The Government of Ontario could do more for almost half of Toronto’s workers who deal with precarious work, including temporary and contract workers, a new report says.

The report, released today by Social Planning Toronto, focuses on the benefits that unionization provides for precarious workers, and follows Queen’s Park’s announcement committing to changes to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act. The new changes will include a $15 minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, and personal emergency leave provisions, but only extends one-step card-based certification to some workers, and provides no changes to allow workers to organize across their sector.

Social Planning Toronto welcomed Ontario’s newly updated Growth Plan as an element in the effort to address the ‘missing middle’ of reasonably priced housing in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. However, critically, its delayed timelines allow for developers to continue to drag their heels on building more affordable units.

In an open letter sent to Mayor John Tory and Toronto City Council, over 90 leaders from the nonprofit and community sector stressed the need to fund already-approved Council strategies including policies set to impact seniors, child care, and poverty reduction, in advance of a critical Budget Committee meeting this week.

Beginning in May, we will be holding a series of policy forums covering a range of issues related to housing in Toronto.

Join us and hear from a panel of leaders on this issue and join in a discussion with housing stakeholders.

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In an open letter to the Hon. Chris Ballard, provincial Minister of Housing, over 30 community and nonprofit housing organizations from across Ontario pressed the Government to follow through on its commitment to implement ‘Inclusionary Zoning’— a policy that enables municipalities to require new developments to include affordable housing.

Social Planning Toronto is an incorporated and registered non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to:

• independent social planning and community development;
• social research and policy analysis;
• community education and advocacy; and
• the development and coordination of human services.

Social Planning Toronto is governed by a 15-person volunteer Board of Directors elected by its individual community and organizational membership at the Annual General Meeting. The Social Planning Toronto’s Annual General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26^th, 2017 at Artscape – Daniels Spectrum – 585 Dundas St. East. There will be 3 vacancies on the Board of Directors. This is a call for nominations to fill these vacancies at the AGM.

The purpose of this survey is to better understand the dynamics of Central Etobicoke. This survey will take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers and your answers will be kept confidential. We will not share your personal answers with anyone but a summary of the findings will be published in a report. Your participation is voluntary; you do not have to fill out this survey if you don’t want to. You will not lose any services or be negatively impacted in any way if you do not wish to participate.

This year the City budget saw a dizzying series of ups and downs, and it was easy to lose track of where things stood. Social Planning Toronto members have told us that City Budgets have a big impact on them, but they don’t have the time or resources to effectively track the ebb and flow of policy decisions. That’s why we work to make the City’s budget more transparent and the process more engaging.

One day before City Council debates and votes on its 2017 Budget, prominent Toronto faith leaders helped stage a mock homeless shelter at City Hall, and called for the City to act on the shelter and housing crisis.