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Throne
Speech: ODSP
Raise A Step Forward, |
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ODSP Raise A Step Forward, Ontario Works Recipients Disregarded (Toronto). In its Throne Speech today, the province announced its intention to increase Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates. Anti-poverty advocates responded swiftly pointing out that the increase must cover basic needs. "People on ODSP depend on this income to survive and their buying power has been steadily eroded since the Tories froze ODSP rates in 1995," said Jacquie Chic, Director of Advocacy and Legal Services at the Income Security Advocacy Centre. "We want an increase that will cover the actual costs of shelter, food and other basic necessities. We also want social assistance rates indexed to inflation so that rates will increase with the cost of living." The ISAC recommendations are consistent with the findings made by the Coroner's Jury in the inquest into the death of Kimberly Rogers. Barbara Anello, Chair of the DisAbled Women's Network (DAWN) Ontario pointed out that people on Ontario Works (OW) are living on even lower incomes than people on ODSP. "The province is well aware that OW rates are grossly inadequate. For example, a single person in Ontario gets $520 per month to cover shelter and all of their other needs," said Anello. "This government's Ontario Works strategy is a total failure. " "This government's Ontario Works policies are causing increasing levels of hunger and homelessness," said Sherrie Tingley, Executive Director of the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation. "In the city of Ottawa alone, over 4300 tenant households faced eviction in 2002. People are being forced to choose between paying the rent and feeding their kids and this government is doing nothing." For more information:
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Page last updated April 30, 2003 |
