Resources from community organizations

Workplace sexual harassment

The Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic’s #AndMeToo project is for women and gender-diverse people in hospitality and service jobs who might experience sexual harassment in the workplace. It provides information about their rights, legal options, and support services. The project also educates employers about their responsibilities and duties to maintain a safe workplace. Besides free training sessions for workers, there are resources in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu and Punjabi.

Toronto transit rights

For people in Toronto, TTCriders has a Know Your Transit Rights guide that informs users about their rights when riding the TTC or dealing with transit staff. The guide is available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Tamil, Vietnamese, Hindi, Punjabi, and Tagalog.

Events from community organizations

Access to Justice Week

October 28 to November 1: Access to Justice Week offers many virtual and in-person events to help people in Ontario and from across Canada learn about and reflect on access to justice. Hosted by The Action Group on Justice (TAG), the week’s program includes: 

October 29: National Self-Represented Litigants’ Project’s (NSRLP) School for Family Litigants

October 30: Pathways and Barriers to Justice at Ontario’s Tribunals

October 31: Building a ‘no wrong door’ legal services delivery system

Gender-based violence and family law webinar

November 7: Navigating Safety and Risk. Presented by the Centre for Research & Education on Violence, this webinar focuses on how parenting and custody plans are impacted when a family experiencing gender-based violence has family members with ties to countries outside Canada. It also includes strategies for creating safe and inclusive parenting plans.

News

Support for Gazans arriving in Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is providing the following support to Palestinians from Gaza who arrive in Canada: 

• temporary financial help to pay for basic needs like food, clothes, and housing
• 3 months of temporary health coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program, and 
• settlement services such as language training. 

CLEO recently hosted a webinar on IRCC’s special immigration pathway for Gazans. A recording of the webinar is available online.

Opportunities to get involved

Feedback on the Accessible Canada Roadmap 

The Government of Canada is developing a plan to make Canada more accessible. It has published a draft Accessible Canada Roadmap and is looking for feedback on it, particularly from persons with disabilities and Indigenous peoples, as well as the general public. People have until January 8, 2025 to share feedback online, by email, by sign language via video, by transcript, by mail, or in other formats. 

ISAC survey on social assistance

The Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) wants people receiving OW or ODSP to fill out its survey on social assistance. The survey will help ISAC to advocate for higher social assistance rates and to improve both programs. Front-line workers can let clients know that the survey is open until November 24. People who fill it out have a chance to win one of four $100 gift cards.

Upcoming CLEO Connect Webinars

November 20: Préparez demain : des conseils pratiques sur la planification en vue de la retraite (French only)

December 4: Les professions réglementées du Canada, quels défis pour les immigrants? (French only)

Stay tuned for more details and registration information.

In case you missed it

CLEO is interested in hearing from front-line workers about their experience with Steps to Justice and Justice pas-à-pas. The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete.  

People who agree to answer follow-up questions are asked to give their name and contact information at the end of the survey. If they do, their name will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Catch up on recent webinars and news from CLEO: 

• Navigating the Temporary and Permanent Residence Pathways for Child Welfare Survivors
• Haïti : Comprendre les mesures d'immigration temporaires et spéciales (French only)
• Know your transit rights in Toronto
• CLEO’s On the Radar: Changes for international workers and students
• CLEO’s House style guide

New legal information from CLEO:  

• How much does my employer have to pay me?
• What are my options if I was discriminated against?