Ontario’s 2026 Budget arrives with a familiar promise of protection, but for whom? The province faces compounding pressures, including a deficit that has nearly doubled to $13.8 billion, ongoing U.S. tariff threats, and the ripple…
The Standing Committee on Finance is inviting submissions to its Pre-Budget Consultation in advance of the 2026 Budget. This means it’s time to share your thoughts on what the federal government’s budget priorities for the…
Nearly one million Ontarians rely on social assistance programs like Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) for survival. These are programs of last resort, a lifeline for those with nowhere else…
The Ontario government’s mandate is to protect the province, its communities, workers, and businesses. In the face of U.S. tariffs, rising costs, and ongoing economic uncertainty, the provincial budget must help Ontarians to withstand current…
Ontario’s current Poverty Reduction Strategy, Building a Strong Foundation for Success: Reducing Poverty in Ontario (2020–2025), is nearing its end without having delivered meaningful or lasting reductions in poverty. Despite its stated ambition, the strategy…
Disability Without Poverty (DWP), a national disability justice organization, is holding a virtual symposium on December 3, 2025, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The symposium, titled “Disability Poverty in Canada: Learning from Today…
The Government of Ontario has opened up its pre-budget consultation period for submissions from members of the public. This is a great time to share your thoughts on what should be included and prioritized in…
The new federal government’s first and much-anticipated budget introduces what it describes as “generational investments” to empower Canadians. However, when it comes to the social safety net that protects low-income families, persons with disabilities, workers,…
Every day the top headlines include news about factory or plant closures and layoffs, job instability across industries, and the federal government’s potential plans to support workers by investing in new or “shovel-ready” projects. Missing…
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is finally here. The Benefit has been open for applications since late June, with funds being distributed starting in late July. Some applicants have reported problems with their receipt of…
Doctors often charge patients to write reports and to provide access to the patient’s own medical records. This is a key issue for people applying for the Ontario Disability Support Program and other public disability…
As we submit our budget recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance this year, Canada stands at a critical crossroads. Low-income households are teetering under the weight of record-high income inequality, while escalating tariff wars…