Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Income Security Action Group

Filing a Tax Return could mean More Income

Tax season is here.  The Income Security Action Group of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force encourages everyone to file a tax return. For modest and low income Canadians, filing a tax return may actually help increase the number of benefits they can collect and may result in an increase in their income. Many Canadians have no idea they would get money back, and they fear being told they have to pay the government for back taxes they cannot afford.  But this is not the case for most people on low income.

Here are three good reasons to file for 2016:

  1. To qualify for programs including the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the GST/HST credit, and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which all pay cash when you qualify.
  2. To take advantage of certain tax credits like the Working Income Tax Benefit
  3. To recover any tax you may have overpaid from your pay cheque.

“If a tax return is not filed, the family may miss out on benefits that could help increase their income and decrease health inequities,” says Jill Umbach of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force.  “There are some incredible volunteers that provide free tax services to people on low income all across Grey-Bruce. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these services to file this year’s and prior years’ taxes.”

Support in filing your taxes is a hugely important anti-poverty and health intervention.  The Canadian Revenue Agency supports programs that prepare taxes for low-income Canadians through its Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. Take advantage of the free tax clinics throughout Grey and Bruce.  A list of clinic dates, times and locations can be found by calling 211 or check on line at 211 Information Bruce Grey or The HealthLine.   For a listing prepared by the Poverty Task Force:  Volunteer Income Tax Clinics_Listing_March 2017

For More Information:

Jill Umbach

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force
519-377-9406
jill.umbach@gmail.com

 

 

 

Tara MacDonald Poverty Task Force

Volunteer Opportunity: Photographers

We’re looking for local photographers!

Do you have a passion for photography, your own DSLR camera and experience with photo editing? We could use your help!

We are looking for volunteers to help make a difference by harnessing the power of photography to advocate for poverty reform and social change in Bruce and Grey Counties.

The volunteer will help us to cover some of the more exciting work we do and events we and our member organizations run while helping to raise the profile of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force.

What needs to get done:

Assisting the Task Force team, you will be helping to document our work and the efforts of our member organizations.

You may be asked to photograph seminars, workshops, indoor and/or outdoor events as well as local places of interest. Your tasks will also include talking to volunteers, participants and the general public about their opinions and experiences, obtaining permissions, and of course taking photographs.

What you will need:

  • You will need to own – or have access to – a DSLR camera,
  • You should have some experience with digital editing,
  • Experience with Flickr, WordPress, Twitter and Facebook would be an advantage.

What you will get out of it:

This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable volunteer experience in your community while helping to fight poverty and improve the lives of people in the Grey Bruce area.

All photographs used will be credited to the photographer. They may appear on our website, social media channels, internal and / or external publications. Your photographs may also be sent as part of press release packages to local and national press agencies.

References will also be provided upon request.

Want to learn more?

Contact us to start volunteering today!

jillumbach Advocacy, Media, Transportation Action Group, Video

Rural Transportation Committee resolution passed_28 Nov 2013

November 28, 2013

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force submitted a letter of support to MPP Bill Walker’s office on a resolution to strike a Provincial Rural and Northern Ontario Transportation Committee. Bill Walker Resolution_support letter from BG Poverty Task Force The Committee would be all-party.

In the letter which Bill Walker quoted from in his presentation of the motion the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force stated: 

“We support a committee that will work towards the Government of Ontario 1) creating a vision for what public transportation in rural Ontario should look like in the future, 2) setting standards for public transportation across Ontario and 3) determining what strategies and priorities need to be in place to make the future happen.”

“Best practice studies and examples of other provincial initiatives, such as BC Transit, have demonstrated the benefits of an effective rural public transportation system to increase accessibility to essential services and employment; lead to lower commuting costs for residents and fostering the development of local and regional businesses.”

“We believe that an integrated public transportation solution connecting people and communities will lead to a better quality of life; and more sustainable future for Grey and Bruce County residents.”

All three parties  voted to pass the resolution on the first motion at Queen’s Park.

For video of the debate, go to: http://billwalkermpp.com/video/player.php?VideoID=88    

Walker is quoted as saying “All of us have a stake in taking a more active role in supporting our communities’ transit needs. This committee will be an important first step in achieving that goal, and I’m pleased that all three parties have just agreed to take that first step together.”

Walker said he received widespread support from municipalities, community groups and activists since tabling the resolution two weeks ago.

“There’s no doubt that transportation is an essential component to healthy communities, for youth retention and for our long-term sustainability,” he said. “I hear and see first-hand in my constituency how the lack of a transportation solution negatively impacts my people’s ability to complete the basic every-day tasks, from getting to work and doctors’ appointments to just visiting family and friends.”

Walker said the objective of the committee will be to discuss transportation challenges impacting regions north of the GTA, to come up with effective solutions and then to propose legislative action for those plans.

“To me, the future of the province lies in healthy communities, communities that put food on your table, and give you the mineral-rich Ring of Fire, provide the most in the gas tax funds…you cannot afford to let rural and Northern Ontario fizzle away nor to become non-existent,” he said. “We are the fuel that drives this province, and we will always play a key role in the health and vitality of Ontario.”