Impact

 Public Policy Achievements

PEPSO research has been explicitly cited 29 times in federal government proceedings, 10 times in provincial government proceedings and 9 times in municipal government proceedings. In addition, precarious employment has been increasingly cited as an issue of concern during federal and provincial government proceedings. PEPSO’s reports have made an impact on public policy: the former Ontario Minister of Labour, Yasir Naqvi, cited PEPSO research when announcing Bill 18, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014. After the publication of It’s More than Poverty, Ontario launched a major review of employment and labour standards called the Changing Workplaces Review, citing the need to adapt our public policies to the new world of work. The Changing Workplaces Review has resulted in proposed legislation – Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. 

 Further Research

PEPSO research has also encouraged further research and debate on key challenges faced by workers in precarious jobs in Southern Ontario.

• The PEPSO survey is being replicated in London, Ontario by the London Poverty Research Centre @ King’s.
• The PEPSO survey is also being replicated in the Niagara Region by the Social Justice Research Institute at Brock University and United Way Niagara Falls & Greater Fort Erie through the PEPiN project. 
• In addition, researchers in jurisdictions both within Canada and outside of Canada have expressed interest in replicating this study.