We’re all feeling it. Everyday people are struggling as the cost of energy bills, groceries, and basic necessities skyrocket. It’s a cost of living crisis. [1] But not everyone is impacted equally. Big corporations continue to rake in record-breaking profits. Corporate CEOs are filthy rich. Meanwhile, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is advocating for fiscal restraint. [2] The result? Families are forced to decide between paying rent on time or putting food on the table. [3,4] It’s enraging — but it doesn’t have to be this way. If we all come together to demand Canada’s wealthiest pay a fairer share of tax, we can ease the financial strain we’re all feeling. We can raise much-needed billions for a stronger social safety net, public services, and jobs. We can make Canada more fair. Finance Minister Freeland is feeling the pressure right now. She knows Canadians are struggling and she knows the public is looking to her for solutions. If thousands of Leadnow members sign an open letter demanding a wealth tax, then it could help tip the balance in our favour to ensure she delivers on it. Will you add your name to the open letter? [1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chrystia-freeland-inflation-1.6501750 [2] See 1 [3] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canadians-shopping-rising-food-costs-1.6483250 [4] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-bank-of-canada-business-consumer-survey-inflation/

The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) is demanding that over 1 million Canadians pay back the emergency benefits they received during the pandemic. Their timing couldn’t be more out of touch. Canadians are facing an affordability crisis — and with rents, grocery bills and energy costs rising, most of us simply can’t afford a surprise $2,000 expense. When the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was first issued, millions of people in need of support applied in good faith — not knowing they’d be forced to pay their benefit back. The CRA is offering to defer payments for those experiencing “financial hardship” — but the definition of financial hardship is vague, and decided on a case-by-case basis. There’s a mountain of red tape to navigate in order to even defer a CERB repayment. [source] It’s a deep injustice for the millions of Canadians who relied on CERB when the pandemic took our livelihoods away. If you believe that our government should be helping Canadians to weather the affordability crisis — not kicking us while we’re down — sign the petition now.

The British Columbia Investment Management Investment Corporation (BCI) invests most BC public sector pension funds – in total about $153 billion. Like any fund its fiduciary responsibility (i.e. getting the best return possible, taking risk into account) is its most important contract with its clients, and outweighs all other considerations. By continuing to hold fossil fuel stocks BCI is likely not meeting its fiduciary responsibility. And there’s also plenty of evidence to show that it’s quite easy to divest from fossil fuels, in fact a pension fund in Denmark did it in six weeks. And continued investment in oil, gas and coal is fueling the climate crisis, which is only going to lead to more heat domes, floods, forest fires, and threatens our long-term future. Learn more: https://oilsandsdivest.com/bcidivest/

• The proposed LRT expressway would run through Eglinton Flats; some of the most valuable green space in the city of Toronto. This parkland is a designated greenbelt zone that includes one of the city’s largest regional networks of sports facilities and offers an idyllic setting to enjoy nature. • Clear cutting large swaths of mature urban forest to accommodate this elevated proposal would destroy ecologically sensitive areas, wildlife habitat and a critical wildlife corridor that connects to the Humber River System to the Eglinton Flats, Fergy Brown Park, Pearen Park, Topham Pond and Gladhurst Park. Species at risk, both Threatened and Endangered, that are protected in Canada under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), have been identified in the project area. • In May 2021, the Federal government allocated billions of dollars to the ECWE. A fully tunnelled LRT line will provide fast speeds, less service disruptions and best cost benefit in the long term. Keeping the LRT underground is both financially viable and technically feasible. [1] [2] • The current plan to elevate the LRT through Mount Dennis is not socially equitable or ecologically responsible. It’s comparable to running a Gardiner Expressway for LRT trains through local parks and alongside condominium residences. West of the Flats, the LRT will run underground through an affluent stretch of Etobicoke and this should continue through Mount Dennis. [3] • With increased residential developments planned for the area and the ongoing impacts of climate crisis, it’s essential that Metrolinx stop any plans to destroy mature naturalized parkland and keep the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension underground. • Metrolinx needs to conduct meaningful consultation and demonstrate a genuine willingness to act on concerns of communities. This isn’t only about building better transit . . . it’s the fight against climate change and prioritizing livable cities. Sign the petition to Keep the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE) underground and save our parks! [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/05/largest-public-transit-investment-in-gta-history-will-create-jobs-and-kickstart-the-economy.html [2] https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/billy-bishop-pedestrian-tunnel-wins-award [3] https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/mm/bgrd/backgroundfile-225808.pdf

People deserve a place to call home — without having to worry about if they can afford it, or if they will need to forgo groceries to make rent. For that, we need politicians who care. Ford has proven he doesn't care about renters — he's scrapped rent control, made it easier to evict residents and has consistently tilted the scales in favour of wealthy landlords. [3,4] Ford just made it through an election where the majority of Ontarians didn’t vote for him — his party is aware of this, and is listening to the public voice right now. With a flood of public pressure, we can demonstrate that Ontarians aren't going to accept Ford's lack of action. Experts at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario recommend reinstating rent controls that Ford took away, scrapping vacancy decontrols, and creating an effective eviction prevention strategy. [5] Add your name now to call on Ford to protect renters in Ontario with these common-sense protections. Sources: [1] https://www.acto.ca/a-new-poll-shows-the-majority-of-ontario-renters-are-having-to-choose-between-food-and-paying-their-rents-when-it-comes-to-housing-affordability-this-province-is-on-fire/ [2] https://monitormag.ca/articles/rents-keep-going-up-pandemic-or-not [3] https://www.wellandtribune.ca/opinion/editorials/2020/07/08/doug-ford-tilts-the-table-in-favour-of-landlords-with-bill-184.html [4] https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/doug-ford-is-consolidating-the-power-of-landlords-during-a-time-of-crisis [5] https://www.acto.ca/production/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FINAL_Report_WeCantWait_Nov2019.pdf ["Eviction NOTICE" image by rickonine is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.]

Ontario now has the lowest health care and hospital funding, and the fewest hospital beds and nurses in the country. [1] But instead of investing in nurses or funding and resourcing ICUs, Ford is handing over our public health care system to for-profit companies on the sly — privatizing hospitals, clinics or long-term care homes. [2,3] Research shows private health care means poorer care, higher rates of death and longer wait times. [4] It means profit over lives. The push to privatize is already having grave consequences. After years of attacks on public health care, the answer is not to hand more of it over to private corporations. In fact, that's what brought Ontario's health care system to the brink of collapse. The fight for a strong, well-funded public health care system is the fight to save lives. It's a fundamental pillar of a democratic society that prioritizes people above profit. Will you sign now calling for the Ontario government to protect public health care? [1]https://monitormag.ca/articles/ontario-health-spending-will-be-too-low-if-the-2022-budget-is-passed [2] https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/03/15/doug-fords-government-is-quietly-privatizing-health-care.html [3] https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2022/05/27/doug-ford-is-spending-billions-to-expand-nursing-home-chains-with-some-of-the-worst-covid-19-death-rates.html [4] https://pressprogress.ca/here-are-all-the-corporations-lobbying-doug-ford-to-privatize-and-outsource-parts-of-ontarios-health-care-system/ [5] https://www.cmaj.ca/content/166/11/1399

To create a sustainable eco friendly industry so Burgeo thrives for years to come.

Loblaws is profiting from inflation — raising prices more than they have to and hitting Canadians with sky-high grocery bills. Loblaws is raking in record profits at our expense. Last week at their AGM, Loblaws announced a banner quarter — a staggering 40% profit increase from this time last year. [1] Worst of all? Loblaws isn’t just profiting off inflation — they’re DRIVING it. A recent report from the CCPA found that Canada’s inflation rate would be at least a quarter lower if not for the profiteering of companies like Loblaws. [2] A 25% increase in grocery costs could mean the difference between putting food on the table and paying rent. Loblaw Companies Ltd owns hundreds of grocery stores across the country: their stores include Loblaws Market, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Shoppers Drugmart, Loblaws Market, Joe Fresh and more. We all shop at these stores — and we’re all paying the price for their greedy profit margins. [3] Loblaws should be making sure every Canadian can access the basic necessities of life. We already know they can afford it — they boasted $12 Billion in revenue this quarter alone, and gave $437 million in profit to their shareholders. [4] Will you send an email calling on the Loblaws Board of Directors to stop profiting off inflation and bring grocery prices down while their record-breaking profits are still in the headlines? Sources [1-4] https://www.thestar.com/business/2022/05/05/critics-accuse-loblaws-of-profiting-from-inflation-as-profits-surge-by-40.html

The ongoing pandemic and skyrocketing cost of living — coupled with high inflation rates — all mean that more people than ever are relying on support from the government to help us pay rent and keep food on the table. Many single Disabled ODSP (disability benefits) clients only receive $497 a month for rent and $672 a month for their basic needs, and single OW clients currently only receive $390 a month for their rent and $343 a month for their basic needs. This is important so that homeless ODSP and OW clients have a shot at renting somewhere to live at average market rent since affordable, subsidized, rent geared to income housing is unavailable at this time and may be unavailable for the next 10 to 20 years due to a huge waiting list and zero vacancies. Clients need to eat as well as pay rent and since clients would still have to dip into their Basic Needs Allowances to cover rent because even doubling the Shelter Allowance still won't cover all of the rent at today's prices. Much needed medication and other things not covered by the MSN forms have to be paid for out of Basic Needs and some of these items are very expensive. Along with needing healthy food a huge increase in support is called for here as well.

While the rest of us struggled to get by through these last two years of pandemic and inflation, the rich have only gotten richer. It’s ridiculous that Elon Musk — who paid $0 in income tax in 2007 despite his astronomical wealth — can pay $43 billion on a whim to take over a platform that should belong to all of us. [2] Twitter is one of the largest social media platforms in the world. It’s where many of us learn about social issues that have been overlooked by major news outlets, and where activists connect and organize against injustice. With Musk at the helm, the Donald Trumps and Maxime Berniers of the world will be given the ultimate soapbox to spread disinformation and hate — but you can bet that activists, journalists, and anyone daring to challenge Musk and his ilk won’t receive the same treatment. Musk says he’s buying Twitter in the name of free speech, but the proof is in the pudding: when Black Tesla employees lodged a complaint for the racism and discrimination they experienced at work, he fired them for speaking out. [3] Musk’s takeover is nothing new — it’s just the latest in a decades-long crusade by the ultra-rich to take control of our media, institutions, and social services. The billionaire class becomes more powerful with each passing day — and the rest of us are paying the price. Sign the petition if you think public information services like Twitter should belong to regular people like us — not a billionaire like Elon Musk. Sources [1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/musk-twitter-monday-1.6429802 [2] https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/06/bezos-musk-didnt-pay-federal-income-tax-some-years-report.html [3] https://theconversation.com/if-elon-musk-succeeds-in-his-twitter-takeover-it-would-restrict-rather-than-promote-free-speech-181576

Legal professionals need clearly and easily accessible (edited and error free) bylaws, regulations and acts. They need to communicate with their governing body (CICC) easily and clearly, being able to contact anyone during hours for questions. Immigration law in particular is a specialty, and it’s personal and difficult and a process that we train in to help people. To our clients it is their attempt at starting a new life, that is courageous, the should have educated people to help them, and they should be told this in a positive way while the CICC uses its government budget to stop illegal ghost consultants. People should be told they must when they hire a representative to check and must be on the CICC registry by Registration number of the representative and see if it matches the name search can search but the R number protected. This allows legal consultants to avoid being copied or linked unknowingly, helping the CICC and the client and the case refusal rate. People who can benefit Canadian economy, contribute to job shortages and birth rates should be given a fair chance. We as professional need timely action from who governs us, who governs our clients and the Immigration Minister Sean Frazer yo ensure the system supports the plan and the plan supports the professional who are trained to know it. And know how to do it by following the appropriate Regulations, Acts and Bylaws o do so, as well as working and accessible government online platforms we can rely on and how to iron out the kinks like no in application received asking client to choose payment option automatically linking to the platform. As of now the client pays and needs to upload another document. Which causes problems if the system didn’t flag it for review. The list goes on and we hope you will want to listen to more of how we can help and work together.

While we welcome the news of free dental care for low-income communities, we wish the Liberals and NDP had more ambition — to make dental care universal and accessible to everyone who needs it. Imagine you've had tooth pain for months now but you don't have private insurance or thousands of dollars to spare for treatment. The same bacteria that causes the toothache can travel through your body and lead to serious health conditions — like heart attacks. [3,4] If you agree everyone deserves to have access to good quality dental care regardless of how much they make, add your name to the petition now. Sources: [1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeu-jagmeet-singh-deal-government-1.6393021 [2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/dental-care-life-threatening-conditions-1.6397395 [3] see [2] [4] https://bc.ctvnews.ca/this-is-amazing-vancouver-dentist-likes-new-federal-program-but-questions-remain-1.5830465