Important First Steps to Transformation but No Meaningful Progress on Rates The 2018 Ontario Budget introduced today proposes to make a number of critically important changes to social assistance and other benefit systems, which would start to move the system away from the punitive, intrusive system that currently exists and toward the supportive approach that …
Provincial Budgets
Ontario Budget 2018: Take Action on Income Security / Passons à l’action pour la sécurité du revenu
– la version française suit dessous – It’s pre-Budget time in Ontario. As we noted recently, now’s the time to tell the Government and the Opposition parties that they must take bold steps on income security in Ontario. These steps must include major investments in transforming social assistance, starting with raising the rates, and employment standards enforcement. …
2017 Pre-Budget Submission – Investments Needed in Employment Standards Enforcement / Il faut investir dans l’application des normes d’emploi
– la version française suit dessous – ISAC has completed a second submission to Ontario’s 2017-18 Budget public consultation process. Our first submission focused on investments that are required in social assistance. This submission makes recommendations on investments that the province should be making to protect and enforce the rights of all workers in Ontario. …
2017 Pre-budget Submission: $1 billion for OW & ODSP / 1 milliard de dollars pour OT & le POSPH
– la version française suit dessous – ISAC recently spoke to the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, to support the call from the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) to invest $1 billion in social assistance in the 2017-18 provincial budget. $1 billion won’t resolve the poverty of people on social …
Bold steps on social assistance reform in Ontario Budget 2016, but incomes still grossly inadequate
Ontario’s 2016 Budget makes some significant commitments to social assistance reform as well as changes in other areas that will impact low-income Ontarians, including those on Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). But below-poverty incomes for people on social assistance continue to leave them in dire circumstances, particularly as food costs …
Ontario Budget 2016: ISAC Submission to Pre-budget Consultations
Ontario is wrapping up its pre-budget consultations this week. ISAC has made a submission to both the Minister of Finance and the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Our submission includes recommendations on: Making social assistance incomes adequate, especially given rising food costs and other costs of living, and paying for identification …
Budget 2015: Not Much Assistance for Social Assistance
Ontario’s 2015 Budget provides very little assistance to people relying on the low incomes provided by the province’s two social assistance programs, Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). “For most people on social assistance, benefits will continue to be eroded by a rate increase that is below the rate of inflation,” …
Ontario Budget 2015: Pre-Budget Consultations
Ontario’s 2015 pre-budget consultations are about to start. ISAC will appear before the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on January 30th to present recommendations for Ontario’s 2015 budget. In addition to presenting our recommendations, we have prepared a written submission for the Committee.
Budget 2014 – Update and Medical Reviews
Budget Re-introduced: More Comment Required The new Ontario government re-introduced the 2014 provincial Budget yesterday – the same Budget that was originally introduced on May 1. The Budget includes a social assistance rate increase, with proportionally more going to singles on OW and a continuation on the freeze on rates for the family members of people …
Ontario Election June 12, 2014
What does it mean for social assistance? We wanted to follow-up to our email last week about the 2014 Budget and its implications for people receiving social assistance. That’s because we got some emails asking when people would start to get the social assistance rate increases that were in the Budget. In order for the Budget to …
