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January 9, 2019

Ontario’s welfare reforms raise concerns

ISARC chair Rev. Susan Eagle says the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition is worried about longer lines at church food banks and more homeless people relying on shelters because they can’t pay rent.

Welfare reforms that leave a big gap between the poverty line and being poor enough to receive benefits could end up forcing Church charities to make up the difference for thousands of disabled and marginally employable Ontarians.

Published in Canada
November 5, 2018

ISARC makes their case for welfare reform

The Bloch report, a 2017 report authored by St. Michael’s Hospital family physician and researcher Dr. Gary Bloch, included a series of measures to simplify getting welfare and remove barriers to welfare recipients working while receiving benefits.

As Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod gets set to reveal her welfare reform package on Nov. 8, the people who run Ontario’s food banks, shelters and volunteer supports for poor families are urging the provincial government to restore the basic income pilot project.

Published in Canada
January 25, 2018

ISARC making billion-plus budget push for affordable housing

At an ISARC prayer vigil in front of the Ontario Legislature before the 2017 budget was passed, Robin Wardlaw holds a sign asking for a budget that favours the poor.
Religious organizations that run Ontario’s food banks, shelters, soup kitchens and more are asking for an immediate $1.3 billion investment in affordable, subsidized social housing.
Published in Canada
April 29, 2014

Standing with the poor

On a cold and rainy spring day, members of the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition gathered to pray for each and every Member of Provincial Parliament by name near the front steps of Queen’s Park. The faith leaders brought their prayers to the provincial legislature the day before Finance Minister Charles Sousa was to unveil the 2014 provincial budget, May 1. Jesuit Father Jack Costello, pictured, brought a Catholic perspective to the faith-based protest, saying we owe the poor more than food, housing and money. We need also to share our joy with the poor, Costello said. “We stand with the poor, those who are hungry, those who struggle to live on inadequate income,” said long-time Anglican representative to ISARC Murray MacAdam.

On a cold and rainy spring day, members of the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition gathered to pray for each and every Member of Provincial Parliament by name near the front steps of Queen’s Park.

Published in Canada
September 9, 2012

Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition hosting Toronto interfaith dinner

The evening will takes place Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at The Church of the Holy Trinity

TORONTO - The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition and the Intercultural Dialogue Institute of Toronto are pulling together Jews, Christians, Muslims and Buddhists to think and talk about social justice at a free dinner at the Church of the Holy Trinity.

The evening will be moderated by Salt + Light TV personality Deacon Pedro Guevara Mann, with opening remarks from Campaign 2000 national co-ordinator Laurel Rothman, and takes place Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The Church of the Holy Trinity is tucked in next to the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto.
Campaign 2000 is the coalition of churches, unions and social work agencies that campaigns against child poverty in Canada.

Speaking on social justice from the point of view of major faith traditions are Sean Hillman, Buddhist PhD candidate in religion at the University of Toronto, KAIROS executive director Jennifer Henry, Muslim scholar Halil Simsek and Avrum Rosensweig, founding director and president of the Jewish volunteer agency Ve’ahavta.

To register for the evening go to www.interfaithdinner.com. Space is limited.

Published in Canada: Toronto-GTA
April 25, 2012

Interfaith groups prayed for a ‘more progressive tax code’ for Ontario

The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC), which includes Ontario’s Catholic bishops, has been praying for higher taxes for weeks

From Catholics to Zoroastrians, faith leaders gathered at Queen’s Park to pray for prosperity and welcome the compromise Ontario budget passed April 24.

The budget, which raised taxes on those earning $500,000 or more by two per cent, spared some day care centres from cuts and added one per cent to basic welfare rates was welcomed by Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition president Rev. Susan Eagle.

Published in Canada
March 22, 2012

Raise taxes for common good: ISARC

Economist Don Drummond

The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition is telling Ontario’s Liberal government what it didn’t want to hear from economist Don Drummond — raise taxes.

The McGuinty government mandated the Drummond Commission to come up with ways to balance the province’s books but forbade the former bank economist from considering more taxes. ISARC makes no bones about urging action on the revenue side of the equation.

Published in Canada