Summer is officially here. Traditionally, these much anticipated months of sunshine and warmth have meant a time to recharge and reflect on what’s to come for the rest of the year.
But for many of us, this summer will bring challenges. Over the past year, many organizations in our sector have experienced deep funding cuts and have had to make changes to their staff and their work. These challenges affect our colleagues and the people they serve, but also the efforts and priorities of the sector as a whole. As a sector, we’re having to navigate a changed landscape, redistribute our resources, and redouble our collaborative efforts.
The provincial government has also just gone through a major reset with a cabinet reshuffle. For many of us, this will mean building new relationships with newly appointed ministers.
In other news, Bill C-97, which includes the National Housing Strategy Act, has now received Royal Assent. For the first time, housing as a human right is now recognized in Canadian legislation, the culmination of many years of dedicated efforts by housing advocates, lived experts, civil society organizations, and government. Thanks to those efforts, we now have an opportunity to reset the framework within which we conceptualize, develop, and implement housing policy in Canada.
On the heels of this landmark achievement, there’s also renewed interest at the federal level in providing a national pharmacare program. With these two major developments in mind, our Policy Director Garima Talwar Kapoor writes this month’s Maytree opinion about the opportunity before us now to rebuild and strengthen our social systems.
Also in this newsletter, we’re sharing a new report by the FCJ Refugee Centre on an often overlooked dimension of Toronto’s housing crisis — the distinct challenges faced by refugee claimants and precarious migrants in finding a place to stay during the settlement process. In addition, you can read our story on the Tenant School, a program that encourages informed participation and organizing among tenants in the fight for housing rights. We also bring you our latest submissions to the Ontario government with regard to its Community Housing Renewal Strategy.
As always, thank you for engaging with our work.
Elizabeth McIsaac
President, Maytree
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Prioritizing fundamental human rights can help us find the clarity we need for good public policy
Good public policy requires balancing social, economic, fiscal, and political considerations. Prioritizing human rights may help us find that balance, writes Garima Talwar Kapoor. Read the opinion
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How to make community housing better for Ontarians
Maytree has prepared two submissions to the Ontario government in response to proposed regulatory changes affecting community housing waiting lists and rents. Read the submissions
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In the conversation around Sidewalk Labs, Toronto can — and will — stand its ground
In this Globe and Mail op-ed, Anne Golden and Alan Broadbent write that the Quayside project does not threaten a city as resilient as Toronto; rather, it offers an opportunity to grapple with issues around the city’s future and emerge with something that makes us better. Read the opinion
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How informed participation helps tenants fight for their rights: A look at FMTA’s Tenant School
The latest post in our series on rights-based participation looks at the Tenant School, a program that promotes tenant organizing and engagement through workshops on rights and campaigning. Read the story
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Welcome home: Welcoming refugee claimants and precarious migrants to the City of Toronto
This report, published by the FCJ Refugee Centre with support from Maytree, examines challenges faced by refugee claimants and precarious migrants in accessing shelter in Toronto in three distinct phases of the settlement process. Read the report
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Five Good Ideas about security and justice
While we can’t imagine being without our everyday technology, many of us are also experiencing the security threats generated by technology-driven changes. In this session, Peter Sloly, a security and justice thought leader, explores how you and your organization can be more secure while also advancing a more just and sustainable society. Watch the session
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Ontario Human Rights Commission releases 2018-2019 annual report, Foundation of Freedom
In its latest annual report, the OHRC highlights its work to provide strong, independent oversight over human rights across Ontario. Read the report
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Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector
In a just released report, the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector details the strategies and regulatory reforms needed to maximize the impact of this sector in communities both here in Canada and around the world. Read the report
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Support the right to housing in Toronto
The City of Toronto is developing its new HousingTO plan for 2020-2030, and City Council has passed a motion to include the right to housing as part of its consultations. That means Toronto could have a rights-based approach to housing in its next ten-year housing plan. A number of individuals and groups have come together to advocate for the right to housing to be recognized in Toronto. Learn more and support the campaign
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Demystifying food politics: Webinar
On July 23, join Maytree Policy Analyst Hannah Aldridge and policy experts from Community Food Centres Canada, Heart & Stroke Foundation, and Food Secure Canada as they take a closer look at three key policies affecting food security today. Learn more and register
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