Open Letter to Premier McGuinty from the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
Budget Decisions on Social Assistance Call Commitment into Question
29 April 2010
Dear Premier McGuinty,
As organizations committed to the mission to reduce poverty, we write to express our serious concern about recent moves your government has taken on the poverty front.
More than a year into Ontario’s efforts to reduce poverty by 25% by 2013, your government has made the following moves that call into question your government’s commitment to meeting its own poverty reduction goals:
- Ending the Special Diet Allowance Program without a previous and clearly thought through replacement plan, which will result in a significant drop in income for people on social assistance who have health-related nutritional needs;
- Allowing, for the first time since 2006, social assistance rate increases to fall below the rate of inflation.
These actions are distressing, and – without adequate and commensurate resolution – threaten the health and safety of many struggling individuals in this province.
We keenly appreciate the fiscal constraints facing Ontario post-recession. We also acknowledge and have publicly celebrated the important positive steps taken in the 2010 budget. These include additional investment to improve enforcement of employment standards enforcement for precarious workers as well as your government’s commitment to permanently fund subsidized child care and invest in full-day early learning and child care. We were also very pleased to see the full-day early learning and child care legislation pass on April 27, and to see an additional $6 million in fee subsidies, growing to $51 million over five years.
These are key measures that support low-income families, but do little to directly support their health and well-being. We are deeply concerned about the actions you have taken that affect the most vulnerable people our society – those on social assistance.
By ending the special diet allowance, doctors, nurses, medical officers of health, labour organizations, activists, advocates, and many others warn that your government is putting the security, dignity, and even the lives of many sick Ontarians at risk. They cite the clearly demonstrated relationship between poverty, food insecurity, and poor health.
Others have raised concerns about what this decision says about your government’s commitment to strengthening Ontario’s human rights system, which was apparent in Bill 107, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, in your first mandate.
Your own Social Assistance Review Advisory Council expressed disappointment with the decision to end the special diet allowance.
If an adequate replacement program to provide people with the finances required to support special dietary needs is not forthcoming, this decision will result in increased sickness, increased housing insecurity, and rising future health care costs.
The decision also underscores the critical need for your government to create a coherent plan to provide livable incomes to people on social assistance. This is because the incomes of people on Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program fall far short of what is needed cover the costs of housing, nutritious food and, for those with health issues, to be able afford special foods to stay healthy.
We feel strongly that your commitment to poverty reduction has reached a crossroads. Over the coming weeks you will have three opportunities to clearly demonstrate your determination to get the 25 in 5 poverty reduction commitment back on track.
- Affordable Housing Strategy: Since housing takes up such a large part of a low-income person’s budget, what your government does now to make housing more affordable will make a big difference. Your Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy will lay out a plan this spring that requires immediate action. By bringing in affordable housing measures this spring, you could help poor Ontarians – including those on social assistance – lower their budgetary costs, and create jobs at a time when the province needs them.
- Social Assistance Review: Your Social Assistance Review Advisory Council will also make its recommendations this spring on the scope and direction of a comprehensive review for income security in Ontario, giving you an opportunity to fix a system that has long been broken and to align it with an agenda for poverty reduction and shared prosperity in Ontario.
- Nutrition Supplement: Finally, resolution to the loss of the special diet allowance has yet to be worked out. This highly disturbing development in your government’s policy program must be remedied. The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is currently working with its partner groups to provide recommendations to your government on the principles that must underlie the replacement program, which we will forward to you in the coming days. However, we feel strongly that your government must immediately address the broader issue of income insecurity that people on social assistance are forced to endure.
Entire nations are recovering from the worldwide economic meltdown of 2008. Recovery efforts can, and will, test the mettle of many governments. Your challenge is to not let today’s fear hamper the future of the poorest of the poor – they are relying on your humanity, your vision and your leadership.
As a network, we strive to ensure the voices of the voiceless are heard in the halls of power. We have been supportive of your promises to reduce poverty and the steps you have taken so far to realize these promises. Our most important commitment is to the poor of this province – as should be yours.
We request a meeting with the core Ministers responsible for carrying out your poverty reduction plan to discuss our hopes and concerns:
· The Hon. Laurel Broten, Minister Responsible for Poverty Reduction
· The Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services
· The Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
· The Hon. Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Sincerely,
Michael Creek and Greg deGroot-Maggetti
Co-chairs, 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
cc: Tim Hudak, MPP, Leader of the Official Opposition
Andrea Horwath, MPP, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario
Social Assistance for those that are victims of crime and are now permanently disable such as those with brain injuries is pitiful. With no hope of being able to work again individuals are left to their own devises and many are left homeless without the ability to navigate a complex social system that is not prepared to the assist the cognitively impaired.
Healthy bodies,healthy minds,is not a myth.I have learned
how to understand and practice healthy,nutritional eating habits.I understand the direct impact cheaper,processed foods have on mental and physical well being.I’m stretched thin financially to provide nutritional,healthy meals.also preventative practices such as chiropractic,reikei.
My check will be reduced by 215,00 per month leaving me unable to implement the nutritional information I have gleaned.As a result of dietary supports,I am not on psychiatric medications,nor, have I had a hospital stay for almost 4 years.I have lived with mental illness since age 3 I am 46 years old and finally feeling like I’m emotionally regulated enough to be a productive member of the community.My mother is a residential school survivor,and I grew up in the child welfare system.
Please don’t sentence me,or anyone with health concerns,(that’s anyone,who enjoys living)to ill health!!!Prevention is always prudent! Health care costs will stay down! Healthy bodies,Healthy minds. Is not a myth. Candyrose Freeman
I urge you not to discontinue the special diet allowance without conversing with those who are receiving it and finding out why they need it and what will happen if they don’t continue to get it.
I am a self-employed diabetic (type 2) on insulin. My ODSP payments have been eliminated,due to they’re stating I made too much money and my health care costs are too high. I have no food,no drink.
I am and have been under the care of a psychiatrist for depression. I am also a primary caregiver (my mother has Alzheimers,is in a nursing home-I miss her badly! My mother and I long have a bond. I am depressed,feel like ending my life. I have no choice to to stop taking insulin and hope I end up in the hospital. Due to the ODSP’s stupid and insensitive workers and this Fiberal govt’s judging the disabled and diabetics as if we are a burden on society,I have no money,no food. I think the ODSP is totally corrupt. If the ODSP had to face failure of running a business,living alone with diabetes,health issues,depression and lack of self-esteem,as well as isolation and burnout plus how hard it is to live with a learning disability,then they might have a better understanding. As it is,ODSP workers like Maria Caputo and McGuinty treat the disabled like criminals. I protest this! My phone number is 416-960-9595. I shall have to get a loan to get me through this week,else I will go into a diabetic coma.
Lots of people have been speaking up and advocating for positive change. Too many people were already suffering before the announcement of the special diet cuts. I can only hope that somebody at Queen’s Park graps the concept that there is a difference between hearing our pleas and actually doing something tangible to help those who are suffering. If you MPP has forgotten why they are there, I encourage you to remind them. If they are not representing your interests, then fire them exercise your right to fire them on election. The poor people didn’t collect the bad debt, government policy and directives did.
[...] 25 in 5 wrote to the Premier about the cancellation of the Special Diet Allowance, which will have an impact on several thousand OW and ODSP recipients, and the 1% increase to social assistance rates, which falls short of the inflation rate. You can read 25 in 5’s letter here. [...]
Rates have not kept up with the true costs of living, and have not been restored to the level they were when Mr. Harris made his cuts. The small increases have been mere costs of living adjustments that never kept up to the actual amounts. They have announced cuts to the special diet program after been found guilty of discrimination. Where is the justice for all of us who are suffering needlessly. So, I can’t see significant increase helping my family in a tangible way. Where is the increase for my basic ODSP basic needs allowance if it went down as the Ontario Child Benefit increased. There are some of us who actually see through the smoke and mirrors. I can only hope that more people see through it before it is too late and Ontario’s poorest children are set further back by lack of money to eat and succeed. What is wrong with this government when 39 out of 40 MPPs are on the record as recognizing that the current rates are not enough, but have done nothing to make real change happen for thousands of Ontarians. I encourage you all to vote and think long and hard about what you are voting for.
This Liberal government should be ashamed of the way they treat the disadvantaged and disabled in this great province. It’s bad enough with the poverty we live in that grows worse by the day with inflation and constantly rising costs for everything. To cut the special diet is an added insult and basically a death sentence for some. It is quite obvious that their plan to help the poor and disabled is of very low priority so in all fairness their party will receive the same priority at election time. Thanks for a life that is hardly worth living.
These cuts are horrible. I am sick and tired of Dolton McGuinty’s Fiberal lies! Too bad we can’t impeach the bastard and his ODSP miserable toads!! This slime devil McGuinty and his lousy Liberal warts need to be turfed from office! The ODSP + Dalton Glib Phony Balony McGuinty’s elimination of the Special Diet is despicable. Now I’ve been cut off by ODSP,because they claim I made too much income in 2009. My health and emotions are being rapidly destroyed. The ODSP and it’s lousy staff and workers are ignorrant,insensitive and a bunch of hateful miserable civil servants with arrogance. Bah Humbug to them all.
well im typing this message too all canadians,i was born extremely healthy would but too shame anybody that would try too race me and i could work in contruction because its in my famillys life too build quality additions houses renovations,ive been stuck arguing with dr for 18 years since motorcycle acciddent,it has left me almost crippled,i have left me having a hard time using my hands too type or write i get lost in my pain,all i can say my identical twin has thought me allot more than you call dr theyre nothing but bucthers,i use too make 32 0000 a year before motorcycle accident after that ive been strugling since then canada systeme is uselless its only good for descrimination
Single women need help too we are barely struggling.
“…they are relying on your humanity, your vision and your leadership.” That’s a joke; right?
As one of the “poorest of the poor”, I can say we do no such thing. The majority, of us, aren’t poor because we’re stupid. If stupidity were our problem we could be making $50,000.00, per year or more, as civil servants.
In my case, stupidity may be an issue as I can’t understand how trivial increases, in ODSP and OW benefits, which are less than increases in the cost of living, or “raising the minimum wage”, which isn’t enforced, do a damned thing to “break the cycle of poverty”.
On the other hand, it’s possible stupidity (mine) isn’t an issue, and the Premier should do something useful, rather than making, meaningless, “commitments” and writing asinine letters.
I was born and raised here in Ontario. I paid into the system for years. I started working when I was 12 years old. I was a person of means and opportunity. I had the dream that everyone has growing up. And I made it.
Then tragedy struck. By the time I was 41 I had died twice. Through no fault of my own , simply medical issues. When I was 43 I died again, because of medical issues.
Obviously I am not deceased, but I did not ask to get sick. I am 49 now and can not go back to work.
Before I received any help I had to rid myself of all my assets before help would come.
Then CTB get’s cut because my son turned 18. Now he is going away to school with a scholarship, grants and a small loan from OSAP. And then I find out that my monthly income from ODSP; with my dietary increase (if you can call it that) is only going to be $1,155.00. The HST credit is a joke so is the other credit we get for being low-income.
How absolutely degrading can the government make me feel. Why don’t you live in the city of Toronto on this insult that is call support. I haven’t even had a hair cut in 3 years, because I can’t afford the $30 to get one.
I supported my son on my own since he was 18 months. I even paid full fee day care, no subsidy, my son is an honour roll high school graduate not some thug on the street and he is now going away to school,so he can become a contributing member of society like I was raised to be.
Again, no one asks to get sick and live with disabilities, yet they ask us to survive on $1,155 a month.
I can only say, this is such a dispicable way to treat those that were born here, raised here and contributed to our great country, and today I hear on the news that they want to do away with severance packages to gov’t employees who quit their jobs, pllllleeeeease,why would you even get severance if you quit your job.
Where is the justice, fairness and hope that this country and province is suppose to offer to it’s residents. I can say it certainly isn’t here.
Live like we do, even dogs get treated better than we do. I am so sick and tired of having to live this way, but I have no choice, but one, and that is not a choice I want my son to live with.
Rachel
been searching the net for answers to what our provincial candidates plans are for ODSP. needless to say there are none. remember Mike Harris. i have a serious dislike lyin Dalton but will Hudak follow in Harriss’s shoes. i recieve odsp and a meal allowance for a serious illness that makes employment impossible. i used to drive truck which my doctor tells me i will never do again or work. who will i vote for, none have any answers. we are pariahs to them. the bain of society. i would love to work again. whats a poor boy to do. starving in ontario, the have not province.
To Rachel:
Do not try suicide. This is exactly what burocrats that profiting from the reduction of poverty program and OW/ODSP program want. Remember K.A.Rogers already did: lost her unborn child and her life in 2001. Nothing was changed. Who cares how $25 –billion of “public cost” for poor is spend”( irony of 25 in 5 Networks)? For salaries to the National Council on Welfare, to commissioners (that will produce the useless futile report – check history – from 1834 same sort of commissioners worked “hard” to collect their salaries), to Minister of Community and Social Services and to the enormous staff of ministry , to delivery agency, and to the members of the Social Benefits Tribunal.
You see, for you it almost nothing left. But it can be even worse because you did not mention about “overpayments”. Can you imagine that you have to repay your miserable benefits? Try that: on $7244 yearly income “overpayment” of OW benefits $6900. And the collecting agency is harassing you already.
And remember that your benefits are the government help. They can cut their help anytime. Keep your documents in order, and keep all receipts.
What about to survive on $59 for whole year due to “overpayment” of social assistance (OW)?
Remember the 8 months pregnant women by name Kimberly Ann Rogers, was found dead in the hot, not air conditioned apartment at August 09, 2001.Her “overpayment” was $13,000. Who cares that it was unlawfull immoral decision?
The recipients of OW (and ODSP too)even do not have legal rights compare to criminals :
- to be presumed innocent
- to public hearing by an independent Tribunal
- to trial, to civil jury, to summary judgement
- to not be self-incriminated
- to remain silent
- to be safe at home
- to privacy and be protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
- right to adequate food, clothes, shelter
Without these rights it is no surprising that every day the sadistic, deadly dangerous Ontario Works regime put the financial debt in form of “overpayment” on another pregnant woman and on another mother with accusation of something or even without any accusation.
Why? To “Squeeze every penny from the poorest of the poor” because they are nobody under the law and ceased to be citizens in any true sense of this word.
Luba