Province Announces Plans for Social Assistance Reform
July 31, 2018
The Province announced its intention to propose a plan for reforming Ontario's social assistance program (OW and ODSP) within the next 100 days (by November 8, 2018), with a view to reorienting the program to enable quicker re-entry into the workforce where possible.
In the interim, the Province has indicated that it will move forward with a 1.5% rate increase for OW and ODSP in the fall, in place of the planned 3% increase announced in the 2018 Ontario Budget.
The Province also announced that it would be winding down Ontario's Basic Income pilot in order to focus on more evidence-based approaches, with payments to eligible participants to continue until March 31, 2019.
OMSSA and members of OMSSA's Board will be meeting with Ontario's Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod in an upcoming delegation at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario's conference in Ottawa.
Links
Read the Province's News ReleaseRead the Province's Backgrounder
Read the Op-Ed by Minister Lisa MacLeod