Publications, opinions, and speeches
Maytree publishes reports, backgrounders, briefs, opinions, and speeches to help inform decision-making and to engage in public discussions on social policy issues.
- For publications by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, visit this page.
- For publications on immigration and diversity (published before 2013), visit this page.
Published on 31/05/2023
Sports bring us joy, help us to develop as individuals, and strengthen our communities. But beneath this bright surface lies a dark underbelly. This includes sports systems that fail to honour the right to play, and sports gambling, which demeans sport itself.
Playing baseball in the sun on a spring day (or cricket, or soccer, or rugby), can be a truly lovely thing. And watching people play is wonderful too, sharing in the joy sports can bring to our lives. Whether it’s the Blue Jays, or little kids who are as likely to find a fly in […]
Published on 26/04/2023
Any serious candidate for mayor must show voters what they will bring to this problem, beyond police and beyond shelters. Will they act urgently and with all the resources they can muster to fix the many systems that are pushing people into homelessness?
No one wants encampments. Not the people who live in them, who would almost certainly rather live in a stable, adequate home. Not the neighbours, who want to use the parks for their intended purpose. Not any of us, who are distressed and ashamed that in our wealthy city we make and prop up systems […]
Published on 26/04/2023
If the City of Toronto doesn't pursue the role of Employment Service System Manager, it will prioritize its own needs over those of its residents in deepest poverty, argued Garima Talwar Kapoor at Toronto’s Economic and Community Development Committee.
In 2019, the Ontario provincial government embarked on a reform of its employment services delivery model. Employment Ontario will be integrated with Ontario Works Employment Assistance and Ontario Disability Support Program Employment Support. The province is introducing Employment Service System Managers (ESSM) in local labour markets to lead this Employment Services Transformation (EST). The April […]
Published on 13/04/2023
Looking for waste at city hall or counting on making good friends with the provincial or federal governments is like wishing for a miracle. So what are the alternatives?
Originally published on TVO.org. Toronto’s incumbent-free mayoral byelection on June 26 offers a good opportunity for candidates to propose some realistic ideas about how the city can both achieve its ambitions and pay its bills. The temptation for candidates will be to resort to old nostrums or divert attention to small ideas in an attempt to […]
Published on 11/04/2023
A strong mayor requires an informed and empowered council. Candidates should tell us whether they are going to strengthen it — and how they are going to do so
Originally published on TVO.org. Toronto is heading into a mayoral campaign for the June 26 byelection. While the list of candidates is not set, there are lots of views on what the campaign should be about. Some want housing issues to top the list, others traffic or transit, and still others climate change. The Ontario premier […]
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Published on 10/04/2023
If the progressive realization of economic and social rights is to be the North Star of Canadian social policy, it cannot be contingent on the actions of one government alone.
Download the submission In April 2023, Maytree made a submission to the United Nations as part of the Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Canada. The UPR is a process where United Nations’ Member States are reviewed by their peers with respect to their progress in meeting their human rights obligations and commitments. At this […]
Published on 29/03/2023
Accountability keeps us focused on a goal and pushes us to move further and faster. Toronto City Council should lay the foundations for the human right to housing by creating a housing commissioner role that will protect and support people.
This week, Toronto’s City Council will consider proposals for housing that, we all hope, will help the City make sustained headway on our housing crisis, and on their commitment to realizing the human right to housing. The proposals are an opportunity for councillors to ensure that they are meeting this commitment in the following ways: […]
Published on 24/03/2023
Meaningful participation is key to a human rights-based approach. Storytelling is a start, but it is only one side of the process. We need to think deeply about how we receive those stories, incorporate people’s expertise into decision-making, and build relationships.
This article was originally published on The Philanthropist website. Sometimes we get carried away by our desire to do good – whether we focus on poverty, employment, arts and culture, or the environment. We eagerly follow the sparks of our own ideas about what would make the lives of others better. And as foundations, we often […]
Published on 23/03/2023
Maytree President Elizabeth McIsaac spoke before Toronto’s Executive Committee as it considered the Housing Action Plan 2022-2026 – Priorities and Work Plan.
The agenda item which this deputation addresses can be found here. Good morning, my name is Elizabeth McIsaac, and I am the President of Maytree, an organization dedicated to advancing systemic solutions to poverty through a human rights-based approach. My comments today are in response to the proposed priorities and actions in the City’s 2022-to-2026 […]