The 2012 Ontario Budget is deeply disappointing for the nearly 900,000 men, women, and children in Ontario who currently rely on Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program for income and other necessary benefits.
The Budget includes a freeze on social assistance rates and a delay in increasing the Ontario Child Benefit to the promised maximum of $1,310 per child per year – which will also hurt low-income working Ontarians.
But the Budget also includes cuts to other social assistance benefits of $30 million this year alone, and directions on restructuring OW and ODSP employment supports services. These announcements severely constrain the discussions that are currently underway through the Social Assistance Review.
Both the Liberals and the NDP are looking for feedback on Budget 2012 – we need to tell them that the budget deficit cannot be resolved on the backs of the poor.
We’re asking people to contact both the Liberals and the NDP, and tell them:
- The freeze to social assistance rates must be stopped – people on assistance need an increase that will let them keep up with the rising cost of living;
- The Social Assistance Review must be allowed to complete its work before government makes any decisions on other changes; and,
- The full Ontario Child Benefit should be implemented now.
Answer the Liberals’ survey at: http://budget2012.questionpro.com/
Contact the NDP at: http://www.ondpcaucus.com/yoursay/