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Yesterday I spoke to Ontario's Standing Committee on Finance as part of #ONBudget2019 consultations. Told them: 1) Raise shamefully low #OW & #ODSP rates to help people and to stimulate local economies. 1/12
People on OW & ODSP are unable to pay for what they need. They live far below the poverty line. They live in substandard, dangerous housing. They rely on food banks & other charities. Or they go without. Increasing rates is the right thing to do. And it's smart economically. 3/12
The 1.3 multiplier effect of putting $$ into low-income people's pockets means Minister MacLeod's $143M 1.5% increase last fall put $186M directly into Ontario's economy. Imagine how much more bang 4 the buck & improvement in lives the slated 3% increase would have produced. 4/12
2) Watch out for unintended consequences and costs. Minister MacLeod's changes to the amounts of money people can keep when they work will benefit those who earn small amounts, but penalize those who earn more. 5/12
They'll end up with less money in their pockets - which undermines the stated goal of incentivizing work and, of course, leaves them worse off. And they'll "earn off" benefits sooner, so will lose drug coverage and other benefits when they can least afford to. 6/12
Saving money for MCCSS this way will be a false economy, as government will pick up the tab in increased health care and other costs instead. 7/12
And 3) Changing the #ODSP definition of disability to be "more federal" will be a disaster. Federal definitions are all much more stringent - so this will exclude many people with disabilities (e.g., episodic, short-term, or cumulative disabilities - ... 8/12
Forcing people with disabilities into a situation like this will mean even worse health outcomes. More homelessness, more despair, and more cost to government in other areas. Also, more costs to municipalities who administer #OW. 10/12
A "severe and prolonged" definition doesn't recognize the reality of how disability actually works in people's lives. "Severity" of disability and ability to work aren't synonymous. What's key is accommodation & supporting all people w/ disabilities to achieve their goals. 11/12
Thanks to all Standing Committee members for listening and for their helpful and important questions. #ONBudget2019 #onpoli 12/12
