Legal information and news from across Ontario

Each month, we share useful legal information, tools, and learning opportunities from CLEO and organizations across Ontario. Here are a few resources that caught our attention this month. Find more in the Your Legal Rights collection.

Information and resources

Preventing scams targeting seniors - Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE)

Scams that target older adults continue to rise. ACE has a new video series that highlights real experiences to help seniors, caregivers, and service providers recognize common scams and how to respond.

Confronting Anti-Black Hate Across Canada – Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)

The BLAC Out Hate initiative brings together resources, tools, and learning opportunities to address anti-Black racism in Canada. The project focuses on prevention through education, supporting those impacted, and holding institutions accountable.

New immigration legislation Bill C-12: What you need to know

Bill C-12 is now law. The Migrant Rights Network has a tool that allows refugee claimants to figure out if the law affects them. The tool is available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. Connecting Ottawa has an information sheet and the FCJ Refugee Centre has a webinar that explains what the changes mean and how they could affect individuals and communities.

Resources for people on OW and ODSP turning 65 – Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)

Turning 65 can bring major changes for people receiving social assistance. ISAC has a tipsheet to help individuals protect their income and benefits during this transition. There’s also a companion resource for service providers and health professionals that support clients.

Rights of students with disabilities – ARCH Disability Law Centre and Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO)

ARCH and DJNO have created a video series that explains the rights of students with disabilities in Ontario schools. It covers key topics such as accommodations, inclusive education, and how families can advocate for the supports they need.

Supporting neurodivergent survivors of gender-based violence – Western University

Western University has produced a paper that explores how gender-based violence affects neurodivergent individuals. It highlights ways service providers can offer more inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed support.

What's happening across Ontario

Accessible housing in Canada: Share your input

The National Housing Council has launched a review panel to examine the lack of accessible housing in Canada. Individuals and organizations can submit written feedback until June 5, 2026. If you or your clients have lived experience or insights to share, please consider contributing.

HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario (HALCO) – Spring workshop series

HALCO is hosting a series of free virtual workshops this May. Topics include:

HIV and Aging: Legal Considerations When Turning 65
Refugee Claims and Bill C-12: What’s Changed and What to Know
HIV Non-Disclosure and the Law: An Update on Criminal and Public Health Law
Human Rights and Privacy Issues for People Living with HIV

What's new from CLEO Connect

Save the date! Virtual housing law conference for community workers – June 17 and 18

CLEO is partnering with the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights to offer a free, virtual conference on housing law in Ontario. This event will focus on building practical knowledge and skills for community workers that support clients with housing issues. It was developed in collaboration with community legal clinics, organizations, and advocates from across the province.

More details coming soon.

What's happening at CLEO

Helping identify legal needs earlier with Guided Pathways

Many people who access community services have legal issues they do not recognize as legal. This can make it difficult to connect them with the right help early on.

Guided Pathways can help service providers spot these issues by embedding short legal needs assessments into tools used at their agency. These could be tools for intake, document preparation, or referrals. As clients answer simple, step-by-step questions, the system can flag potential legal issues and connect them to relevant information or services.

CLEO is exploring partnerships with organizations interested in using Guided Pathways for intake, document assembly, or referrals — including tools that incorporate brief needs assessments.

If your organization has an idea, we’d like to hear from you. Contact us at support@cleo.on.ca

Read April's On the Radar

This issue of On the Radar looks at upcoming changes to the Interim Federal Health Program.

New information for refugee claimants

Steps to Justice now has updated information on who can make a refugee claim as a result of Bill C-12.

Upcoming webinars

Changes to the Interim Federal Health Program – May 7

This webinar covers updates to limited, short-term health coverage for refugees and other groups with certain immigration statuses.