, 55 York Blvd, Hamilton ON.
Dinner & refreshments provided. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tackling-child-and-youth-poverty-in-hamilton-tickets-1999703291375

09/25/2026

Every level of government has a role to play in supporting people living on social assistance. With municipal elections coming up, there's no better time to keep social assistance in focus. Share the Municipal Social Assistance Pledge with candidates today!

Municipal Elections are happening across the province on October 26! This is the perfect time to speak publicly about the importance of municipal and regional government support for people on social assistance and to ask mayoral candidates to commit to doing whatever they can to improve the lives of...

09/16/2026

THIS WEEKEND: TAKE ACTION FOR MIGRANT JUSTICE ✊

Housing is unaffordable. Good jobs are hard to find. The cost of living keeps rising.

Migrants did not create these crises. Migrants are struggling through them too.

But instead of taking on the rich and powerful, politicians are blaming migrants, cutting immigration and changing the rules on people who were invited to build their lives here.

On September 19 & 20, people across the country are taking action to demand:

✊ Renew work permits
✊ End exploitation
✊ Stop deportations
✊ Permanent resident status for all

Migrants care for our families, grow our food, build our communities and keep Canada running. Migrants make Canada work. Canada must work for migrants too.

Find an action near you: MigrantRights.ca/Sep20

Bring your friends, coworkers, neighbours and family.

09/08/2026

Our recommendations for the 2026 Federal Budget have been submitted - check em out at the link. You have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to submit your own!

The 2026 Federal Budget comes at a time of heightened economic uncertainty. Canada is facing significant disruption from U.S. tariffs and ongoing threats of further trade action. Canada's response must ensure that the costs of this uncertainty are not borne disproportionately by people who can least...

09/02/2026

The Department of Finance pre-budget consultation is ending soon. Send in your budget-related thoughts by September 8! Details and submission links in our latest post:

The Department of Finance is inviting submissions to its Pre-Budget Consultation in advance of the 2026 Federal Budget. This means it’s time to share your thoughts on what the federal government’s budget priorities for the upcoming year should be. There are usually two periods of consultation: a...

08/20/2026

“People who are facing tough times need a safety net to catch them and help them get back on their feet,”...“Our clients consistently tell us they do not want to be on social assistance, it’s a dehumanizing way to live, and it’s impossible to get by” -ISAC's Robin Nobleman, quoted in this new Press Progress piece. Read the whole article here:

“I think there's a real lack of political will with this government, because they see some people as undeserving of support”

08/20/2026

NEW RESOURCE: Some people received pandemic-related benefits but were later deemed ineligible & now have to repay. If you're thinking about requesting debt relief, our new resource explains 2 options: requesting a repayment plan or requesting a pause in debt collection. Read more and download the resource at the link!
https://incomesecurity.org/new-resource-requesting-debt-relief-for-pandemic-benefit-overpayments/

07/31/2026

It's the last day of the month. If OW rates had increased based on this year's inflation rate of 1.9%, single people on OW would have $14 more to put toward tomorrow's rent. Instead they are stuck with out-of-date rates that have been eroded by inflation, while rent and other costs go up. Send a letter to your MPP now, calling on them to fix this!

1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7 Tel: (416) 597-5820 • Toll Free: 1-866-245-4072 • Fax: (416) 597-5821

07/30/2026

Robin Nobleman, ISAC Staff Lawyer, is quoted in a new Ricochet article on EI reform and income security: “EI “hasn’t kept pace with employment markets,” Nobleman said. “They just keep applying bandages, but the EI system really needs major surgery.”” Read the whole article here:

Working Canadians squeezed by high rents, unstable employment, and inadequate public supports are increasingly turning to food banks. The growing crisis is fuelling calls for permanent EI reform