“I think this is really important, to continue to put pressure on the province to make sure vulnerable people are supported,” said Coun.Janet Lynn Durnford
The City of Orillia joins the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Authority, along with other health departments, in assessing food affordability to determine the adequacy of Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates. We requested the state government to make use of it. ).
At Monday's City Council meeting, city politicians expressed support for the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (ALPHA) resolution. The resolution calls on the state to index OW compensation to inflation.
Given that food prices increased by 10.6 percent from February 2022 to February 2023, and 67 percent of households dependent on OW and ODSP experience food insecurity, the ALPHA resolution urges state governments to It calls for the results of the Food Affordability Monitor to be used to help determine food prices. Social assistance rate.
The ODSP rate will increase by 5% in 2022 and will be indexed to inflation from now on, but the resolution notes that the remuneration is “not based on the cost of living” and similarly the OW rate has not increased since 2018. , emphasizes that it is still on an upward trend. Not linked to inflation.
Data collected from several health care providers in Ontario shows that OW compensation ($863 to $875 per month) does not meet the cost of food and single apartments in their respective municipalities. Masu. These shortcomings are:
Chatham-Kent: $132 a month short on food and a single apartment North Bay-Parry Sound: $178 a month short North West: $192 a month short Ottawa: $588 a month short Peterborough: $323 a month short Toronto: Monthly $752 Shortage Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph: $498 Monthly Shortage
In a letter to Premier Doug Ford included in Monday's parliamentary agenda package, the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Authority said one in five Simcoe-Muskoka households will be food insecure in 2021-2022. He pointed out that he had experienced it.
The health department also said households that rely on minimum wage, superannuation security and Canada Pension Plan coverage could become food insecure as well.
“Reducing household food insecurity requires income solutions at all levels of government to put more food in people's pockets and meet other basic needs,” the letter said. ing. “An income sufficient to meet basic needs supports individuals to be physically and mentally healthy, make meaningful contributions to society, and lead productive lives.”
The City Council voted to support ALPHA's resolution against the state, marking the second time in recent meetings that city politicians have called on the state to take action on ODSP and OW fees.
“What we're doing is supporting the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Board, and in fact all health departments, to encourage states to be aware of rising food costs, especially the impact on people on social assistance. That’s what we’re asking for,” said Coun. Janet-Lynn Durnford.
“I think it’s really important that we continue to put pressure on states to make sure that vulnerable populations are supported.”
Copies of the resolution passed by Parliament will be sent to Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Municipal Association, all municipalities in Ontario, and a number of elected officials in the provincial government.