TORONTO, ON – On Thursday, October 23, at 11 a.m., a coalition of organizations focused on disability justice, food security, workers’ rights, renters’ rights, income security, poverty reduction, and improved social services will arrive at Queen’s Park in Toronto to put Queen’s Park ON NOTICE!
The event will call attention to the interconnectedness of social issues that people living on low incomes and even moderate incomes are facing. The front lawn of Queen’s Park will be taken over by food bank supporters, disability justice advocates, renters, workers, and Ontarians who are tired of having their struggles ignored by policymakers. Organizers are calling on the government to freeze rents, end food insecurity, raise social assistance rates, and raise wages.
“Every year at the food bank we see more and more clients,” said Chiara Padovani, Senior Specialist Advocacy and Community Engagement at North York Harvest Food Bank. “We hear more and more stories of unfair and illegal evictions, of bad bosses who get away with abuses towards workers who are treated as disposable. We see how social assistance has left our clients demoralized and in deep poverty. We have called together our friends from across social sectors and across the province to put Queen’s Park ON Notice!”
Thursday’s event will include music, speeches, a meal served by Weston King Neighbourhood Centre staff and volunteers, and a giant snakes-and-broken-ladders board game showing that there is no getting ahead in a province that leaves its most vulnerable members to struggle without support.
The Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) is supporting this event in order to draw attention to the abysmal social assistance system and low income supports that people on social assistance are forced to bear. Social assistance includes two major programs: The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), and Ontario Works (OW). Neither program provides sufficient income support for clients, providing annual incomes that are far below the poverty line.
“The provincial government is throwing crumbs at people on social assistance while acting like they’re providing a feast,” said Claudia Calabro, Community Organizer at the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC). “We’ve all heard the Ministry brag in the news that they’ve increased the earnings exemption for people on ODSP by 400%. Many people on ODSP can’t work. A 400% increase to zero dollars is zero dollars,” said Calabro.
“No one can survive on the $733 a month that OW provides. And for people on OW who can find work, nearly half of their paycheque is clawed back because of punitive social assistance rules. OW clients need an increased earnings exemption and other policy changes that will help them get ahead,” said Robin Nobleman, Staff Lawyer from ISAC. “Unfortunately, they’ve been completely ignored.”
“We need meaningful policy changes that will put money directly into the pockets of people who need it most,” said Nobleman, “And to stop punishing people who are already down on their luck by pushing them further into poverty.”
Queen’s Park ON NOTICE is being co-hosted by ACORN Ontario, the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits, DJNO, Fair Rent Ontario, FMTA, Income Security Advocacy Centre, Justice For Workers, North York Harvest Food Bank, ODSP Action Coalition, Raise the Rates Coalition, Social Planning Toronto, York South-Weston Tenant Union, and the Weston King-Mount Dennis Neighbourhood Centre.
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Media Contacts:
Michelle Rowe-Jardine, North York Harvest Food Bank: michellerowe@northyorkharvest.com
Claudia Calabro, Income Security Advocacy Centre: Claudia.calabro@isac.clcj.ca