| Hello neighbours and friends! HAPPY P R I D E MONTH & HAPPY INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH! We wish you a safe and fun summer. We continue to be open to serve our community, with walk-in hours daily. You can also connect with us by calling our office or doing an online intake . Toronto votes today! The City of Toronto Mayoral Election is today , June 26th, 2023. NLS wanted to know what the top candidates' platforms are on the following key questions What are your plans to make rental housing more affordable in Toronto? What are your plans to ensure adequate property standards for tenants in Toronto? What is your plan to address the issue of shelter capacity, in addressing the homeless crisis in Toronto? What is your plan to ensure that crisis teams are in place to be accessible for mental health crises? Check out this summary of the top 6 candidates' views on these critical issues for the Downtown East. We hope this resource can help guide your decision today. See here for where and how to vote ! Area of Law Updates HEALTH JUSTICE PROGRAM HJP, #HEALTHCARE4ALL & MIGRANT WORKERS ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE FIGHT BACK AGAINST CUTS TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR UNINSURED Effective March 31, 2023, the Ontario government abruptly cut healthcare funding for uninsured persons with only 1-week's notice. This expansion of health coverage was put in place during the pandemic. Many undocumented people finally felt safe to attend to essential healthcare needs, and then left in the lurch when this coverage was cut off without notice or consultation. We are working with the #HEALTHCARE4ALL Coalition and MWAC to explore a legal challenge against these cuts. The Health Justice Program is a partnership between our legal clinic, St. Michael's Hospital's Family Health Team , and sister legal clinics Aboriginal Legal Services , ARCH Disability Law Centre , and the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario . Together we strive to improve social determinants of health and equitable access to healthcare. health justice program HOUSING With hot weather here, know your rights around using an air conditioner . Contact us if you have questions about what your lease agreement allows. IMMIGRATION On June 14th, Ontario declared the end of holding immigration detainees in provincial jails . We thank Human Rights Watch for keeping the pressure up for this important win! Ontario is the 8th province to terminate this agreement with the federal government. Immigrants and refugees were previously held alongside domestic criminals, sometimes in maximum-security facilities and solitary confinement. Are you waiting for family members to join you in Canada? The government recently announced new measures to reunite families faster . Ask us if your family members are eligible for the new Temporary Resident Visas to join you faster. income security Starting February 1, 2023, people on ODSP can earn $1,000 a month before their ODSP payment gets clawed back. This income cap has gone up from $200 a month. Now, ODSP is reduced by 75% of the amount earned over $1,000. THE safe third country agreement The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) signed between Canada and the USA mandates that all refugee claimants must make their claim in the first country they enter. This means that people seeking refuge at the Canadian-American border are sent back to U.S. authorities. Through the Inter-Clinic Immigration Working Group, NLS is a member of the Canadian Council for Refugees. The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) with others challenged the STCA as being unconstitutional, because of US practices around detaining refugee claimants, and because certain groups such as people fleeing gender-based persecution do not have access to asylum in the US. This month, the Supreme Court of Canada unfortunately upheld the STCA as it relates to US immigration detention, but asked the Federal Court to have a new look at whether Canada's participation in the STCA, as it relates to the US' treatment gender-based refugee claims, amounts to discrimination. This is a partial victory for refugee rights. The CCR continues to fight for the rights of refugees and immigrants, recently coordinating civil society organizations to send an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government to withdraw from the STCA . Canadian Council for Refugees NLS Happenings pride month June is Pride month! This Thursday, June 29th from 3-7pm at 200 Wellesley St E. , we will be participating in a community Pride event hosted by the St. Jamestown Community Corner . Come see us at the TransID table for legal name change advice and other resources. Thanks to Friends of Ruby , a drop-in centre supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, for organizing this! National Indigenous History MONTH June is also the National Indigenous History Month! NLS recently visited the Native Arts Society art gallery at 115 Church Street , the only 2spirit, Trans, Indigiqueer, and Inuk led gallery in Toronto. Instagram link: @nativeartssociety The gallery started as a an initiative with Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction , a community organization that provides support, services, and harm reduction supplies to encampment and Indigenous peoples. |
Hello neighbours and friends! | |
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH & HAPPY INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH!
We wish you a safe and fun summer. We continue to be open to serve our community, with walk-in hours daily. You can also connect with us by calling our office or doing an online intake.
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The City of Toronto Mayoral Election is today, June 26th, 2023. NLS wanted to know what the top candidates' platforms are on the following key questions
- What are your plans to make rental housing more affordable in Toronto?
- What are your plans to ensure adequate property standards for tenants in Toronto?
- What is your plan to address the issue of shelter capacity, in addressing the homeless crisis in Toronto?
- What is your plan to ensure that crisis teams are in place to be accessible for mental health crises?
Check out this summary of the top 6 candidates' views on these critical issues for the Downtown East. We hope this resource can help guide your decision today. See here for where and how to vote!
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|
|
HJP, #HEALTHCARE4ALL & MIGRANT WORKERS ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE FIGHT BACK AGAINST CUTS TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR UNINSURED
Effective March 31, 2023, the Ontario government abruptly cut healthcare funding for uninsured persons with only 1-week's notice. This expansion of health coverage was put in place during the pandemic. Many undocumented people finally felt safe to attend to essential healthcare needs, and then left in the lurch when this coverage was cut off without notice or consultation.
We are working with the #HEALTHCARE4ALL Coalition and MWAC to explore a legal challenge against these cuts.
The Health Justice Program is a partnership between our legal clinic, St. Michael's Hospital's Family Health Team, and sister legal clinics Aboriginal Legal Services, ARCH Disability Law Centre, and the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario. Together we strive to improve social determinants of health and equitable access to healthcare.
| |
- On June 14th, Ontario declared the end of holding immigration detainees in provincial jails. We thank Human Rights Watch for keeping the pressure up for this important win! Ontario is the 8th province to terminate this agreement with the federal government. Immigrants and refugees were previously held alongside domestic criminals, sometimes in maximum-security facilities and solitary confinement.
- Are you waiting for family members to join you in Canada? The government recently announced new measures to reunite families faster. Ask us if your family members are eligible for the new Temporary Resident Visas to join you faster.
| |
- Starting February 1, 2023, people on ODSP can earn $1,000 a month before their ODSP payment gets clawed back. This income cap has gone up from $200 a month. Now, ODSP is reduced by 75% of the amount earned over $1,000.
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THE safe third country agreement | |
 |
The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) signed between Canada and the USA mandates that all refugee claimants must make their claim in the first country they enter. This means that people seeking refuge at the Canadian-American border are sent back to U.S. authorities. Through the Inter-Clinic Immigration Working Group, NLS is a member of the Canadian Council for Refugees.
The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) with others challenged the STCA as being unconstitutional, because of US practices around detaining refugee claimants, and because certain groups such as people fleeing gender-based persecution do not have access to asylum in the US. This month, the Supreme Court of Canada unfortunately upheld the STCA as it relates to US immigration detention, but asked the Federal Court to have a new look at whether Canada's participation in the STCA, as it relates to the US' treatment gender-based refugee claims, amounts to discrimination. This is a partial victory for refugee rights.
The CCR continues to fight for the rights of refugees and immigrants, recently coordinating civil society organizations to send an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government to withdraw from the STCA.
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|
|
June is Pride month! This Thursday, June 29th from 3-7pm at 200 Wellesley St E., we will be participating in a community Pride event hosted by the St. Jamestown Community Corner. Come see us at the TransID table for legal name change advice and other resources. Thanks to Friends of Ruby, a drop-in centre supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, for organizing this! | |
National Indigenous History MONTH | |
June is also the National Indigenous History Month! NLS recently visited the Native Arts Society art gallery at 115 Church Street, the only 2spirit, Trans, Indigiqueer, and Inuk led gallery in Toronto.
Instagram link:
@nativeartssociety
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The gallery started as a an initiative with Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction, a community organization that provides support, services, and harm reduction supplies to encampment and Indigenous peoples.
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