Every week during the election, we’ll post select info and articles featuring our work and the work of our clinic colleagues and community allies to help inform you about the issues at stake in the 2025 Provincial Election.
This week – week three of four of Ontario Election 2025 – saw many local debates, and candidates across the province worked hard on their ground game. Voter cards started arriving in the mail, and the advanced voting period got under way.
The second English-language Leaders Debate took place on Monday February 17, as snowed-in Ontarians across the province did their best to dig their way out after major storms.
Snowstorms have a way of highlighting the importance of well-funded public services. CNIB’s SnoWay Snow Removal campaign says it best: “Snow removal is an accessibility issue, a mobility issue, and a human rights issue.” Calling an election in February, one of the more difficult months to get around in, remains a bold and questionable move. But, onwards we go to February 27!
The February 17 Leaders Debate saw talk of ODSP but no talk of Ontario Works (OW). Why is everyone scared to talk about OW?
There is always a lot to talk about during debates, and so we were very happy to see some point-blank questions asked about doubling ODSP rates, but the conversation was quickly redirected to “the economy” and taxes.
Extremely low social assistance rates are not the only problems with the ODSP and OW programs. The conditions for being approved and the rules that need to be followed while on social assistance are harsh, easy to break by accident, and involve a high degree of monitoring and submission of paperwork that can sometimes be difficult to obtain.
People receiving income support through Ontario Works are forced to liquidate most of their savings (if they have any) and ensure they don’t have more than the OW asset limit ($10,000 for a single person) before they can receive $733/month in assistance. They experience a clawback of their social assistance income based on the income of their spouse (this is also the case for spouses of ODSP recipients.) And they are reportedly losing access to pre-employment supports like clothing funds, and transportation funding to and from résumé workshops, language classes, and training programs.
Nearly half a million Ontarians rely on Ontario Works. Who are these approx. 450,000 Ontarians? They are parents or caregivers of people with disabilities; the children of parents who cannot find work; young people who are having a tough time breaking into the job market; and people who were laid off, have exhausted any EI support they may have been able to get, and burned through their savings. These people are not sitting around “watching the Flintstones”, as the Premier said two weeks ago, but who are struggling and need adequate supports so they can get back to stability and out of poverty.
A summary of the Leader’s debate can be found in this article by the Canadian Press, but you can also watch the debate on CPAC’s website here.
Members of each major party also engaged in a French-language all-party debate on February 19. You can watch that debate on the CPAC website at this link here.
The 2025 Ontario Election Candidates Debate on Disability Issues
On February 19, the 2025 Ontario Election Candidates Debate on Disability Issues was held in-person in Toronto and online, with the moderator noting that over one hundred questions were submitted by online viewers.
Panelists from the Green Party, the Liberal Party, and the Ontario NDP fielded questions from the audience and the moderator on a variety of topics, including concerns about ODSP rates and rules, housing costs and lack of appropriate housing, and supports for people with disabilities who are moving into retirement age.
You can watch the Ontario Election Candidates Debate on Disability Issues through the AODA Alliance YouTube channel (viewer embedded below.)
Many thanks to ARCH Disability Law Centre and all others who organized and participated in the debate.
With one week before Election Day, advocates continue to push important issues
Without much time left on the clock, there are many issues that we, and many others, would like to hear about from the parties. This article regarding the closure of employment programs for disabled job-seekers was published this week, emphasizing the unaddressed concerns with the province’s new Employment Ontario service arrangement. ISAC has sent a questionnaire to all four major parties which includes a question about the province’s Employment Services Transformation plan referenced in the article. We’ve made the questions available for you to download so that you can try your luck at getting some answers! Our Questions for Candidates doc also includes additional facts and info: Click here to download ISAC’s questions for candidates.
The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) has posted 6 Election Priorities to social media, and are releasing related questions daily which they are encouraging voters to share with candidates.
ONWA’s 2025 Election Priority 1 – Invest in Indigenous women’s safety & violence prevention.
ONWA’s 2025 Election Priority 2 – Improve access to health, healing & wellness services for Indigenous women & their families.
ONWA’s 2025 Election Priority 3 – Infrastructure to support safe spaces for Indigenous women.
ONWA’s 2025 Election Priority 4 – Address the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system.
ONWA’s 2025 Election Priority 5 – Access to safe and affordable housing for Indigenous women and their families.
ONWA’s 2025 Election Priority 6 – Address the overrepresentation of Indigenous women in the Justice system.
Check ONWA’s social media here for daily questions and other resources.
After releasing their People’s Platform, ACORN Ontario released an election report card this week, which can be viewed here.
Organizers for Injured Workers Rights have also been mobilizing throughout the election period. The Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups (ONIWG) wrote a letter to every registered political party in Ontario to ask them about their position on issues related to workers compensation. The letter ONWIG sent to every party – as well as the responses received so far – can be found here. You can also use ONIWG’s handy one-page guide for a summary of some of the issues facing injured workers. The guide includes short questions you can ask candidates at events and over the phone.
Advanced voting is open! February 20-22, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
If you would like to vote ahead of February 27, Election Day, you can go to an advanced voting location in your electoral district on February 20, February 21, and February 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and vote at an advanced poll.
If you’re not sure which electoral district you live in, you can find that info on Elections Ontario’s website by typing in your postal code here. Be aware that the info on the screen that pops up will show your Election Day location. If you want to know the location of advanced polls in your district, check on the “Vote Early” link on that page (it may be in different spots on the website based on whether you’re using a phone or a computer to view the website, or a screen reader on your device.)
Other ways to vote
The deadline to request to vote by mail is 6 p.m., Friday, February 21. We think it is a risky move to request to vote by mail at this late date, because it could take up to 4 days for Elections Ontario to approve and deliver your voting kit, and because your completed voters kit has to be received back by Elections Ontario by 6 PM (Eastern Time) on February 27 for your vote to be counted. Most importantly, you can’t change your mind and vote on Election Day if you don’t receive your kit or if you can’t return it back to Elections Ontario on time. Regardless, more details on how to request this voting option can be found on Election Ontario’s website here.
There are also other accessibility options for voting if you want to vote ahead of Election Day, or if you face significant barriers to voting on Election Day. Check out the full list of ways to vote here.
People who have no fixed address (couch-surfing, living a shelter, or living rough) but are otherwise eligible to vote can vote in the area where they have been living during the 5 weeks before the election date. Since the election is on February 27, 2025, that means that you can vote in the area you have been staying in as of January 23, 2025. Food banks and shelters can offer houseless people a “Certificate of Identity and Residence”. It will include the client’s voting location. Ask your local foodbank or shelter about this if you are in this situation and would like to vote.
What’s happening across the province next week?
Saturday, February 22, 2025:
Advanced voting ends at 8 p.m. on Saturday February 22, so if you didn’t get a chance to vote during the advanced polls, make a day-of plan to vote on Thursday February 27, or check out which voting options are left, as listed on the Elections Ontario website.
All-Candidates Virtual Town Hall on Injured Worker Issues is happening on Saturday, February 22, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm! This all-candidates town hall will take place on Zoom, and will focus on issues related to workers’ compensation. Candidates will be asked about their party’s positions on protecting the rights of injured workers and improving workers’ compensation systems; how to address systemic barriers at WSIB that prevent injured workers from accessing justice; measures to protect vulnerable workers impacted by precarious workplaces; and how to support injured workers and their families during the current rising cost of living crisis. You must register to be sent a link to the Zoom meeting. If you have any questions for candidates on this topic or if you want to reach out to candidates running in your riding, email Sang Hun Mun at sang-hun.mun@iavgo.clcj.ca. The debate is being organized by Injured Workers Action for Justice, Justicia for Migrant Workers, and IAVGO Legal Aid Clinic.
Sunday, February 23, 2025:
Check your local news for local debates. If nothing is going on locally, consider calling your local candidate offices to ask some questions, or watch last week’s leader’s debate, or take time to look at the costed platforms released by each major party:
Click here for the Green Party of Ontario platform
Click here for the Ontario Liberals platform
Click here for the Ontario New Democrats platform
No platform has been released by the Progressive Conservative Party, but here is their website.
Monday, February 24, 2025:
Social Planning Toronto is hosting a lunch-time event: “Ringing the Alarm: How will Ontario’s Employment Services Transformation Impact Toronto?” on Monday, February 24, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Current and former service providers have been ringing the alarm that without substantive course correction, the system transformation will leave many job seekers behind and have a disproportionate impact on people on social assistance, particularly people with disabilities. Join this event to hear directly from community groups who are advocating to ensure that this transformation does not erode our social safety net and can support the dignity and wellbeing of job seekers and people on social assistance, and the organizations and workers supporting them. Register at this link.
Join the Taylor-Massey Election Forum (Toronto) and meet the Beaches-East York Candidates on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in person at the Crescent Town Club (2A The Mkt Pl, East York.) There will be a meet & greet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ahead of the Q & A. More info and submit questions here.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025:
We are hosting a Provincial Election Forum on Income Security on Tuesday, February 25, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and we want you to join us!
Panelists include Aislinn Clancy (Green Party of Ontario), John Fraser (Liberal Party of Ontario), and Lise Vaugeois (Ontario NDP). The panel will be hosted by ISAC and moderated by Kat Eschner, TVO.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025:
Make a voting plan for Election Day! Voting is more fun and easier to commit to when you can go with a friend or family member. Consider going during a time where there won’t be a big rush (i.e. lunch time or in the evening) and make sure you have your ID in order. For a list of ID that can be used on Election Day, check Elections Ontario’s website here.
Take a quick browse through past ISAC Election Round-Up posts in case you missed something: ISAC Election Round-Up Week 1, ISAC Election Round-Up Week 2.
Thursday, February 27, 2025 – Election Day!
Today’s the day to vote! Polls are open from 9:00 a.m. ET to 9:00 p.m. ET! Find out where to vote on Election Day by inputting your postal code into Elections Ontario’s website here. That link also includes a list of voting locations on First Nations Reserves.