Ninth Annual Justice Forum Report
Download the report (PDF document, opens in a new window)
Drastic Cuts to Service Canada
Read Deb O'Connor's article Drastic Cuts to Service Canada
Tax Credit and Refund changes
The way that certain provincial tax credits are being paid to low income people by the province has changed and will continue to change in the next several months – and this means that these credits are no longer being paid in lump-sum tax refunds. To learn more, download the Tax Refunds document and the Tax Credit Payment document.
Thank you all for making our 9th Annual Justice Forum a success.
Marla Brown, from our office, and I were madly making note of what comments, suggestions, questions and concerns people had. We will compile our notes into a summary report and be sure to send it to everyone by November 30th. We will also use it as a base to work from when the Social Assistance Review Commission releases the next discussion paper, the “Options” paper, expected in December 2011. Once the Commission releases their paper, we will schedule a community meeting to discuss what we have heard, to discuss what is in the Commission’s paper says, and to ensure our local concerns are presented to the Commission.
In the meant time, we invite any comments and/or concerns you have. Feel free to contact Marla or me (williamst@lao.on.ca) by email or by phone. Also, Marla has drafted a questionnaire. Get the questionnaire.
We would appreciate it if you would complete it and send it back to us by email, fax or snail mail. Also, please forward it on to anyone who might want to complete it and send it to us.
Express your views on the Forum. Please fill out our online survey.
I look forward to seeing you all again.
Read the full press coverage
2011 Newsletter
Download our 2011 Newsletter for the year in review, various status reports, and other useful information.
Help with Income Taxes
It’s INCOME TAX Time at The Help Centre
The Help Centre will seem busier than usual for the next bit of time as we host Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. In fact we have already processed over 450 income tax returns from March 1 to March 16, 2011. Last year was a record breaking year with 1208 completed. We are certainly on track to have another record breaking year.
If you live in Northumberland County, we may be able to assist you with your annual income tax return. There are many benefits you may be eligible for and are geared to your tax return. Don’t miss out!
This year we can offer 4 ways to help our community get their taxes filed.
- Walk-in service – You bring in your information and we complete an intake of that information. Volunteers then pick up your information and complete your return. We call you when it’s ready to be picked up.
- Make an appointment when one of our volunteers is in the office and have your return completed while you wait.
- Outreach to other community sites throughout Northumberland County for you.
- Learn how to do your own return! Workshops available for small groups (less than 4 people at a time) by appointment. We will set up the computers with the tax program and a trained volunteer will help guide through the program while you input your own information.
We can also help with completing taxes that have not been filed for a few years and can help you apply for the Disability Tax Credit if you or a family member is disabled.
Please give us a call at if you have any questions 905-372-2646 or 1-888-698-3382.
Our 8th Annual Justice Forum - Northumberland Community Legal Centre presents: Youth Justice
Please join us Friday October 15, 2010 at the Port Hope Town Park Recreation Centre, 62 McCaul Street, Port Hope (Port Hope Fair Grounds) from 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Keynote Speaker, Brian Glasgow
Brian Glasgow will talk about his own experience with racism, addictions, homelessness and police as a youth. He will talk about his journey to becoming a respected citizen, volunteer and family man. Learn what services are available and where there is still a need for service.
A 4-member panel talk about age-based rights, youth and the police, homeless, employment and social services, followed by an opportunity to have your own input about providing services.
Join us for the formalization of a community partnership between UOIT, University-Community Link Unit and the Northumberland Poverty Reduction Action Committee. The parties will sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
Northumberland Community Legal Centre Gets Grant
The Legal Centre is a grateful recipient of Career Focus funds for this year through Service Canada. This grant is being used hire an articling student, Kulvinder Deol, an Osgoode Hall Law School graduate. Kulvinder started work on May 31 and will be with the Legal Centre for 10 months completing her articles of clerkship.
The recession produced a sharp increase in the demand for the services of the Legal Centre, which provides advice and help to low-income Northumberland residents in the area of poverty law. Worker’s compensation, tenants’ rights, employment insurance, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support, Canada Pension Plan, employment standards, criminal injuries compensation and human rights are the focus of the Legal Centre’s work. Since opening in 1991, this small legal clinic has responded to more than 55,000 requests for such help from County residents, by offering services that are both free and confidential.
According to Service Canada, “under the Youth Employment Strategy, Career Focus provides funding for employers to help post-secondary graduates obtain career-related work opportunities in Canada to support their development of advanced skills, to help them make career-related links to the job market, and to assist them in becoming leaders in their field.”
As an articling student, Kulvinder will gain invaluable experience in the practice of poverty law, and this grant makes that possible. The grant is not only a benefit to the student, however, as it will allow the Legal Centre to provide an extra person to provide direct client service to low-income County residents at a time when more hands on deck are sorely needed.
MP Rick Norlock will present these funds to the Northumberland Community Legal Centre at 10 am on July 5. The Legal Centre is located at 301-1005 Elgin Street West, Cobourg.
Northumberland Help Centre Newsletter
2010 issue of the Help Centre newsletter
September 2009 issue of our newsletter, The Ledger
Special Events
The Help Centre’s 2nd Annual Out of Town Tour, Thursday, August 12th
Press Releases
Northumberland Community Legal Centre Gets Grant - August 2010
TUFF Ride
Start-Up of Legal Centre's Campbellford Satellite Clinic
Connecting Region Project - increasing access to justice for people in rural areas
Study Tour - clinic welcomes Ukrainian visitors to Canada for study tour
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