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