For the 900,000 Ontarians who live on social assistance (ODSP or OW), the atrociously low rates make it impossible to afford necessities, such as food, shelter or medicine. Ford's Conservatives promised to raise ODSP rates by a paltry 5%, which amounts to an additional $58 per month per recipient—a drop in the bucket. Ontario Works recipients have had their rates frozen at just $733 per month.
Over the next two weeks I’ll be living on a welfare diet of $47.60 a week, joining my colleagues MPPs Vaugeois, Harden, and Taylor. Our plan is to draw attention to the 900,000 people living on poverty-level Ontario Disability and Ontario Works payments, who have been ignored by governments for too long. You can follow my progress here.
Here’s how you help
Send a message
Tell Minister Fullerton to join our welfare diet and double social assistance rates. You can download a paper petition to collect signatures for me to be read in the legislature here.
Donate to a local group
ODSP Action Coalition
Avenue Road Food Bank
Fort York Food Bank
Sistering
Spadina Fort York Community Care
Make the case
To help me pressure the Conservative government to raise the rates, I will be highlighting the experiences of residents who live on social assistance, as well as those of us, who help people on social assistance, in the legislature. If you have a story to share please email us or call at 416 535 7206.