Family Flyer: October-January

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Automatic Income Tax Filing

 Reprinted from the Advocacy Newsletter of our Ontario Regional Council

AUTOMATIC INCOME TAX FILING. In order to receive the Canada Child Benefit, GST rebates and most other government benefits, people must file an income tax return. Due to uncertainty and cost, many of our neighbours in need fail to file in a timely manner. They miss out on valuable income to which they are entitled that could help alleviate their poverty. In the last Speech from the Throne the government promised to provide free automatic tax filing for simple returns. Many other jurisdictions have implemented this policy in an attempt to help people who are living in poverty. Vincentians can ensure that this reform does not fall through the cracks by contacting their Members of Parliament with this simple message: I urge you to support and work towards implementing automatic free tax filing as promised in the last Speech from the Throne. This measure will help many low income Canadians automatically receive the benefits to which they are entitled. Find contact info for your MP easily using your Postal Code: contact your MP

Ontario’s cuts to legal aid will hurt the poorest

On Good Friday this year, as on every Good Friday, I read about the trial of Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate and how, in a travesty of justice the Roman Governor caved to the demands of the ruling religious elite in Jerusalem and sentenced Christ to execution with two rebel bandits. This year on good Friday I also read in the Toronto Star how legal aid, already meagre, will be further cut to Ontario's poorest and most vulnerable.

Syrian Refugee Children (globalnews.ca)

For Christians who believe that the risen Christ hides in plain sight in the poor, the weak and the vulnerable, Good Friday is a very fitting occasion to publicise this cut in services resulting in further travesty against those without the means to represent themselves in court, refugee claimants and, often, the victims of such horrific crimes as child abuse, murder, manslaughter and sexual assault against minors because the perpetrators are not being tried soon enough and are simply being set free by the courts.

Read the full opinion piece here: Ontario’s cuts to legal aid will hurt the poorest.
https://spon.ca/ontarios-cuts-to-legal-aid-will-hurt-the-poorest/2019/04/20/