Council calls on province to better fund Ontario Works

At this month’s Committee of the Whole meeting, council unanimously called on the province to fund Ontario Works better.

The memorandum, put forward by Ward 8 representative Tracy Richardson, requests the provincial government increase Ontario Works rates to match the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rate increases. It also states these rates should be indexed to inflation, with further cost-of-living increases to make up for years of frozen rates.

Following its expected final approval at the May 20 regular council meeting, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

“For me, I think it really resonated during the State of Emergency,” Richardson said. “I had numerous calls from folks that were really struggling to put gas in their generators or buy groceries for the rest of the month. Most were on Ontario Works and payments have been fixed since 2018. I believe it is currently at $733 a month.”

Richardson reminded council that since recipients of Ontario Works received their last pay bump, housing prices have doubled, Kawartha Lakes has gone through a pandemic and inflation has increased the cost of most goods at least 40 per cent.

“This is creating a lot of issues,” Richardson said, “when it comes to making ends meet at the end of the month. Ontario Works is lagging far behind in supporting these citizens who really rely on this funding for survival.”

Richardson said she had spoken to municipal staff in the Human Services Department, and while they are a great resource to Kawartha Lakes residents, they cannot provide the additional income and health-related resources to help these residents in need, without the province stepping in to address the rising levels of poverty in Ontario.

“This memo,” Richardson said, “represents council advocating for this change. We need to keep pushing the ministry on this issue. This is putting pressure on the municipalities and our folks need help.”

Councillor Mike Perry commended Richardson for her initiative, and felt the memorandum gave voice to the difficulties being faced by those currently on Ontario Works.

“We can do better,” Perry said. “ODSP at $1,300 a month is not enough. Under the proposed Basic Income program ODSP recipients were to have received $1,900 a month.”

Councillor Pat Warren was also glad that Richardson had put the memo forward.

“A lot of people have reached out to me,” Warren said. “Many have found the ice storm (and it’s clean-up) very challenging.”

Warren asked Mayor Doug Elmslie if the province had made any decisions about declaring Kawartha Lakes an emergency area post ice storm. That decision would allow residents to apply for provincial assistance to help pay bills they incurred because of the storm for things like fuel, food and accommodations if they were forced to relocate somewhere else until their power was restored.

As of Kawartha Lakes Weekly’s print deadline, there was no update from local MPP Laurie Scott.