provincial

_ (Via Ontario Government) _ Ontario is providing more people with affordable access to legal services by increasing the financial eligibility threshold for legal aid by another six per cent. Effective April 1, 2017, about 140,000 more people will be eligible to receive the legal services they need, regardless of their ability to pay. ...

_ (Via Government of Ontario) _ Ontario is reminding seniors who are turning 65 in 2017 that, starting January 1, they will be eligible to get the shingles vaccine free of charge, saving them approximately $170 and helping them stay healthy. ...

_ (press release) _ Ontario is investing in new interdisciplinary creativity incubators at La Cité Collégiale that will provide more research and development opportunities for Ottawa students and better equip them with the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. ...

_ (press release) _ Premier Kathleen Wynne has named MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Housing and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues. Des Rosiers will support the work of the Minister of Housing in such areas as the transformation of Ontario’s housing system into one that is people-centred, partnership-based and responsive to local needs. ...

_ (press release) _ Ontario introduced changes Wednesday to three key pieces of municipal legislation that would, if passed, help local governments be more open, flexible and accountable to the people they serve. The Municipal Act, the City of Toronto Act and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act set out the roles, responsibilities and conflict of interest rules for Ontario’s municipalities. ...

_ (Via Mayor Jim Watson’s office) _ Dear Candidates in Ottawa-Vanier, I am writing to you today to seek information on your position on issues of great interest to the City of Ottawa, and our residents and businesses. To this end, I am sending you the attached questionnaire. ...

_ (press release) _ Ontario is seeking public input to help inform the design of a basic income pilot, which is an innovative new approach to providing income security. The pilot would test whether a basic income is a more effective way of lifting people out of poverty and improving health, housing and employment outcomes. ...

_ (press release) _ Ontario is strengthening consumer protections by introducing new rules for home inspections, door-to-door sales and payday loans. Minister of Government and Consumer Services Marie-France Lalonde made the announcement today in Toronto. The proposed new rules are part of the government’s _ Putting Consumers First Act _ , and are aimed at protecting consumers in transactions with common household and financial services. ...

_ (press release) _ Today, Ontario released its first status report on the actions taken to date to address recommendations from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) Task Force Action Plan . The province has already implemented a number of the Task Force’s recommendations and is actively working to address recommendations requiring longer term solutions. ...

_ (press release) _ On October 19 th , Councillor George Darouze will join MPP Lisa MacLeod at Queen’s Park as she presents the Fair Hydro for Ottawa petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It will be a big moment for all of Ottawa residents who are faced with the burden of paying up to 30% more on their hydro bills simply because they are customers of Hydro One. ...