Government appointed Council recommends bold vision for social assistance reform

June 2010 | Canada News Wire

TORONTO, June 14 /CNW/ – The province urgently requires a more effective system of income security programs that meet the needs of Ontarians in a rapidly shifting economy, says a new report by the Social Assistance Review Advisory Council (SARAC).

Ontario Auditor General’s Report Underlines Need for Social Assistance Reform

December 2009 | Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)

Whether he meant to or not, the auditor general’s December 7th analysis of OW/ODSP let a dysfunctional social assistance system off the hook, instead laying blame with the people who have nowhere else to turn to for basic support.

The ensuing debate risks losing sight of the simple fact that when it comes to social assistance, it’s not the people who are the problem.

Advisers aim to fix Ontario's welfare 'quagmire'

December 2009 | Laurie Monsebraaten The Toronto Star

Ontario has appointed the head of Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank to head a panel of anti-poverty advocates to advise the government on a long-awaited review of its welfare system, the Star has learned. “If this group can’t make the proper recommendations, then nobody can,” said food bank executive director Gail Nyberg.

Welfare reform creeps at snail's pace

November 2009 | Laurie Monsebraaten The Toronto Star

Bronwen Sims calls it Ontario’s “work disincentive program.” The 35-year-old woman, who suffers from bipolar disorder and fibromyalgia, has been living in poverty on Ontario’s disability support program for the past 10 years while doctors help her battle alcoholism, depression and severe panic attacks related to her mental illness.

Five benchmarks for social assistance

October 2009 | Pat Capponi and Jennefer Laidley The Toronto Star

Times of crisis are also times for tough decisions, as Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said in his economic statement last week. The province has already made the tough but smart decision to stick with its economic stimulus plan. Standing firm on the commitment to early learning is another tough but smart choice.

The next bold move the government must make is to stick to its guns on a comprehensive review of Ontario’s broken social assistance system.

ISARC on ISAC's "Bold Review" Forum

August 2009 | ISARC

On June 23, 2009, the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) held a forum on the government’s upcoming review of the provincial social assistance system. This review is part of Ontario’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy and was restated in the 2009 budget.

Bold Review Forum Kicks off the Conversation

June 2009 | ISAC

Crystal Chin knows well the problems associated with the current Social Assistance system. As a young adult with cerebral palsy, Crystal receives benefits from the Ontario Disability Support Program. But these benefits are inadequate, both financially and in terms of other supports. At a public forum hosted by the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) on [...]

Ontario Must Move on Social Assistance Reform: Budget 2009

March 2009 | Income Security Advocacy Centre

The McGuinty government’s budget has taken important steps to reduce poverty in Ontario. However, fundamental reform of social assistance remains a necessity, particularly as growing numbers of Ontarians lose their jobs.

Social assistance reform vital part of poverty reduction strategy

February 2009 | Sarah Blackstock, ISAC The Toronto Star

Ontario finally has a poverty reduction strategy. It’s about time.

For years, anti-poverty activists have been pleading with government to take poverty seriously. Teachers have talked about how poorly children do in school when they are hungry and distracted. Health practitioners have listed the ways poverty makes people sick and costs the health-care system millions of dollars. Low-income people have insisted that they should not be blamed for their poverty, but rather that the root causes of poverty such as low wages, lack of child care, discrimination and low levels of training and education should be addressed.

Ontario Welfare System Needs Overhaul

June 2010 | Fogie The North Bay Nugget

The Social Assistance Review Advisory Committee has just released its report, stating that Ontario’s welfare system is not working and needs revamping. It states that the system should shift from simply providing financial support to helping people out of poverty. Easier said than done, and there is no consensus on how to achieve this.

Welfare reform roadmap

June 2010 | Editorial The Toronto Star

Everyone agrees that Ontario’s welfare system is a mess. In a report released Monday, a panel of experts cites “deep and continuing dissatisfaction” with the status quo in all quarters — government, business, labour, community groups, and welfare recipients. What is lacking is a consensus on how to fix it, which is why the provincial government is planning a major policy review of welfare.

Report: Strong income security measures means a stronger Ontario

June 2010 | Stephanie Dearing Digital Journal

Ontario’s Social Assistance Review report, released Monday morning, called for Ontario to create a plan to ensure income security for the province, saying such a plan would help the economic recovery.

Over the years, different political parties who hold power in Ontario have said welfare reform was needed, and after hearings and reviews, changes would be implemented. The most devastating changes were made under Mike Harris’s leadership, which saw Ontario’s Social Assistance programs essentially gutted.

Welfare goes under microscope

June 2010 | Rob Ferguson The Toronto Star

Ontario will take a deeper look at a major revamping of its welfare system after a report called for broad changes to help the disadvantaged into jobs, Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur said Monday.

The review will take 12 to 18 months, she said, with the NDP noting that means the issues of helping the poor are effectively on hold until after the October 2011 election.

Ontario welfare system needs overhaul: panel

June 2010 | CBC News

A government-appointed panel says the Ontario welfare system is not working, and is calling for it to be completely overhauled.

The Social Assistance Review Advisory Committee released its report Monday morning at Queen’s Park.

It says the emphasis of welfare should be shifted from providing financial assistance to helping people break out of poverty.

Ontario should adopt bold vision for welfare reform

June 2010 | Laurie Monsebraaten The Toronto Star

Ontario should adopt a bold vision for welfare reform that includes new income supports and services for all low-income residents, says a government-appointed panel in a report being released Monday.

Coalition warns poverty reduction at risk

December 2009 | 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction

One year into the Ontario government’s commitment to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent by 2013, the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction warns the province risks missing its target unless further action is taken.

N.B. unveils sweeping changes to social assistance

November 2009 | CBC news

The provincial government is promising sweeping changes to its social assistance system as part of a new poverty-reduction plan.

Some of the changes will take effect immediately, while others will be implemented over the next five years, Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock said Friday after a two-day poverty forum in Saint John.

Welfare report blasts asset limit

October 2009 | Noor Javed The Toronto Star

Five hundred and seventy-two dollars. That’s the most a single person is allowed to save up or have stuffed in a mattress if he or she wants to be eligible for welfare in Ontario. A family can have just $1550 worth of assets in hand to qualify. It’s stringent rules like these that make it [...]

The welfare asset trap

October 2009 | The Toronto Star

It is well known that when the Conservatives came to power in1995 Mike Harris gutted welfare rates – leaving needy Ontarians living far below the poverty line.

Less well known is that changes were also made to force Ontarians to divest themselves of almost every cent of savings, including cashable RRSPs, before they could qualify for a welfare cheque.