Poverty advocates pan reduced hike in social assistance benefits

Brenda LeClair doesn’t receive social assistance, but as executive director of the Outreach for Hunger food bank in Chatham, she is well aware of the struggles of the people who do.

She is troubled by the news that the Ontario Progressive Conservative government is cancelling plans by the previous Liberal government to provide a three per cent increase to benefits for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients. Instead, the increase is being scaled back to 1.5 per cent, which comes into effect this fall.

“We have so many folks that are already struggling and now you’re going to take away what little hope you were offering them,” she added. “It just doesn’t make sense, it made me sick to hear about that.” LeClair, who continues to see 2535 new families sign up at the food bank each month, said the 1.5 per cent increase is not enough, especially since costs such as electricity haven’t decreased.

She added a three per cent increase was barely enough. LeClair questions all the talk about childhood poverty when a move like this is being made. Social Service Minister Lisa MacLeod said the government is going to come up with a plan within 100 days to overhaul the “disjointed patchwork system” left by the previous Liberal government. Theresa McMurray, executive director of Stratford House of Blessing, said the announcement of a lesser benefit increase is “definitely not what I think people were expecting.” The organization, which provides food bank services among other services, and has seen an increased need at times over the years.

As for what changes the government plans to implement within the next 100 days, McMurray said, “We hope that it will match or better what was on the table previously.” Valerie Colasanti, director of employment and social services for Chatham-Kent, believes those on assistance were really counting on seeing a three-per-cent increase to their benefits. Citing the fact the cost of food and hydro has gone up, she said, “I think it will be very disappointing for them.”

The province is also winding down Ontario’s basic income pilot project, which provided payments to 4,000 low-income people in Hamilton, Brantford, Thunder Bay and Lindsay. Single participants receive up to $16,989 a year and couples receive up to $24,027, less 50 per cent of any earned income. Colasanti was disheartened at this news.

It just doesn’t make sense, it made me sick to hear about that.

Although Chatham-Kent wasn’t part of the pilot project, she said, “certainly, we were watching it very closely.”

She said it was supposed to last for three years to be studied and decided if it was a better system, because it was based on the income tax model.

“We were looking forward to seeing the end of the process, so it’s unfortunate they ’re doing to end it before they can fully measure it,” Colasanti said.

The Ontario government defends its decision to scrap the program, despite having promised to preserve the pilot project.

“It really is a disincentive to get people back on track,” MacLeod said.

“When you’re encouraging people to accept money without strings attached, it really doesn’t send the message that I think our ministry and our government wants to send,” she added.