Governments have failed the disabled
If you were given the choice of working for your entire life in a successful career, or living in mental or physical agony while in poverty, what would you choose?
Half a million Ontarians living on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) do not have that choice. For whatever reason, whether it be a physical or mental disability, these individuals have been medically determined unable to work.
When directly asked about ODSP back in April, Premier Doug Ford suggested “that the people who are unable to work, for any reason, be it physically, mentally, I will always be there to support them. I have over the last four years; we’re going to continue to do it.”
Yet when the Ford government took office four years ago, a three per cent increase to ODSP planned by the Kathleen Wynne Liberals was slashed to just 1.5 per cent. There has not been an increase since, despite the skyrocketing cost of living.
While responding to the question about ODSP, Ford quickly changed the topic to those who are “able to work in any capacity at all” further suggesting that “the best way to help someone that is able to work is get them a job.”
To its core, the mentality of “get a job” fails to recognize what it is like living with a disability. The ODSP system itself is designed in a way that punishes those who are able to work to some capacity while receiving support.
People who rely on disability support can earn a mere $200 a month and are given an additional $100 benefit for working, all before the government reduces their disability support payments by 50 per cent of any further earned income.
If an individual on disability has a spouse who works, their spouse’s income also must be reported on a monthly basis so that it can be deducted from the disabled individual’s disability support.
In March, Ontario Green Leader Mike Schreiner asked in the legislature “will the premier start treating people with disabilities with respect and double the ODSP rate in the spring budget?”
Merrilee Fullerton, minister of children, community, and social services, responded that the Ford government had raised rates four years ago.
She further highlighted onetime COVID-19 support payments given during the pandemic and that the provincial government has asked the federal government to come to the table with their election promise to enact a federal disability benefit.
On Tuesday, federal NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo put forward a motion, which passed with unanimous consent, for the Trudeau Liberals to follow through on that very promise.
Nearly half of Canadians who live in poverty suffer from a disability. Raising income support for those who are disabled will have a direct impact on reducing severe poverty that many Canadians face. Currently, single individuals living on ODSP receive $1,169 a month.
With the provincial election in full swing, the promises have been made when it comes to ODSP rates. The Liberals have promised to increase rates by 10 per cent in 2022 and 10 per cent in 2023, amounting to around $1,400 a month in support two years from now. They are also promising to increase the amount one can earn before benefits are reduced to $6,000 a year.
The NDP has promised to increase ODSP by 20 per cent and further legislate annual increases tied to inflation. The Progressive Conservatives, the last to make a commitment, have promised a five per cent increase and future increases tied to inflation. The Greens, although unlikely to win, have promised to double current support payments.
No one really wants to rely on the government to survive but many must. Not one party, besides the Greens, have come close to promising enough. Whoever wins this election, those who live with a disability will remain condemned to a life of legislated poverty.