Ontario Government

From the
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth:

Young People in Care Call for Fundamental Changes to Child Welfare System
Youth Leaving Care Hearings Team to Deliver Report to Ontario Legislature Today (PDF - 44K, 2 pages)
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/documents/en/ylc/YLC_Hearings_Report_Press_Release_EN.pdf
[ Version française:
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/documents/en/ylc/YLC_Hearings_Report_Press_Release_FR.pdf ]
May 14, 2012
News Release
TORONTO - Young people in and from care who held public hearings last November will deliver a report to the Ontario Legislature today that includes a strong call for fundamental change to the existing child welfare system. The report entitled, My REAL Life Book, stems from almost 200 submissions from young people and others across the province about how to improve outcomes for the Province’s children. The report provides deeply personal insights into the care system, in the words and experiences of youth themselves.

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My REAL Life Book (PDF - 2.4MB, 36 pages)
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/documents/en/ylc/YLC_REPORT_ENG.pdf
[ version française:
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/documents/en/ylc/YLC_REPORT_FR.pdf ]

For some time now, across the province, youth in and from care have been speaking out about the many issues now contained in this report. After voicing those concerns to Irwin Elman, the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, we decided to plan and hold two days of public hearings on the issues facing youth as we age out of care. On November 18th and 25th, 2011, the Youth Leaving Care Hearings took place at Queen’s Park, home of the Ontario Legislature. This is the report that came out of the submissions we received. The purpose of this report is to improve the experiences and lives of youth in and leaving care.
(...)
On page 20 : "Comprehensive health and dental benefits, including prescriptions, should be extended to youth to the age of 25 to allow them to complete their education and gain employment before coverage ends." (Mary Ballantyne, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies)

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Youth Leaving Care Hearings
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/main/en/hearings/pages/home.html
The Youth Leaving Care Hearings were the first public hearings organized and run by young people at Queen’s Park, the home of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth partnered with dozens of volunteers — all young people in and from care — to hold hearings designed to address the issues faced by many of the 8,300 children and youth who are Crown Wards in Ontario.

In November 2011, children and youth from across the province spoke about their experiences and had the opportunity to help make changes. Professionals, families, and friends added their voices to help build understanding about what young people in care need to succeed as adults. Members of the Provincial Parliament, ministry staff, service providers and members of the public attended to listen and learn.

Source:
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/
The Office of the Provincial Advocate reports directly to the Legislature and provides an independent voice for children and youth, including children with special needs and First Nations children.

Related links:

25 Is The New 21:
The Costs and Benefits of Providing Extended Care
and Maintenance to Ontario Youth in Care Until Age 25 (PDF - 1.2MB, 70 pages)
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/documents/en/25istheNew21.pdf
March 2012
Seven cost-benefit analyses have been undertaken in the United States and Australia to examine the costs to society of providing extra supports to youth in care after the age of 18. The studies reveal vastly different approaches, assumptions, and data sources. Yet all reach the same conclusion: increased investment in services for youth transitioning from care yield benefits in the long term. This is the first such study to be done in Canada. The analysis is based on the best and most promising aspects of the seven cost-benefit analyses mentioned above. The report examines available Ontario data, as well as Canadian and international sources, to estimate the cost of a program extension in Ontario. It also estimates the savings that could be achieved by bettering the lives of youth aging out of care.
Source:
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/

NOTE: Keep scrolling down on the page you're now reading for more (just past "2012 Ontario Budget")...

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Youth in Care Canada
http://www.youthincare.ca/
The National Youth In Care Network is a national charitable organization driven by youth and alumni of care across Canada. The NYICN exists to voice the opinions and concerns of youth in and from care and promote the improvement of services for this group.

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Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/
The Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal (CWRP) provides access to up-to-date research on Canadian child welfare programs and policies

2012 Ontario Budget

2012 Ontario Budget : Strong Action for Ontario
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/
March 27, 2012
- main budget page, includes links to all budget documents

Plan to Balance the Budget, Create Jobs, Protect Education and Health Care
http://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2012/03/strong-action-for-ontario.html
News Release
March 27, 2012
The 2012 Ontario Budget includes a deficit elimination plan that reduces program spending growth and contains costs by $17.7 billion over the next three years, while increasing revenues by $4.4 billion without raising taxes.
This is serious action for a serious time and puts Ontario on track to eliminate the deficit by 2017-18.

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Budget Speech
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/statement.html

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2012 Ontario Budget: Contents
* HTML version
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/papers_all.html
* PDF version (5MB, 332 pages)
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/papers_all.pdf

2012 Ontario Budget: Highlights
* HTML version:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/budhi.html
* PDF version (1.2MB, 2 pages)
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/budhi.pdf

Backgrounders:

* Ontario's Economic Outlook and Fiscal Plan
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/bk1.html

* Public Sector Compensation
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/bk2.html

* Balancing the Budget
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/bk1.html

* A Fair and Efficient Drug System
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2012/bk1.html

Previous Ontario Budget - this link takes you further down on the page you're now reading

25 Is The New 21:
The Costs and Benefits of Providing Extended Care
and Maintenance to Ontario Youth in Care Until Age 25

From the
Toronto Star:

Ontario Crown wards deserve provincial help to age 25, child advocate Irwin Elman says
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1138906
March 1, 2012
By Laurie Monsebraaten
Ontario’s provincial child advocate is adding his voice — and new evidence — to the call for Queen’s Park to provide financial and emotional support to former Crown wards until age 25. Currently, these vulnerable youth lose all support on their 21st birthday when children’s aid workers often take them to welfare offices and homeless shelters as a last resort. A cost-benefit analysis being released Thursday says the $103.5 million price tag to extend support to about 3,000 former Crown wards for an additional four years would be more than recouped through reduced jail and social assistance costs and increased tax revenue, as these youth are better able to complete their education and get good jobs.

Ontario should help foster kids until they turn 25
http://www.thestar.com/mobile/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1138937
February 29, 2012
By John Stapleton
On an impulse, while working on a social policy fellowship years ago at St. Christopher House, I asked a number of low-income adults in a community reference group — some in their 40s and 50s — if they had ever been in foster care. Slowly, more than half put up their hands. At that time, I was surprised. But I have asked the same question again in similar settings with similar results. I am no longer surprised. At age 21, youth who “age out” of care are not allowed to have any further relationship with the system that brought them this far — the foster care system or a group home. They often have nowhere to go.
(...)
Ontario’s children’s aid societies have several programs to help support young people as they age out of care. These include Extended Care and Maintenance (ECM) agreements that extend financial and emotional support past the age of 18 until age 21. These agreements are available only to youth who are Crown wards or to those in customary care or other specified arrangements. But these agreements only extend to age 21 and that’s simply not long enough. Studies show that 20-24 year-olds now stay at home at three times the rate their counterparts did just two generations ago. Youth aging out of care do not have this option.
(...)
Last year, I was asked by Irwin Elman, Ontario’s Advocate for Children and Youth, to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, the first such study we know of to have been completed in Canada. The result is a new report — 25 Is The New 21 — released on March 1.
Source:
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/

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From the
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth:

The Complete report:

25 Is The New 21:
The Costs and Benefits of Providing Extended Care
and Maintenance to Ontario Youth in Care Until Age 25 (PDF - 1.2MB, 70 pages)
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/documents/en/25istheNew21.pdf
March 2012
Seven cost-benefit analyses have been undertaken in the United States and Australia to examine the costs to society of providing extra supports to youth in care after the age of 18. The studies reveal vastly different approaches, assumptions, and data sources. Yet all reach the same conclusion: increased investment in services for youth transitioning from care yield benefits in the long term. This is the first such study to be done in Canada. The analysis is based on the best and most promising aspects of the seven cost-benefit analyses mentioned above. The report examines available Ontario data, as well as Canadian and international sources, to estimate the cost of a program extension in Ontario. It also estimates the savings that could be achieved by bettering the lives of youth aging out of care.

Source:
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth:
http://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/

Related link:

Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/
The Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal (CWRP) provides access to up-to-date research on Canadian child welfare programs and policies. The Portal was originally developed through the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW), the Portal continues to maintain links with the Child Welfare League of Canada, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, the Groupe de recherche et d'action sur la victimisation des enfants (GRAVE-ARDEC), and other groups and organizations that collaborated with the CECW. The Portal is designed to provide child welfare professionals, researchers, and the general public with a single point of access to Canadian child welfare research.
- Topics include : Child Abuse & Neglect - Out-of-Home Care - Intervention & Prevention - Families & Communities - Aboriginal Child Welfare - Policy & Legislation - Provinces & Territories

The Drummond Commission / Report
[ Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services ]
February 2012
NOTE : To avoid duplication of links on multiple pages, I've created a separate page for all links relating to the Drummond Report.
[Gilles]

- Go to the Ontario Drummond Report (2012) links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/drummond_report_2012.htm

Small fixes to Ontario’s welfare system not enough, says progress report
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/1125640
February 2, 2012
By Laurie Monsebraaten
Small fixes will not be enough to bring about the transformational change Ontario’s social assistance needs, says a progress report by the province’s social assistance review commission. More employment support for those on welfare, including those with disabilities; streamlined delivery and new benefits available to all low-income people outside the welfare system are some of the ideas the commission is exploring.
Source:
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/

NOTE : all links pertaining to Ontario's social assistance review have been moved to a separate page.
See Review of social assistance in Ontario

Commissioner Cavoukian launches Symposium and www.RealPrivacy.ca to raise
awareness: Beware of "Surveillance by Design:" Standing Up for Freedom and Privacy (PDF - 48K, 2 pages)
http://www.ipc.on.ca/images/Resources/2012-01-12-Surveillance_by_Design_Symposium.pdf
Media Advisory
January 12, 2012
(...) The new website, www.RealPrivacy.ca [ http://www.realprivacy.ca/ ], includes:
• background information on proposed lawful access legislation such as relevant media articles, key letters, and editorials;
• proposed solutions on how the federal government can improve the legislation to respect privacy while also enhancing security; and
• a new Write My MP tool by which individuals can easily share their concerns with their Member of Parliament and urge the government to reconsider the proposed laws. We are inviting members of the public to write to the MPs, raising their concerns and asking them to question the proposed legislation.

Beware of “Surveillance by Design:”
Standing Up for Freedom and Privacy Symposium
http://www.realprivacy.ca/beware-of-surveillance-by-design
Friday, January 27, 2012 (9:00am – 11:00am)
MaRS Centre South tower, Suite 100 (Auditorium – Lower Level)
101 College Street, Toronto, ON
Join Ontario’s Information & Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, and highly respected privacy, legal, and academic experts as we discuss the implications of “lawful access” legislation in Canada.(...) Media coverage has greatly increased, with this issue becoming a hot topic of discussion by all stakeholders, from the legal community to telecom providers. The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has been instrumental in bringing attention to this upcoming legislation — which in our view, would represent a system of “Surveillance by Design.” The anticipated re-introduction of a trio of federal bills (Bills C-50, C-51, C-52) will provide police with much greater ability to access and track information, via the communications technologies that we use every day, such as the Internet, smart phones, and other mobile devices, including without a warrant or oversight. Taken together, the three pieces of legislation will diminish the privacy rights of Ontarians and indeed of all Canadians. (...)
Speakers include:
* Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Ontarios Information & Privacy Commissioner
* Professor John Villasenor, The Brookings Institution and University of California, Los Angeles
* Dr. Ron Deibert, Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto
* Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
* David Fraser, Lead, McInnes Cooper Privacy Practice Group
* John Ibbitson, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Globe and Mail

If you are unable to attend in person, we will be webcasting live and archiving the webcast online. Click here to register for the webcast.
[ http://www.snwebcastcenter.com/custom_events/mars-20120127/site/ ]

Related link:

Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner
http://www.ipc.on.ca/english/Home-Page/

Source:
RealPrivacy.ca
http://www.realprivacy.ca/

Ontario : Latest welfare statistics (November 2011) and analysis by John Stapleton
January 6, 2012

Ontario Works provides employment and financial assistance to people who are in temporary financial need.
The Ontario Disability Support Program was designed to meet the income and employment support needs of people with disabilities.

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NOTE : For more information about how welfare works in Ontario,
see the Guide to Welfare in Ontario page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/onwelf.htm
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The caseload reports:

Ontario Works (OW) Caseload, November 2011 (PDF - 156K, 1 page
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/documents/en/mcss/social/reports/OW_EN_2011-11.pdf
- OW caseloads and Beneficiaries by family structure, April 2009 to November 2011

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Caseload, November 2011 (PDF - 156K, 1 page)
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/documents/en/mcss/social/reports/ODSP_EN_2011-11.pdf
- ODSP caseloads and Beneficiaries by family structure, April 2009 to November 2011

Source:
Social assistance in Ontario: Reports
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/reports/index.aspx
Ministry of Community and Social Services
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss

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NOTE: For analysis of the November OW and ODSP
caseload statistics by John Stapleton, go to the
Ontario Municipal and Non-Governmental Sites (D-W) page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/onbkmrk3.htm

Ontario undermining its own restraint efforts, auditor’s report reveals
http://goo.gl/2V28V
By Karen Howlett
December 5, 2011
TORONTO—The Ontario government has paid richer fees to family doctors, with little proof patients are getting more access to their services. The government fast-tracked its flagship green energy projects without putting in place appropriate checks and balances. Both policies are leading to higher health care and electricity costs in Ontario, but the bad news does not end there, according to the provincial auditor. Consumers also pay too much to drown their sorrows.
Source:
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

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From the
Office of the Auditor General of Ontario:
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/default.htm

Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario for 2011
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_2011_en.htm
- incl. links to the complete report in one PDF file and a table of contents with links to individual chapter sections in PDF format

2011 Annual Report News Releases
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/news_en/11newsreleases.htm
Links to 15 news releases on various themes covered in the 2011 report : auto insurance - renewable energy - electricity debt retirement charges - fnunding for doctors - specialists' pay - Liquor Control Board of Ontario - legal aid - more...

Complete report (PDF - 4.7MB, 462 pages)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/2011ar_en.pdf

Selected sections of the report:

Chapter 2 : Public Accounts of the Province (pdf 404kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/200en11.pdf

Chapter 3.10 : Office of the Children's Lawyer (pdf 383kb)

Chapter 3.14 : Supportive Services for People with Disabilities (pdf 295kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/314en11.pdf

Chapter 4: Follow-up on 2009 Value-for-money Audits, includes:
4.01 Assistive Devices Program (pdf 218kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/401en11.pdf
4.04 Education Quality and Accountability Office (pdf 191kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/404en11.pdf

4.09 Ontario Disability Support Program (pdf 207kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/409en11.pdf
4.11 Ontario Works Program (pdf 224kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/411en11.pdf
4.12 Social Housing (pdf 176kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/412en11.pdf

4.14 Unfunded Liability of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (pdf 179kb)
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en11/414en11.pdf

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Related links:

Refresher on how welfare works in Ontario

According to the 2011
Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario:
(December 5, 2011)

Ontario Works (OW)
The Ontario Works program is delivered on behalf of the Ministry by 47 Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards as well as 101 First Nations, all referred to as service managers. A service manager is typically either a large municipality or a grouping of smaller ones, and each is accountable to one of the Ministry’s nine regional offices. The Ministry and the service managers share the total financial and employment assistance costs of the Ontario Works program. The Ministry, which currently pays 81% of these costs, has committed to start gradually increasing its share in 2010 until it pays 100% in 2018. Administrative costs will continue to be shared on a 50/50 basis.

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Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
The Ministry of Community and Social Services (Ministry) administers the Ontario Disability Support Program Act (Act), which provides income and employment support to more than 270,000 individuals with eligible disabilities as defined by the Act. Total annual Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefit payments made in the 2010/11 fiscal year amounted to over $3.5 billion ($3 billion in 2008/09—which was a 42% increase since the time of our last audit in 2004). ODSP income support is intended to assist with
basic living expenses such as food, shelter, clothing,
and personal-needs items
Source:
2010 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario
http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_2011_en.htm

Ontario Social Assistance rates effective November / December 2011 (PDF - 70K, 1 page)
This rate table reflects the 1 per cent increase to Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program rates announced in the 2011 Ontario budget.
Source:
CLEONet
CLEONet is a web site of legal information for community workers and advocates who work with low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Ministry of Community and Social Services - Ministry responsible for social assistance in Ontario
Ontario Works - for eligible people without disabilities 
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) - for eligible people with disabilities

October 11, 2011
See the new Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients in Ontario links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/drug_testing.htm

September 23, 2011:
The Minimum wage in Ontario section of this page has been updated with the addition of news releases announcing increases in the minimum wage going back to 2008 as well as the latest news release (immediately below) announcing a freeze on the Ontario minimum wage during 2011.

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NOTE : all links pertaining to Ontario's social assistance review have been moved to a separate page.
See Review of social assistance in Ontario

Government of Ontario Home Page

Ontario Government Ministries

NOTE: If you're not familiar with needs-tested social assistance [welfare] in Ontario, see Welfare in Ontario (A Canadian Social Research Links page), a guide to government information on welfare in Ontario --- what are the programs, who delivers them, who pays for them, links to statistics, legislation, policy manuals, key documents on welfare in Ontario, etc.  Welfare in Ontario includes links to Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program and the Toronto Social Services program. The key welfare links from the Ontario Government website appear in the grey box near the top of the page you're now reading

Ministry of Community and Social Services
(formerly Community, Family and Children's Services)

HOME PAGE
On the Ministry home page, you'll find links to:
* About the ministry * Programs and services * Accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities * Community Services * Developmental services * Family Responsibility Office * Social assistance * News room * Publications * Forms * Spotlight * Popular topics *
Contacts

News Room
News Releases

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2009-2010 Annual Report:
Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS)
"Income and Employment Supports:
During 2009-10, the ministry continued to improve Ontario’s social assistance programs while managing increased social assistance caseload and costs, much of which was driven by the 2008 global economic downturn. Since 2008, the Ontario Works caseload has grown almost 27 per cent. Over the last three years, the Ontario Disability Support Program caseload has grown by five per cent per year, on average."
Source:
The 2009-2010 MCSS
Annual Report is Appendix I of:
Results-based Plan Briefing Book 2010-11
Table of contents:
* Results-based Plan 2010-11
* Organization Chart
* Cost Sharing with the Federal Government
* Ministry Statutes
* Agencies, Boards and Commissions
* Ministry Planned Expenditures 2010-11
* Overall Summary (Operating and Capital)

Ontario Social Assistance Rates Effective Nov / Dec 2010
Word version (52K, 1 page)
PDF version (39K, 1 page)
The 2010 provincial budget included a 1% increase to rates, and this fact sheet reflects that change.
The table includes any Ontario Child Benefit received by a household with at least one child.
Source:
Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)
ISAC works with the community to advocate for and seek legal remedies to address systemic issues and improve income security for people in Ontario.

Welfare Statistics
- 30 months of statistics on ODSP and OW caseloads (i.e., number of households) and beneficiaries (i.e., number of individual recipients)
- includes breakdowns by family type (singles / couples / sole support parents)
- the two links below will take you to the most recent version of the statistics in each case

Ontario Works (OW) Statistical Report
[This link takes you to the latest version of the OW statistics.]
Ontario Works provides employment and financial assistance to people who are in temporary financial need. The employment assistance helps people become and stay employed and includes job search support services, basic education and job skills training, community and employment placement, supports to self-employment, Learning, Earning and Parenting, addiction services and earning exemptions that allow participants to earn income as they move back into the workforce. Temporary Care Assistance provides support for children in financial need while in the temporary care of an adult who does not have a legal obligation to support the child.

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Statistical Report
[This link takes you to the latest version of the ODSP statistics.]
The Ontario Disability Support Program was designed to meet the income and employment support needs of people with disabilities. The program provides income support and health-related benefits to people with disabilities who are in need of financial assistance. The employment supports component of the program offers a range of goods and services to help people with disabilities to look for, obtain or maintain jobs on a volunteer basis. Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities provides a benefit for parents caring for children with severe disabilities at home.

NOTE: Any comparison of Ontario's welfare stats with those of other Canadian provinces and territories must include both the OW and ODSP components of the welfare caseload.

Monthly Statistical Report:
Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
(Ontario's two welfare programs)
- Caseload statistics from April 20087 to December 2011 for ODSP and OW (i.e., number of households) and beneficiaries (i.e., number of individual recipients)
- includes breakdowns by family type (singles / couples / sole support parents)
- the two links below will take you to the most recent version of the statistics for each program.
* Ontario Disability Support Program Caseload December 2010 (PDF - 162K, 1 page)
* Ontario Works Caseload December 2010 (PDF - 162K, 1 page)

Click the link below for OW and ODSP rates in effect from January to March 2011:
Social Assistance, Pension and Tax Credit Rates, January to March 2011 (PDF - 166K, 2 pages)

Also from MCSS:

About social assistance in Ontario
- general information about Ontario's two social assistance programs, with links to more detailed info

Source:
Ontario Ministry of
Community and Social Services (MCSS)

Related link:

Ontario's welfare spending to rise by $500 million
Claims spiked since 2008 economic woes
By Lee Greenberg
January 31, 2011
Ontario will increase welfare spending by more than $500 million this year, as it deals with the highest number of social assistance claimants in a decade. In total, 455,000 people were kept afloat by welfare cheques in December. Another 387,500 people claimed Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Welfare claims have spiked since the economy nosedived in the fall of 2008, rising by nearly 85,000 cases -- or 23 per cent. That, plus rising ODSP claims, have pushed social assistance spending up this fiscal year by half a billion dollars. It is unclear if the high number of welfare claimants will push that spending even higher.
Source:
Ottawa Citizen

NOTE:
According to the article, "[T]oday, the [welfare] program pays individuals as much as $802 per month plus a maximum special diet allowance of $240. Northern residents are eligible for a bonus of as much as $272."
In reality, according to the Ministry's own numbers, basic monthly assistance for a single person is $592 on OW.
The ODSP single-person rate for basic monthly assistance is $1053 - higher because of the ongoing disability-related costs incurred by ODSP clients. In addition, the Special Diet is NOT an automatic $240 extra in each recipient's pocket - it's determined on a case-by-case basis, and recent news indicates that the supplement will be pared back starting in April.

Ontario Welfare historians and number-crunchers, Rejoice!

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Caseload Change
- April 2007 to July 2009 (PDF - 159K, 1 page)
This graph shows the steady increase in ODSP cases since the recession began
Source: Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services

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Ontario Works (OW) Caseload Change
- April 2007 to July 2009 (PDF - 159K, 1 page)
This graph shows the steady increase in OW cases since the recession began
Source: Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services

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OW & ODSP Combined Caseload Change
- June 2007 to July 2009 (Excel file - 52K)
This excel worksheet shows the steady increase in ODSP and OW cases since January 2008
Source: Open Policy (John Stapleton)

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Selected Welfare Rates, 1935 to date (PDF - 64K, 1 page)
This graph shows the monthly change in income of a single person and a single mother with one child on social assistance in Ontario from 1935 to 2009
Source: Open Policy (John Stapleton)

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Ontario Social Assistance rates
and Minimum Wage for a Single Person, 1967 to 2010 (Excel file - 26K)
This excel worksheet shows a comparison of incomes between a single person working at minimum wage and a single person on social assistance since 1967
Source: Open Policy (John Stapleton)

Ontario Social Assistance
Special Diet Allowance Changes
April 1, 2011
The Special Diet Allowance helps social assistance recipients who have eligible medical conditions receive the special diets they need to help manage their conditions. The Special Diet Allowance will change on April 1, 2011 to make the program more accountable and comply with a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario decision.

Policy changes include:

* Revising the list of eligible medical conditions. Allowances for some medical conditions have increased, others have decreased. Also, medical conditions that the Special Diets Expert Review Committee found to not require a special diet that involves additional costs were removed. This means some people will stop getting an allowance at the end of the transition period, July 31, 2011.

* Requiring recipients to consent to the release of relevant medical information to support their application, and

* Putting stronger tracking methods in place to improve accountability.

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How to apply for the revised Special Diet Allowance

List of eligible medical conditions

Source:
Ministry of Community and Social Services

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Related links:

Special Diet Policy : City of Toronto
April 1, 2011
The Toronto municipal government is responsible for the the provision of financial assistance to people in temporary financial need in the City of Toronto under the Ontario Works Act and Regulations.

Source:
City of Toronto - Employment and Social Services

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A selection of recent releases from MCSS:

Evaluation of the JobsNow Pilot:
Final Report (PDF - 972K, 38 pages)
October 10, 2008
"(...) JobsNow was not more effective than regular Ontario Works programming."
Prepared for:
Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services
Prepared by:
Goss Gilroy Inc. Management Consultants (Ottawa)

Related link:

BC Jobs Firm a Bust for Ontario
Private contractor did no better than public effort it replaced
By Andrew MacLeod
October 30, 2008
If British Columbia's government wants to know how well its jobs program is working, new numbers from Ontario might fuel the urge. Ontario's government tried a private job placement service offered by a B.C. company, but an independent review found it worked no better than the ministry's own programs and did not save the government money. The report raises questions about whether the company's programs work any better in B.C. than they do in Ontario, and whether the B.C. government is looking closely enough to know. "There were no incremental reductions in [Income Assistance] that could be attributed to JobsNow," says the report on the Ontario pilot program produced by Ottawa management consulting firm Goss Gilroy Inc. and dated Oct. 10, 2008. "JobsNow was not more effective than regular Ontario Works programming."
Source:
TheTyee.ca

Ontario Child Benefit and Changes to Social Assistance
June 2008
"In 2007, the Ontario government introduced a new non-taxable Ontario Child Benefit to help low-income families provide for their children. Starting in July 2008, monthly Ontario Child Benefit payments of up to $50/month per child ($600/year) will begin. When these payments begin, social assistance (Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program) will change for families who have children under age 18."
Source:
Ministry of Community and Social Services

The "change" in social assistance programs mentioned in the above fact sheet refers to the removal of children's benefits from welfare and the extension of those same benefits to *all* low-income families with kids in Ontario. That's the good news. The bad news for families receiving benefits under the Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Programs is the termination of the Back-to-School Allowance and the Winter Clothing Allowance paid seasonally to all families receiving social assistance. The Ministry of Community and Social Services likely justified the elimination of the two special allowances by pointing to the slight increase in total monthly income for families on assistance (see the link "New social assistance rates..." below for rates before and after July 2008).

Many would argue that while setting aside a few dollars each month for a child's return to school or winter clothing needs sounds pretty reasonable, those few extra dollars in a welfare household are often re-assigned when an emergency occurs or when "there's still month left at the end of the money." Middle-class Canadians are occasionally tempted to dip into their savings for an extravagant purchase, but for Ontario's welfare households, the elimination of these two lump-sum seasonal allowances will, in many cases, mean a decision between enough food on the table now vs. a new pair of shoes for school in the fall, or a new snowsuit for a growing child.

These two allowances should be reinstated.

Related links:

* From the Ministry of Children and Youth Services:

Ontario Child Benefit

---

* From the Income Security Advocacy Centre:

Ontario Child Benefit
In July 2008, the provincial government will launch the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB). This will be a monthly payment to eligible low-income families who have dependent children under 18. Parents who get social assistance (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program) as well as those who are employed are eligible for the OCB.

New Measures to Tackle Poverty, Build Opportunity:
McGuinty Government Helps More Low-Income Families Get Ahead
News Release
March 17, 2008
Ontario's plan for a strong economy includes supporting low-income families so that everyone can have the opportunity to succeed in the 21st century economy.
- The government will invest $135 million over three years in a dental care plan for low-income families. (...)
- The Student Nutrition Program will be doubled with a three-year $32-million investment to expand existing services. (...)
- repairs to about 4,000 affordable housing units - another $100 million will be provided this year

Related Backgrounder:

McGuinty Government Announces
Three Priority Programs To Kickstart Poverty Reduction Strategy
March 17, 2008
- incl. more detailed info on the three new/enhanced initiatives in the news release above.

Related link:

Income Security Advocacy Centre's Response
to the Ontario Government's Poverty Announcement (PDF file - 36K, 1 page)
Press Release
March 17, 2008
Premier’s Poverty Reduction Announcement:
“A Good Start, but a Long Way to Go”
Toronto – Calling the Premier’s Poverty Reduction announcement “a good start,” Mary Marrone, Director of Advocacy & Legal Services at ISAC, said, “But they’ve got a long way to go.” The Income Security Advocacy Centre is a specialized community legal clinic with a provincial mandate to improve the income security of people living in Ontario through test case litigation, policy advocacy and community organizing. The Premier’s office announced funding for three priority programs this morning as a ‘kickstart’ to a Poverty Reduction Strategy, expected by the end of 2008.
Source:
Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)

----------------------
Related links : go to the Antipoverty Strategies and Campaigns page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm
----------------------

June 22, 2007
McGuinty Government Helping Build Job Opportunities For People on Social Assistance
OTTAWA – The McGuinty government is opening the door to job opportunities for Ontarians on social assistance by funding innovative community projects that connect local businesses with job-ready people, Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur announced today.

November 22, 2006
McGuinty Government Improving Employment Options For Ontarians On Disability Support
TORONTO – The McGuinty government is helping people on disability support pursue job opportunities and keep more of what they earn by improving the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur announced today.

Social Assistance Rate Increase
[Undated text - "page last modified November 02, 2006"]
The Ontario government is increasing the maximum monthly social assistance rates by 2% for recipients of benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW). The increases come into effect in November and December, respectively, and they apply to all basic needs allowances, shelter, board and lodging rates. Northern allowances, and special allowances paid to people in certain institutions and guide dog users. The 2% increase also applies to Back to School and Winter Clothing Allowances for eligible recipients with children under the age of 18. Families receiving assistance under the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program (payable to a parent with a child with a severe disability) will see the maximum monthly allowance increase from $400 to $410 per month, a 2.5% increase.

A New Vision for Ontario's Social Assistance Programs
[Undated text - "page last modified November 01, 2006"]
"The Ministry of Community and Social Services is working hard to improve the way Ontario’s social assistance system works. The ministry is making significant changes to the way Ontario’s social assistance programs — Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program — are delivered. Many of these changes are in direct response to what Deb Matthews, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services, heard during her discussions with social assistance recipients, community organizations and municipalities in 2004. Stakeholders called for the removal of barriers and disincentives to employment and greater emphasis on the supports recipients need to help them find and keep meaningful jobs."
NOTE: includes a list of 10 recent program changes designed to help people move from welfare to long-term self-sufficiency

Read the report by Deb Matthews:

Review of Employment Assistance Programs in Ontario Works &
Ontario Disability Support Program (PDF file - 167K, 48 pages)
Deb Matthews
December 2004

October 24, 2006
McGuinty Government Helps Boost Profile Of People With Disabilities In Canadian Media
TORONTO – The McGuinty government today launched a new partnership aimed at raising the profile of people with disabilities in the Canadian movie, television and radio industry, announced Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services.

October 23, 2006
Making Ontario More Accessible To People With Disabilities
TORONTO – The McGuinty government has made important progress towards implementing the landmark Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, which will make Ontario fully accessible by 2025, Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur announced today.

Ontario Disability Support Program Special Payments
[Undated text - "page last modified October 2, 2006"]
Since the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) was created in June 1998, recipients had been limited to receiving up to four months of retroactive income support, even if they had to wait longer than four months to be reviewed and determined eligible for the program. On May 31, 2006, the government announced that it had removed this limit. The government will now be providing a special payment to eligible people who had to wait longer than four months to be granted ODSP income support. People who waited longer than four months to be granted ODSP, but who only received the previous limit of four months of retroactive income support may be eligible to receive a special payment for additional months of support they did not receive when the limit was in place. There are an estimated 13,000 to 19,000 cases that may be eligible for a special payment. (..) Starting in October 2006, a dedicated team will begin to identify and contact current and former ODSP recipients who were impacted by the four-month rule.

Employment Innovations Fund - Examples of Innovative Partnerships
[Undated text - "page last modified August 30, 2006"]
As part of the 2006 provincial budget, the government established the Employment Innovations Fund to engage Ontario's employers in creating and expanding job opportunities for people receiving financial assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program.

McGuinty Government Helping People With Disabilities Find Jobs And Increase Their Income
News Release
February 8, 2006
TORONTO – The McGuinty government is helping people with disabilities gain greater financial independence and increase their standard of living by improving the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced today

Related Links:

- McGuinty Government Helping People With Disabilities Find Jobs And Increase Their Income
- Better Employment Services and Supports… How They Can Help You

Related Link:

Changes to the Ontario Disability Supports Program (ODSP) Earnings and Employment Supports
"On February 8th, the Province of Ontario announced changes to the earnings and employment support rules for recipients under the Ontario Disability Supports Program. "
- incl. links to the government press release, backgrounders, analysis of the changes and the actual text of the regulatory amendments that changed the rules

------------------------------------------

Creating Job Opportunities For People On Social Assistance
Innovations Fund Encourages Ontario Businesses To Get Involved
News Release
June 14, 2006
TORONTO – The McGuinty government is calling on the Ontario business community to help social assistance recipients get into the workforce and on the path to a brighter future, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services, announced today. (...) The government is launching a new Employment Innovations Fund to engage employers in expanding employment opportunities for people on social assistance, including people with disabilities. Organizations such as employer associations, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations are invited to submit proposals for new programs that will create sustainable job opportunities and help businesses tap into this pool of willing, job-ready people.

Backgrounder - Ontario’s New Employment Innovations Fund
June 14, 2006
As part of the 2006 provincial budget, the government established the Employment Innovations Fund to engage Ontario’s employers in creating and expanding job opportunities for people receiving financial assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program.

------------------------------------------

Opening More Doors For Ontarians With Disabilities
McGuinty Government Developing New Accessibility Standards
News Release
June 13, 2006
"TORONTO – The McGuinty government is developing three new accessibility standards to target barriers in information and communications, the built environment, and employment for people with disabilities, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Ontarians with Disabilities, announced today."

Backgrounder - Enforceable Standards Key To Making Ontario Accessible
June 13, 2006
One year ago, the McGuinty government proclaimed the landmark Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, which requires the province to develop accessibility standards that will remove barriers for people with disabilities.

------------------------------------------

Improving Opportunities For Social Assistance Recipients
News Release
June 12, 2006
TORONTO ? The McGuinty government is removing more barriers to education and employment to help people on social assistance realize a brighter future, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services, announced today.

Backgrounder - Improving Ontario’s Social Assistance System
- more detailed info on improvements

See also:
Income and Employment Supports

------------------------------------------

Breaking Down Communication Barriers For Ontarians Who Are Deaf Or Deafblind
Budget Investment Means More Service, Greater Independence For People With Disabilities
News Release
June 1, 2006
TORONTO – The McGuinty government is investing in more services for Ontarians who need intervenors or sign language interpreters to assist them with daily activities. “For someone who is deafblind or has a hearing disability, communication barriers can seriously limit their access to things that most of us take for granted, such as going to the bank or visiting their doctor,” said Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur. “By breaking down these communication barriers, we are building greater independence for people with disabilities.”

------------------------------------------

$11 Million Investment Results In Better And Faster Service
Backgrounder
June 1, 2006
The Ontario government’s $11 million budget investment in interpreter and intervenor services will help provide more service to people who need it, improve the quality of services and improve wages to attract and keep people who provide interpreter and intervenor services.

------------------------------------------

Greater Fairness For People Awaiting Disability Support
Government Eliminates Four Month Retroactive Payment Rule
News Release
May 31, 2006
TORONTO – The McGuinty government has eliminated a rule that limited retroactive payments for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) applicants, Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur announced today.

----------------------------------
Editorial Comment
May 31
Barbara Anello of Disabled Women's Network Ontario (DAWN-Ontario) adds a few marginal notes to the MCSS news release concerning the elimination of the four-month rule...
NOTE: scroll a bit further down for a link to the Ombudsman Ontario report ("Losing the Waiting Game") that led to the repeal of the four-month retroactive payment rule
----------------------------------

Removing Barriers For People With Disabilities Helps Open Doors To New Customers
McGuinty Government Partnerships Demonstrate The Benefits Of Improved Accessibility
News Release
May 31, 2006
TORONTO – The McGuinty government is working with Ontario businesses and community groups to build awareness of the benefits of removing barriers for people with disabilities, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Ontarians with Disabilities, announced today. Meilleur joined representatives of the Ontario Chinese Restaurant and Food Services Association (OCRFA) in Toronto’s Chinatown neighbourhood to announce the government’s seven new EnAbling Change partnership projects.

EnAbling Change Partnership Program 2006-2007
Backgrounder
May 31
The EnAbling Change partnership program builds strategic partnerships with business, broader public sector and non-profit organizations to promote accessibility for people with disabilities. The government is investing almost $300,000 in seven partnerships that will help promote strategies to break down barriers for people with disabilities.

Building Accessibility Champions
Backgrounder
May 30, 2006
Improving accessibility for people with disabilities in employment, customer service and universal design is the driving force behind the projects funded under the Ontario government’s EnAbling Change partnership program.

McGuinty Government Builds Better Access For People With Disabilities
Partnership Project Promotes the Shaw Festival to More Tourists and Theatre-goers
News Release
May 30, 2006
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE – The Ontario government, Shaw Festival and the Canadian Standards Association are changing the way patrons with disabilities are being served when they go to the theatre. Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Ontarians with Disabilities, Madeleine Meilleur, today joined Shaw Festival Executive Director Colleen Blake to celebrate the results of the Shaw Festival’s participation in the Building Champions program. Through this program, the Canadian Standards Association worked with seven “champion” businesses and organizations to develop and test new customer service training for businesses to use when serving customers with disabilities.

Ontario Government Increases Support For Homeless
Addresses Shelter Shortfall And Tops Up Prevention Programs
News Release
February 8, 2005
"TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing communities across the province with additional funding for essential services for people who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello confirmed today. (...) In total, the province spends almost $135 million each year on services that protect the homeless, and programs to prevent people from becoming homeless."

Backgrounders:

* Helping The Homeless In Ontario
* Provincial Funding For The Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Program By Urban Center

McGuinty Government Restoring Hope, Dignity for People in Need:
Special Payments Deliver Help Sooner
News Release
June 30, 2004
"TORONTO – Ontarians who rely on the province’s social assistance programs will see their first increase in 11 years beginning with a special payment scheduled for early this fall, Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced today."
- two equal lump-sum payments (end of September --- beginning of December) to eligible client households of Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
[the government is delivering the increase this way because the "new technology (implemented by Andersen Consulting / Accenture) cannot process a welfare rate increase until system changes are made and properly tested."
- the federal government's July 2004 increase to the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) will not be deducted ("clawed back") from social assistance payments
- the nutritional allowance for pregnant women on social assistance is restored effective July 1
Source:
Ministry of Community and Social Services

Related Links:

Ontario Works (OW) - for eligible people without disabilities 
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) - for eligible people with disabilities

-----------------------------------------------------

Canada and Ontario sign agreement to assist people with disabilities
News Release
May 3, 2004
"Toronto - Ontarians with disabilities will be able to more easily participate in the labour market due to a new agreement signed today by the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario. The Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister for Social Development and the Honourable Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, also participated in the ceremony. 'This agreement will assist persons with disabilities by removing barriers and fostering opportunities,'said Prime Minister Martin, 'it demonstrates how Canadian governments can work together to address issues faced by Canadians with disabilities. Equality of opportunity for Canadians is the pillar of our successful society.'"
Source:
Social Development Canada

This agreement was signed under the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.
For more info about the national framework and the agreements signed with other jurisdictions to date, go to the Disability Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/disbkmrk.htm

-----------------------------------------------------

McGuinty Government Takes Action to Help Families Get the Support They Are Entitled
February 6, 2004
"TORONTO — The McGuinty government is taking immediate steps to improve service at the Family Responsibility Office (FRO), making it the first government to show real leadership in helping families get the support they are entitled to, Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Community and Social Services, announced today."

McGuinty Government Scraps Lifetime Welfare Ban
Police and Courts to handle fraud, punitive policy repealed
News Release
January 9, 2004

Related Links:

Liberals lift lifetime ban for welfare cheats
Liberal government scraps life sentence handed to those who cheat system
January 9, 2004
Canadian Press
"A controversial lifetime ban on Ontario welfare recipients who cheat the system has been lifted a year after a coroner's inquest into the death of a pregnant woman recommended that it happen."
NOTE: this link will expire after awhile - to read it, you'll have to go to the Toronto Star archives where you pay per article.
Source:
The Toronto Star

Making Ontario’s Communities Accessible for all its Citizens
A message from Sandra Pupatello
Minister Responsible for Ontarians with Disabilities
September 1, 2005
"We have already begun to see the results from our efforts – the passage into law of the historic Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and support from people with disabilities, the private sector, the broader public sector, all government ministries and individuals from every walk of life.(...) I am excited about my new role as minister responsible for people with disabilities."

Family Responsibility Office
The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) receives every support order made by a court in Ontario and enforces the amounts owed under the support order. The FRO works under the authority of the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1996 (FRSAEA). The FRO's role is to enforce court orders for child and spousal support by ensuring that support payments flow properly from payors (people who make support payments) to recipients (people who receive them). The FRO has the legal authority to take enforcement action against those that do not meet their family responsibilities.

Ministry of Children and Youth Services
HOME PAGE
Adoption - Child Care - Child Protection - Early Years Challenge Fund - Early Years Initiatives - Foster Care - Northern Ontario Grant Assistance Program - Child and Family Service Advocacy - Children with Special Needs - Youth Justice Services

Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)
The Ontario Child Benefit is financial support for low-income families to help provide for their children. In July, eligible families saw an increase in their monthly payments.
- incl. links to:
* What is it?
* How do I get it?
* How much will I receive?
* I need more information

Ontario Child Benefit Calculator
- from the Ontario Ministry of Finance

New Ontario Child Benefit
- from the 2007 Ontario Budget (March 22/07)

OCB Backgrounder
- from the 2007 Ontario Budget

---

From the Government of Ontario:

More Support For Crown Ward Students
McGuinty Government Building Tomorrow's Highly Skilled Workforce
November 12, 2009
Ontario is helping more Crown wards succeed at college, university and apprenticeship training. Seven new Crown Ward Education Championship Teams will offer mentorship, peer support, motivation, and guidance to Crown wards across the province. This doubles the number of teams in Ontario to 14. The teams will help these students access and succeed in postsecondary education and training. Teams include volunteers from local school boards, Children's Aid Societies, postsecondary institutions, community agencies, Employment Ontario and provincial ministries. Support of Crown wards is part of Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy, which aims to reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over five years -- lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty -- by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly-funded education.

Learn more:
* Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy
* Find out more about Ontario's colleges and universities.
* See how Ontario is helping to build a highly skilled workforce.
* ontario.ca/news
* Removing Education Barriers For Crown Wards

Source:
Newsroom - Ontario Government

---

Helping Families In Need:
McGuinty Government To Increase Ontario Child Benefit And Invest In Affordable Housing
March 20, 2009
Ontario is doing more to support low income families facing challenging economic times. The government is proposing to increase the Ontario Child Benefit this July, from $600 to a maximum of $1,100 per child per year. The Ontario Child Benefit helps 1.3 million children by giving moms and dads monthly support. Ontario is also planning to increase its investment in social and affordable housing to create short-term jobs in construction and renovation while improving the lives of people with low-incomes. Working with the federal government, Ontario would renovate 50,000 social housing units and build 4,500 new affordable housing units through a joint investment of $1.2 billion.
Source:
Newsroom - Ontario.ca

Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)
The Ontario Child Benefit is financial support that low-income families can receive to help provide for their children. It’s also the centrepiece of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. About 465,000 families with 960,000 children receive a monthly Ontario Child Benefit payment each month. That’s up to $50 per child each month, increasing to up to $67 per child each month as of July 2009.
Source:
Ministry of Children and Youth Services

***********
Related links:
***********

Ontario doubles payout for low-income children
Child benefit increases to $1,100 yearly to ease the economic fallout
March 21, 2009
By Tanya Talaga
The Ontario child benefit available to low-income families will nearly double to $1,100 a year beginning in July, Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday. The Liberals had planned on increasing the monthly child benefit by 2011 as part of their anti-poverty reduction strategy, but accelerated the payout to help families during the economic downturn, he told a news conference at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. The government promised four months ago to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent in five years, but said that federal funding and a strong economy were required to reach the target. Anti-poverty advocates have been watching closely to see whether the Liberals, facing a projected $18 billion deficit over two years, will deliver. Yesterday's announcement increases the maximum child benefit to $92 from $50 per child, per month. About 465,000 families with a total of 960,000 children receive a monthly payment, with the maximum annual benefit currently $600. The maximum benefit is available to families earning less than $20,000 a year.
Source:
The Toronto Star

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Poverty investments a good first start: 25 in 5
March 20, 2009
Commitments made by Premier Dalton McGuinty today to invest in two important poverty reduction initiatives bode well for all Ontarians, says the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction.
NOTE: the following links are copied from the above blog posting:
Media and community responses
to the Ontario Government announcement:
* Low-income Ontarians, and provincial economy get welcome boost from new investments - The Wellesley Institute
* Ontario budget to boost child benefit, social housing funds - CBC.ca
* Affordable housing to get $1.2B boost - Toronto Star
* Ont. speeds up increase in child benefit to July 1 - CTV.ca
* Municipalities Welcome $1.2 Billion Investment in Social Housing - Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Source:
25 in 5 Network
for Poverty Reduction

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Ontario makes substantial
down payment on new provincial housing plan
March 20, 2009
By Michael Shapcott
Ontario has made a substantial down payment to meet the housing needs of tens of thousands of people who are precariously housed or homeless. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and housing minister Jim Watson have announced plans today to invest $624.5 million over the next two years in affordable housing initiatives. When combined with matching federal dollars, it amounts to more than $1.2 billion. (...) Today’s provincial housing announcement meets the first priority set out by the Wellesley Institute in our 2009 budget recommendations to the Government of Ontario, which was to fully match federal affordable housing dollars. But provincial housing investments still lag behind the deep and persistent need across the province, and Ontario is lagging behind provides such as Alberta [see below] in making commitments for urgently needed new housing investments.
Source:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute ]

For related links, go to the Canadian Social Research Links Anti-poverty Strategies and Campaigns page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm

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Foster children left behind, NDP charges
February 20, 2008
By Tanya Talaga
News that 20,000 Ontario foster children were left out of an anti-poverty plan proves how flawed Premier Dalton McGuinty’s child benefit program is, the province’s NDP leader says. In 2003, McGuinty promised he would end a clawback of the national child benefit supplement, which takes about $1,500 a year out of the pockets of families on welfare and disability support, Howard Hampton charged yesterday. However, parents who receive Ontario disability support or Ontario Works payments are still having the national child benefit deducted from those cheques, Hampton said.
Source:
The Toronto Star

McGuinty forgets vulnerable kids
February 18, 2008
NDP Children and Youth Services critic Andrea Horwath slammed Dalton McGuinty for once again failing Ontario’s poor and most vulnerable by forgetting to include foster children in his child benefit program.
Source:
Ontario NDP website

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Governments of Canada and Ontario sign funding agreement on Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC)
News Release
November 25, 2005
"Social Development Minister Ken Dryden and Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario’s Minister of Children and Youth Services, today signed a multi-year funding agreement on early learning and child care. Under this initiative Ontario will receive approximately $1.9 billion over five years to support its early learning and child care goals. Ontario signed an Agreement-in-Principle on May 6, 2005 , in which it committed to release an action plan identifying its priorities and how it intends to meet them."
Source:
Social Development Canada

Google Web Search Results : "Ontario, early learning and child care, agreement"
Google News search Results : "Ontario, early learning and child care, agreement"
Source:
Google.ca

Best Start : Ontario's Plan for Early Learning and Child Care

Related Links:
- Go to the Government Early Learning and Child Care Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm

For more info concerning the federal-provincial ELCC agreements signed in the spring of 2005, go to the Government Early Learning and Child Care Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm

---

2003-2004 Accessibility Plan:
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Table of Contents:
Introduction - Joint Accessibility Plan - Report on Achievements - Commitments and Strategies for 2003-2004 - Methods to be Taken to Prevent New Barriers - Business Areas to be Reviewed - Actions to be Taken - For More Information
Source:
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
NOTE: Back in October 2003 when the old Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services was split into two, the name of this Ministry was Children's Services

Office of the Premier
HOME PAGE

Premier Launches Review to Strengthen Communities
Province And Municipalities Working Together To Continue To Improve Services For Ontario Families
August 14, 2006
OTTAWA — Premier Dalton McGuinty today announced the province is building on its partnership with municipalities by launching a joint review aimed at improving the delivery and funding of municipal services for Ontario families.

Backgrounders:

o Support For The Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review
o McGuinty Government Supporting Municipalities
o Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review

McGuinty Government Investing in Early Childhood Development
Premier Encourages Ontarians To Help Tackle The Deficit And Set Goals
News Release
January 19, 2004
"Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today said that his government is committed to improving important services like early childhood development and that strengthening the province's fiscal foundation will make it possible to deliver real, positive change. 'After years of neglect, our government is repairing the foundation for child care because we believe the early years are crucial to a child's future success', said Premier McGuinty. (...) 'The government is making $9.7 million in federal funds available to child care centres throughout the province (...) There's so much more we want to do -- and that's why we're working hard to tackle the $5.6 billion deficit that we've inherited from the previous government. It's an obstacle to the change Ontarians want and need.'"

Related Link:

Child care community welcomes new funding - first of its kind for years!
News release
January 8, 2004
"Yesterday Minister Bountrogianni announced that this year's federal Multi-lateral Framework money - 9.7 million dollars - will go to non-profit, regulated, child care centres for capital repairs and upgrades. This is the first announcement of new funding for child care in Ontario for some time and is welcomed by the child care community. It meets an important need and is an encouraging sign that the new Liberal government recognizes the value of not-for-profit and regulated care.
Source:
Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

- Go to the Early Learning and Child Care page for all Ontario ECD links

$3.5M aid for abused women to improve counselling services
April 6, 2004
"The Ontario government has come up with $3.5 million for transitional housing for women fleeing abuse. Premier Dalton McGuinty will announce today the cash to fund counselling for women as they move from emergency shelters to temporary apartments. The counselling will involve everything from dealing with the legal system to getting children enrolled in new schools. Almost $3 million in transitional housing money was eliminated by the former Conservative government as part of 1996 across-the-board budget cuts.
(...) Meanwhile, Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello signalled yesterday that welfare and disability support rates are unlikely to rise in next month's budget."
Source:
Toronto Star

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
"This new ministry will manage infrastructure planning to achieve maximum leverage for taxpayer dollars in the key areas of education, health, transportation, housing and the environment."

Non-governmental links:

Raising the Roof
"Raising the Roof is the only national charity in Canada dedicated to finding long-term solutions to homelessness"
Shared Learnings on Homelessness (from Raising the Roof)
Toronto Disaster Relief Committee
Housing Again - "...a site dedicated to putting affordable housing back on the public agenda"
Housing and Homelessness Network in Ontario
Housing Resources (from Settlement.org )

Ministry of Finance 
HOME PAGE

Budgets, Public Accounts, Ontario Financial Reports

Ontario Ministry of Revenue

Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs
HOME PAGE

Ministry of Education

HOME PAGE

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
HOME PAGE
Site Map - All on one page, including links to what's new, programs and services, publications, contacts and links to related sites

$45M dental-care boost protects poorest children
October 1, 2010
Ontario is expanding free dental services for poor children to include preventative care such as check-ups, cleanings, X-rays and fillings, the Star has learned.Health Minister Deb Matthews will announce Friday that the “healthy smiles” program — costing taxpayers $45 million annually — is designed to help 130,000 kids aged 17 and under. (...) Despite the new program, the government has not kept its 2007 election promise to provide free dental care for adults who are among the working poor. Officials said the $135 million budgeted in 2008 for such a program over three years is being poured into dental care for children because the recession has left the government in a cash crunch.
Source:
Parent Central
[ Toronto Star ]

----

From the
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care:

Healthy Smiles Ontario
30 Sept 2010
Healthy Smiles Ontario is a new program providing regular dental services to kids 17 and under who do not have access to any form of dental coverage. The 36 local Public Health Units across Ontario are leading the program in communities and are working with local partners such as Community Health Centres, primary care providers, dentists, dental hygienists, hospitals, schools and universities to deliver this program. The initiative is part of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy to support the development of healthier communities.

Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Province Moves Forward With Legal Aid Transformation
McGuinty Government Resolves Legal Aid Boycott
News Release
January 24, 2010
Ontario is transforming the province's legal aid system, to help ensure that Ontarians have access to the legal services they need, regardless of their ability to pay, and to drive reforms in the family and criminal courts.
Source:
Office of the Ontario Attorney-General

Criminal lawyers and Ontario make deal to end legal aid boycott:

CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/01/24/ontario-legal-aid541.html

CityTV: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/68640--ontario-promises-legal-aid-lawyers-more-money-to-end-boycott

The Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/755330--lawyers-end-boycott-stalling-legal-aid-cases

The Globe: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/legal-aid-spending-increase-ends-boycott/article1442656/

[Thanks to Jennefer Laidley of the
Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) for the above media links.]

Making The Justice System Easier And More Accessible:
McGuinty Government Launches New Tool To Help Court Users
News Release
May 3, 2010
Ontario is taking the next steps in its family justice reforms by providing information sessions and launching an online tool to complete legal forms. The new Ontario Court Forms Assistant is an interactive website to help people fill out 11 of the most commonly-used Ontario family and civil court forms.
This will make it easier to:
* Get a restraining order
* Apply for custody of a child or change a child support order
* Start a case in family court or respond to a family law claim.
Information programs will help people to understand the effects of separation and divorce on adults and children, as well as alternatives to litigation.

The Ontario Court Forms Assistant
- includes links to several court forms for Small Claims Court and Family Court

Links to more information about
Small Claims Court and Family Law in Ontario - dozens of online resources!

McGuinty Government Reforms Family Justice For Ontarians
December 17, 2009
Ontario is strengthening and improving access to justice by making the family courts easier to use, more focused and more affordable.

---

Report of the Legal Aid Review 2008
July 2008 (PDF file date)
Complete report:
PDF version - 780K, 206 pages
HTML version - includes an expanded table of contents and links to individual sections of the report

Executive Summary (HTML)
Recommendations (key themes):
* management of the legal aid system cannot be approached in isolation from the broader justice system
* financial eligibility criteria need to be significantly raised to a more realistic level that bears some relationship to the actual circumstances of those in need.
* some range of legal aid services should be provided to all Ontario citizens on a non-means-tested basis
* LAO needs a strategic focus on mechanisms for facilitating greater integration in the delivery of legal aid services, minimizing the attachment of particular legal aid services to particular classes of institutions or classes of problems, and enhancing single entry point or one-stop shopping approaches to the need for legal aid services.
* LAO must be much more aggressive and enterprising in experimenting with innovative forms of service delivery
* the legal aid tariff needs to be significantly raised in the immediate future, along with salaries for staff lawyers in the clinic and duty counsel systems
* most of the objectives cannot be fully realized without a substantial infusion of additional financial resources.
Source:
Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Related link:

Legal Aid Ontario
In 1998, the Ontario government enacted the Legal Aid Services Act in which the province renewed and strengthened its commitment to legal aid. The Act established Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), an independent but publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation, to administer the province’s legal aid program. LAO’s mandate in the Legal Aid Services Act, 1998 is to “promote access to justice throughout Ontario for low-income individuals by means of providing consistently high quality legal aid services in a cost-effective and efficient manner.”

Ombudsman Ontario

Ministry of Labour 

HOME PAGE

News Releases

2011 Minimum Wage Rate Set - Highest of Canadian Provinces
McGuinty Government Striking the Right Balance
February 11, 2011
After seven consecutive increases, the Ontario minimum wage rate will remain at $10.25 per hour in 2011, the highest provincial minimum wage in Canada. The Ontario minimum wage has increased by 50 percent with annual increases in the last seven years. These increases outpaced inflation in part to make up for a nine year minimum wage freeze between 1995 and 2004.

Ontario's Minimum Wage Goes Up April 1, 2010
March 30, 2010
McGuinty Government Helps Hard Working Families
Ontario is bringing in the seventh consecutive annual increase to the minimum wage - raising it to $10.25, effective tomorrow. As of tomorrow, the minimum wage will have increased almost 50 per cent since 2004, when it stood at $6.85. Between 1995 and 2004 the minimum wage in Ontario remained frozen.

Ontario Increases Minimum Wage March 31, 2009
McGuinty Government Helps Hard Working Families
March 2, 2009
Ontario is raising the minimum wage to $9.50 on March 31, 2009. This is the sixth increase since 2004. The province of Ontario started implementing annual increases early in 2003, raising the general minimum wage from $6.85 in 2004 to $8.00 in 2007. By 2010, Ontario will further increase the minimum wage to $10.25.

Minimum Wage goes up March 31, 2008
A Better Standard Of Living For Hard Working Families (small PDF file)
News Release
March 28, 2008
When minimum wage earners in Ontario go to work Monday, they will be getting a raise.
Ontario is raising the minimum wage to $8.75 on March 31, 2008. This is the fifth increase since 2004.

Ontario's Minimum Wage Increases 2007 to 2010
- two more increases to get it up to $10.25 per hour by March 31, 2010

Ontario Employment Standards

Minimum Wage - Frequently-Asked Questions
Source:
WorkSmartOntario
"... the official website of the Ontario Ministry of Labour
for young workers and new workers."

Related links:

Minimum wage scare
Editorial
April 1, 2008
Some social activists are calling it "recession spook" – the talk of a looming economic downturn and the subsequent need to rein in the province's anti-poverty agenda. In that vein, some economists have warned that yesterday's 75-cent increase in the minimum wage to $8.75 an hour will lead to job losses. But the evidence for that is inconclusive, at best.
Source:
The Toronto Star

Hourly Minimum Wages by Province/Territory for Adult Workers, 2005 to 2014
NOTE: All Canadian jurisdictions are increasing their minimum wage levels in 2008, most in April or May.
Given the limited resources available in a one-person operation like Canadian Social Research Links, minimum wages aren't covered in this site as well as they could be (except in my own province, of course...); click the link above to see when and by how much the minimum wage level is increasing in all provinces and territories, from 2005 to 2014.
Source:
Labour Program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Minimum wage (International)
This resource is worth viewing --- it contains information on minimum wages in 17 countries (including Canada), along with some objective information on the debate over consequences of minimum wage laws, costs and benefits of minimum wage legislation, recent trends in the U.S., policy alternatives to the minimum wage and much more.
TIP: See "References" and "External Links" (at the bottom of the table of contents) for links to dozens and dozens of free online resources!

Ontario Government Raises Minimum Wage
Increase Helps Lowest-Paid And Most Vulnerable Workers
News Release
January 3, 2007
TORONTO — The Ontario government is raising the minimum wage on February 1, 2007, for the fourth time since taking office, Labour Minister Steve Peters announced today.
“We are providing Ontario’s lowest-paid and most vulnerable workers with the fourth increase in the minimum wage in four years,” said Peters. “It is to Ontario’s economic advantage to see that our workers are paid a fair wage.” The general minimum wage will be raised to $8.00 per hour on February 1, 2007.

Backgrounder
- incl. current and historical minimum wage levels for specific job categories going back to 1995 under the former Tory government

Source:
Ontario Ministry of Labour

Also from the same Ministry:

Ontario Employment Standards

Minimum Wage - Frequently-Asked Questions
Source:
WorkSmartOntario
"... the official website of the Ontario Ministry of Labour
for young workers and new workers."

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Minimum wage (International)
This resource is worth viewing --- it contains information on minimum wages in 17 countries (including Canada), along with some objective information on the debate over consequences of minimum wage laws, costs and benefits of minimum wage legislation, recent trends in the U.S., policy alternatives to the minimum wage and much more.
TIP: See "References" and "External Links" (at the bottom of the table of contents) for links to dozens and dozens of free online resources!

Google Web Search Results:
"Ontario, minimum wage"
Google News Search Results:
"Ontario, minimum wage"
Google Blog Search Results
"Ontario, minimum wage"
Source:
Google.ca

Ontario Government Raises Minimum Wage
Increase Helps Lowest Paid And Most Vulnerable Workers
News release
January 11, 2006
"TORONTO--The Ontario government is raising the minimum wage on February 1, 2006, for the third time since taking office, Labour Minister Steve Peters announced today.'We are providing Ontario’s lowest-paid and most vulnerable workers with the third increase in the minimum wage in three years,' said Peters. 'It is to Ontario’s economic advantage to see that our workers are paid a fair wage.' The general minimum wage will be raised to $7.75 per hour on February 1, 2006, and there will be a further increase to $8 per hour on February 1, 2007."
Source:
Ontario Ministry of Labour

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH)
HOME PAGE

Province Eases Financial Pressures on Municipalities and Property Taxpayers
Provincial and municipal partners reach agreement
News Release
October 31, 2008
The McGuinty government is moving to upload all social assistance benefits and court security costs from municipalities, as stated in an agreement announced today by the Province of Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the City of Toronto.

Complete report:

Report of the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal
and Service Delivery Review - Facing the Future Together (PDF - 1.6MB, 64 pages)
Fall 2008

Uploading Ontario Works
- this fact sheet (one of several backgrounders and related documents found on the Fiscal and Service Delivery website) provides a brief description of the current provincial-municipal funding arrangement for welfare in Ontario and a 10-year timeline for the gradual uploading of 100% of welfare costs to the provincial government.

-----
Some contextual information:
* Ontario is the only Canadian province that still requires a direct municipal government contribution towards the cost of providing welfare (known as the Ontario Works Program or OW) to the able-bodied needy population residing within their municipal boundaries. Municipalities pay 20% of the total OW bill on their territory.
* Last-resort financial assistance for people with disabilities is provided under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Municipalities also pay 20% of the total ODSP bill on their territory.
* The Ontario Government has already announced that the cost of ODSP will be gradually be transferred to the provincial government between 2009 and 2011.
-----

Source:
Provincial Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review
[ Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing ]

Related links:

Hefty housing costs stay local in "good news / bad news" provincial funding deal
October 31, 2008
By Michael Shapcott
Good news: The Ontario government, along with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the City of Toronto, jointly announced earlier today a plan to upload the costs of several provincial income assistance programs back to the provincial level over the next decade. This will give municipalities some significant fiscal breathing room – as it takes the cost of this income-distributive program off the municipal tax base and returns it to the provincial tax base, where it belongs. The timing is good as the demand for income assistance programs may well increase with the current economic crisis. Bad news: The cost of the provincial social housing program – which was downloaded to municipalities under the former Harris government starting in 1998 – remains at the local level.
Source:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ The Wellesley Institute ]
The Wellesley Institute advances the social determinants of health through community-based research , community engagement , and the informing of public policy.

Uploading move good but slow
November 1, 2008
It won't happen as quickly as urban advocates would like, but a newly announced deal between Ontario and its hard-pressed municipalities goes a considerable way toward lifting a historic burden from them. In the deal announced yesterday, the province has agreed to "upload" the cost of all welfare benefits from municipalities (which now pay 20 per cent of the cost) by 2018. An important principle is thus underlined – income support programs are best paid through the income and sales taxes, not through property taxes. Collectively, Ontario's municipalities stand to save more than $400 million yearly from this shift.
Source:
The Toronto Star

Residential Tenancies Act
The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) takes effect January 31, 2007. On June 22, 2006, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) received Royal Assent. This act, once it is proclaimed by the government, on January 31, 2007, will replace the Tenant Protection Act, 1997 (TPA). The new legislation will give tenants more protection while keeping Ontario’s rental housing market strong. Our aim is to create a rental housing system that protects tenants, helps landlords and promotes investment in Ontario’s rental housing market.

Highlights of the new legislation

Residential Tenancies Act Takes Effect
News Release
January 31, 2007

Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Backgrounder
January 31, 2007

Affordable Housing
Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program

Housing Research Reports

---------------------

Related links:

City of Toronto - includes a link to the same release and backgrounder as you'll find on the CHMC and MAH sites above - PLUS a link to the Memorandum of Understanding (small PDF file) signed by partners CMHC, MAH, Ontario municipalities (as represented by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario) and the City of Toronto, in the implementation of the Agreement.

------------------------

From the The Toronto Star:

Needy families to get help with rent
News Release
April 29, 2005
"Ontario is getting back into the affordable housing business today with the announcement of a $602 million provincial-federal deal. Sources say the $602 million, which will start flowing this fall, will build 15,000 affordable housing units and provide rent supplements to 5,000 needy families across Ontario. There are about 150,000 Ontario families awaiting affordable housing. In Toronto alone, there are 63,000 families on the waiting list."

------------------------

Google.ca News Search Results : "Canada, Ontario, affordable housing agreement"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Canada, Ontario, affordable housing agreement"
Source:
Google.ca

------------------------

Residential Tenancies Act Consultation (2004-2005)

Landlord and Tenant Board

Management Board Secretariat
HOME PAGE
News Releases, Minister's Statements, Speeches
What's New

Education Quality and Accountability Office 
HOME PAGE

Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
HOME PAGE

The Ontario Human Rights Code

Publications - links to annual reports andConsultation and Discussion documents covering a variety of topics related to human rights

More OHRC housing resources - incl. backgrounders, consultation paper, background paper and more...

Sample site content:

Commission launches report calling for collective housing strategy
News Release
July 8, 2008
Toronto - Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall and the Ontario Human Rights Commission today launched “Right at home: Report on the consultation on human rights and rental housing in Ontario.” This report, which follows a year of public sessions, meetings and submissions involving hundreds of individuals and organizations across the province, focuses on housing as a human right, and sets out a framework for collective action to identify, remove and prevent discrimination in rental housing.
* includes links to five backgrounders

RIGHT AT HOME : Report on the
consultation on human rights and rental housing in Ontario (PDF - 460K, 107 pages)
Approved by the Commission: May 28, 2008

Commission Launches Consultation on Human Rights in Rental Housing
News Release
May 9, 2007
Toronto - Today the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a background document and consultation paper on human rights in rental housing. Public meetings begin this June in Sudbury, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto to hear people’s stories and bring much needed attention and action to this fundamental issue.
* Background Paper
* Consultation Paper
* Invitation Letter
* Public Meetings
[ Aussi disponible en français ]

The Commission's public meetings will take place as follows:
June 13: Sudbury
June 14 : Toronto
June 25 : Ottawa
June 27 : Kitchener-Waterloo
June 28 : Toronto

Commission Defines Connection Between Human Rights and Family Relationships
May 2, 2007
Toronto - Today the Ontario Human Rights Commission released the results of its groundbreaking initiative on discrimination based on family status. “Ontario is proud to be the first jurisdiction to examine the human rights implications of barriers faced by families who are caring for children, aging parents or relatives, and family members with disabilities”, said Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner. The Cost of Caring: Report on the Consultation on Discrimination on the Basis of Family Status and the Policy and Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Family Status highlight the results of the Commission’s public consultation on family status, and provide employers, landlords and service providers with guidance on rights and responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the “Code”).

The Cost of Caring: Report on the Consultation on Discrimination on the Basis of Family Status

Policy and Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Family Status
- Table of Contents

Fact Sheets - links to 35 fact sheets on a variety of topics under the theme of human rights, such as discrimination based on age, race or disability, accommodation of people with disabilities, mandatory retirement, etc.

Sample publications:

Pivotal Time for Human Rights, Ontario Human Rights Chief Commissioner Reports
News Release
June 29, 2006
Toronto – On releasing the Commission’s 2005-2006 Annual Report today at Queen’s Park, Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall commented that, “This is a pivotal time for human rights in our province.” The Chief Commissioner highlighted a number of issues where progress is being made as well as areas where more work needs to be done to protect and promote human rights for the people of Ontario:
* the Ending Mandatory Retirement Statute Law Amendment Act
* removing barriers for persons with disabilities
* the rise of Islamophobia
"(...) While we welcome the opportunity for reform, the Commission shares many of the concerns expressed regarding Bill 107 – an Act that would significantly amend Ontario’s Human Rights Code – and is working hard with communities and government to ensure that the Bill meets accepted international principles for human rights institutions."

Guide to the Human Rights Code
July 2000
PDF (134K, 63 pages)

Policy on Drug and Alcohol Testing
September 2000
HTML | PDF (43K, 19 pages)

Provincial Auditor 
HOME PAGE

Index of Reports by year and by topic

Selected reports:

Ontario's 'affordable' homes aren't affordable to those who need them the most: New report from auditor-general
December 7, 2009
By Michael Shapcott
More than half the new "affordable" housing funded by the Ontario government isn't really affordable to the households that need it the most. That's one of the devastating findings in the Ontario auditor-general's latest annual report, released today. "A provincial strategy is needed to define the Ministry [of Municipal Affairs and Housing's] roles, set measurable goals and program priorities, assess risks and options to manage the risks, determine the resources required, and measure the impact of the Ministry's contribution to social housing," urges the auditor-general - echoing the concerns and recommendations made by the Wellesley Institute (PDF - 396K, 7 pages), and many other partners in the Housing Network of Ontario to the Ontario government's consultation for a long-term housing strategy.
Source:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute ]

2006 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario
- includes chapters on Children's Aid Societies, the Child Welfare Services Program, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP - see below), Community-based Services and much more...

Ontario Disability Support Program (PDF file - 154K, 6 pages)
(Section 4.03 of the 2006 report)
Here's an excerpt (with bolding added by me) from section 4.03:
"To help enable the Ministry to efficiently and effectively administer the Ontario Disability Support Program, the Ministry should:
• develop and produce accurate and useful performance and operational reports;
• provide recipients with more complete information; and
• correct known system deficiencies on a more timely basis."
[*Comment re. the MCSS annual reports: I hardly think that an eight-page report covering two years is either accurate, useful or complete...]

NOTE: The ODSP section of the 2006 report is a followup to The ODSP section of the 2004 Annual Report (PDF file - 187K)

Also from the 2004 report:

Ontario Works Program: Follow-up (PDF file - 70K, 9 pages)
NOTE : the Ontario Works section of the 2004 is a followup to the Ontario Works section of the 2002 Auditor's report (PDF file - 196K)

Links to all Ontario Auditor reports - all on one page, reports back to 1997

Legislative Assembly
HOME PAGE (frames only) - includes members, documents, hansard, services, info and library 
e-Laws - consolidated laws and regulations of Ontario

Citizenship and Immigration
HOME PAGE

Women's Directorate
HOME PAGE
The Ontario Women's Directorate (OWD) provides focus for government action on issues of concern to women. A division of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the OWD has two key areas of activity: preventing violence against women and promoting women's economic independence.

Resources
- incl. links to : * Public Education Resources * Significant Dates * Training Resources * Facts and Statistics * Gallery of Greats * Career Development Resources * Publications

Ministry of Culture
HOME PAGE

Seniors' Secretariat
HOME PAGE

Resources for Seniors

Accenture Canada - formerly Andersen Consulting
In January 1997, the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services entered into an agreement with Andersen Consulting for the development and implementation of the business processes and technologies inherent in the new social assistance system that is to be put in place through the Business Transformation Project

.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2004 Annual Report of the Office of the Provincial Auditor of Ontario
[NOTE: click the link above to access any of the report sections below; I've hyperlinked only the Ontario welfare-related links below.]
Chapter One: Overview and Value-for-money Audit Summaries pdf (108kb)
Chapter Two: Towards Better Accountability pdf (70kb)
Chapter Three: Reports on Value-for-money (VFM) Audits
Introduction pdf (26kb)
Attorney General: Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Centre for Leadership and Human Resource Management : Human Resource Renewal
Community and Social Services: Ontario Disability Support Program pdf (187kb)
Environment: Air Quality Program - Groundwater Program
Finance: Land Transfer Tax Program
Health and Long-Term Care: Community-based Services - Independent Health Facilities
Labour: Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program - Occupational Health and Safety Program
Management Board Secretariat: Purchasing Cards - Travel and Other Related Expenditures
Ontario Media Development Corporation and Ministries of Culture and Finance: Media Tax Credits
Transportation: Maintenance of the Provincial Highway System
Chapter Four: Follow-up of Recommendations in the 2002 Annual Report
Introduction
Ontario Works Program pdf (70kb)

NOTE: this section of the Annual Report includes further observations concerning the Business Transformation Project (Ontario's not-so-excellent Accenture adventure), for example:
"The intent of the Common Purpose Procurement agreement was for the Ministry to work closely with the selected private-sector vendor to develop and implement new ways of delivering services and, in so doing, share the investment in and risks and rewards of the project. However, we concluded that the Ministry did not meet this objective, in that it accepted most if not all of the risk for the Business Transformation Project while Accenture received a disproportionate amount of the rewards."

Source:
Office of the Provincial Auditor of Ontario

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accenture IT System Under Fire in Ontario:
Upgrade needed to calculate welfare benefit changes; inquiry sought into deal with vendor
August 2, 2004
"Questions about the cost, stability and usability of a controversial $213.8 million welfare payments system being used in Ontario continue to plague IT services firm Accenture Ltd., which developed the system for the province's Ministry of Community and Social Services. In the most recent development, an Ontario legislator is calling on the province's attorney general to open a formal inquiry into the contract with Accenture, including an investigation of whether the province did sufficient due diligence before awarding it and whether there were any improprieties during the bidding process. Accenture is currently billing the province nearly $1 million (U.S.) to tweak the mainframe-based system so it can calculate a 3% across-the-board increase for welfare recipients. The upgrade is expected to eventually cost the province a total of $7.5 million, which includes the coding work and the creation of a specialized testing system, according to a spokeswoman for the social services ministry."
Source:
Computerworld

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Accenture-Tory computer welfare scandal continues:
Contracting out scandal left behind by Ontario's Mike Harris government
July 15, 2004
"Toronto - An Ontario government internal assessment says the controversial computerized welfare system set up for the former Harris government by Accenture, formerly Anderson Consulting, was shut down for 16 days last year, costing taxpayers $2.4 million in wages. The former Conservative government signed a controversial $180 million contract with the consulting firm in 1997 and the system was finally completed in January, 2002. Accenture was eventually paid $284 million. The Harris administration then signed another $32 million contract with the outfit to operate and maintain the system."
[NOTE: if you scroll to the bottom of this NUPGE article, you'll find links to six more articles about Andersen Consulting and welfare in Ontario.]
Source:
National Union of public and General Employees (NUPGE)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Google.ca News Search : "Accenture, Welfare, Ontario"
Google.ca Web Search : "Accenture, Welfare, Ontario"
Source:
Google.ca

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Accenture Canada defends welfare system, says it can calculate 3% hike
July 12, 2004
"TORONTO (CP) -- The computer system that calculates welfare and disability payments for Ontarians is well-equipped to make changes, the chairman of Accenture Canada said Monday in defending a delay in payment hikes.
"The statement out there that the system can't make changes is incorrect, and I flatly rejected that statement -- it can," David Seibel said of the computer system his company built for Ontario's Ministry of Community and Social Services.
Source:
Canoe Canada
NOTE: As at July 19, clicking on this link pops up an error message. If you go to the Canoe home page and do a site search on the word "Accenture", you'll end up with the exact same article header and link - and that link is also dead.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Fie on you, Mr. Baird, for disability mess
by Helen Henderson
Jul. 10, 2004.
"So John Baird thinks it's "laughable" to point the finger at him or the former Conservative government for the $500 million computer boondoggle that has stalled a long-awaited raise in support payments for people with disabilities. Deny. Deny. Deny. At least the man stays in character."
Source:
The Toronto Star

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$20M to fix welfare pay delay
Glitch in welfare computer program has Liberals, Tories playing blame game
670,000 people in Ontario must wait...
July 7, 2004
"It could cost another $20 million to fix the Queen's Park computer problem that has Liberals and Tories pointing the finger of blame at each other. More than 670,000 people on welfare and disability assistance will have to wait weeks for a 3 per cent increase because the government's $500 million computer system cannot yet calculate the increase, slated to go into effect July 1."
Source:
The Toronto Star
NOTE: in this article, Janet Ecker, the former Conservative Minister who was responsible for welfare in Ontario from 1996 to 1999, says she was surprised that the Ontario Liberals were "blaming the technology" for the delay in a welfare increase "because there is always a lag between the announcement of a rate hike and it actually taking effect."
Like she'd even remember --- the last time welfare rates were actually "hiked" in Ontario was two years before the Ontario Conservative Party won the 1995 provincial election. In October of 1995, the Tories slashed Ontario welfare rates by 21.6% for everyone except people with disabilities. Technically, she's correct --- unless the announcement of a rate hike is made at exactly the same time as the hike itself, there is a lag. In the real world, though, and based on my 25 years as welfare information specialist with the federal government, I can say that governments, Ontario's included, have always announced welfare rate increases a few weeks to a month before their implementation.
[Gilles Seguin]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Provinces strive to avoid Ontario-style welfare glitch
July 7, 2004
"As Accenture works to correct a $20-million problem, we check in with other parts of the country to find out how they're evolving their disbursement systems. The secret may be in the mainframe."
Source:
ITBusiness.ca

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

McGuinty Government Restoring Hope, Dignity for People in Need:
Special Payments Deliver Help Sooner
News Release
June 30, 2004
"TORONTO – Ontarians who rely on the province’s social assistance programs will see their first increase in 11 years beginning with a special payment scheduled for early this fall, Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced today."
- two equal lump-sum payments (end of September --- beginning of December) to eligible client households of Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
[the government is delivering the increase this way because the "new technology (implemented by Andersen Consulting / Accenture) cannot process a welfare rate increase until system changes are made and properly tested."
- the federal government's July 2004 increase to the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) will not be deducted ("clawed back") from social assistance payments
- the nutritional allowance for pregnant women on social assistance is restored effective July 1
Source:
Ministry of Community and Social Services

Related Links:

Ontario Works (OW) - for eligible people without disabilities 
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) - for eligible people with disabilities

Accenture Receives Gold Award for Successful Public-Private Partnership
Media Release
November 25, 2003
"Toronto - Accenture was presented with the Gold Award for Service Delivery by the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships at an awards ceremony last night in Toronto. The award was given in recognition of Accenture's work on the Business Transformation Project for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS)."

Case Study: Ministry of Community and Social Services
Two-page summary of the Business Transformation Project - "a comprehensive examination and redesign of social assistance programs aimed at improving services, reducing caseloads and operating more cost-effectively" - from start to finish.
...
"The Results:
The public-private partnership between the Ministry and Accenture has resulted in improved client service, increased program integrity, and substantial savings for taxpayers. When the program was completed in January 2002, the redesigned system had generated an estimated $301.9 million in net savings, representing a net return of 143% for the Ontario government. To date, the program has generated $692 million in savings. In fact, now that the project is complete it is expected to generate an estimated $200 million in annual savings for the province, municipalities, and taxpayers." [Excerpt from the Case Study page]

Business Transformation: Delivery Management
Systems in Human Service from Accenture

Client Perspective on Business Transformation Project:
Transforming Ontario's Social Assistance Delivery system (PDF file - 340K, 3 pages)
February 2002
Source:
Canadian Government Executive Magazine

.....................................................................................................................................

Boldly Going Where No Law Has Gone Before:
Call Centres, Intake Scripts, Database Fields and Discretionary Justice in Social Welfare
MS Word file - 250K, 58 pages
[ HTML Version by Google.ca]
October 2003
Lorne Sossin [Faculty of Law, University of Toronto]
Detailed presentation of Ontario's welfare system administration since the mid-1990s - the Welfare Service Delivery Model, the Business Transformation Project (Accenture), the Consolidated Verification Process, and much more - also includes information about welfare administration in the U.S. since the implementation in July 1997 of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- special focus on caselaw related to welfare administration in Ontario and the U.S.

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Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

ACCENTURE: A snapshot of cost overruns job loss and dissatisfaction
June 24, 2003
"Accenture has more than 75,000 employees based in more than 110 offices in 47 countries delivering a wide range of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. (...) Accenture is the new name for Andersen Consulting, (...) major provider of management and technology consulting. Outsourcing for government includes computer systems design and network creation and management. Accenture's history of public services outsourcing, and privatization of major parts of service delivery under a certain time period, has often been very problematic. There have been problems in many state governments in the USA and the Province of Ontario."

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Ontario Works (PDF file - 195K, 39 pages)
"The Ministry paid Accenture $246 million to March 2002, which was significantly more than the original $180-million payment cap. In our view, the basis for these payments continues to be questionable because:
- savings attributed to the Business Transformation Project and hence to Accenture were exaggerated; and
- contrary to the recommendations of the Provincial Auditor and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to minimize out-of-cap expenditures, the Ministry paid Accenture $66 million outside the original $180-million payment cap. Of that amount, $22.2 million related to work that the Ministry had agreed to do in January 2001 and later but was unable to perform.
The new service-delivery system did not adequately support the administration of Ontario Works because of numerous unresolved systems defects. Business Transformation Project staff considered many of these defects to be emergency or high-priority items in need of repair."
Source:
2002 Annual Report of the Provincial Auditor
December 2002
Provincial Auditor of Ontario

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Business Transformation Project/Common Purpose Procurement (2000 report - Office of the Provincial Auditor)

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1998 Report of the Provincial Auditor of Ontario - See section 3.01 --- Business Transformation Project 
Source : Audit Reports on Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services (Office of the Provincial Auditor) 

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Value-Based Procurement by the Ontario Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services (PDF file - 18 pages, 61K)
August 1999 
- Go to Appendix B in this report to find the Ontario information
Source : National Governors' Association (US) 

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GATS/WTO Pusher Profile: ACCENTURE
"Identifying Characteristics: Big business consultants who are big-time privatization pushers of government services, especially social services. Makes lots of money replacing people’s jobs with machines, love to slash welfare benefits, and pillage public health care and education funds."
Source :
Corporate Campaigns
"Corporations pushing the World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services Agenda"
[Polaris Institute]

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