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

Health Benefits when Leaving Social Assistance – Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)

When someone stops receiving Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, this can affect access to health benefits. This summary chart and quick facts guide explains what benefits may continue, and what other options may be available.

Legal intake questions for clients – Connecting Ottawa

These fillable housing law and immigration and refugee law intake forms help community workers identify legal issues, make referrals, and organize client intake.

Labour trafficking – Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking

This resource explains labour trafficking. It has information about:

workers’ rights,
warning signs of labour trafficking, and
where to get help.

Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit – Connecting Ottawa

Connecting Ottawa has a new information sheet about the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), which will replace the GST/HST credit in July. The resource explains eligibility, payment amounts, and the one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment starting in June 2026.

What's happening across Ontario

Launch of the Black Justice Hub – Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)

The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is launching a new online collection of legal resources next month. The Black Justice Hub will help legal professionals, advocates, and service providers address anti-Black racism.

Date: June 11, 2026
Location: Chestnut Conference Centre in Toronto or online via Zoom
Time: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Nonprofit sector survey – Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN)

This survey collects information about the challenges, needs, and priorities facing nonprofits and charities in Ontario. The results will support advocacy, public policy work, and planning for stronger community services.

Building cultural competency to support Muslim women – Canadian Council of Muslim Women

This webinar for lawyers and social service providers looks at domestic contracts through both Canadian and Muslim family law frameworks.

Date: June 3, 2026
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Registration is free.

What's new from CLEO Connect

Housing law virtual conference – June 17 and 18

Community workers in Ontario who help clients with housing-related problems are invited to a free, virtual conference on housing law. Topics include:

tenant rights and organizing,
repairs and maintenance,
human rights in housing, and
renovictions.

You can register now.

What's happening at CLEO

New EI appeal process

Steps to Justice has information about the new Employment Insurance (EI) appeal process. If you’re not happy with Service Canada’s EI reconsideration decision, you can now appeal to the new Employment Insurance Board of Appeal (EI BOA).

New co-payments for some refugee health care

Steps to Justice has information about new co‑payments in the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). A co-payment means that the person pays part of the cost and the IFHP pays the rest.

New and revised CLEO publications

CLEO has a number of updated print publications. Visit the Order publications page to see a complete list of resources that can be ordered for free.

Upcoming webinars

Your client got a legal aid certificate. What now? – June 11

This webinar will guide community workers on how to support clients who get a legal aid certificate. Topics covered will include:

finding a lawyer who accepts a legal aid certificate,
preparing for the first meeting,
communicating effectively with lawyers, and
watching for problems.

You can register now.

In case you missed it

Applying for a Legal Aid Ontario certificate

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) certificates may help some people with low incomes get legal help in Ontario. If you missed this recent CLEO Connect webinar, you can still catch up. The session looks at the services and legal issues LAO certificates cover, who qualifies and how to apply, as well as common challenges.