Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Recommendation 8-8: Prepare and support people with disabilities who are entering the
workplace. Work with employers and fellow employees to properly understand and
accommodate the specific needs of the individual in the workplace.
Federal–Provincial Issues
About 22 per cent of people with severe or very severe disabilities now receive social
assistance in Canada. Most people are unemployable or have only a tenuous attachment to
the paid labour force. This population would be better served by a national basic income
program instead of social assistance. 8
A growing number of organizations have criticized the federal Employment Insurance (EI)
program for not meeting the needs of the modern labour market. In 2010, Ontarians
contributed about 40 per cent of EI premiums, yet received only 32 per cent of benefits
and 31 per cent of funding allocated for training. It is unclear to what extent reform of the
EI system might reduce pressure on Ontario’s social assistance budget. However, it is clear
that unemployed Ontarians do not now receive equitable income support and appropriate
training opportunities to facilitate their return to the workforce. In addition, an increasing
proportion of people who are either new workers (new immigrants) or youth in non-standard
employment (such as part-time, multiple jobs, temporary employment) do not quality for EI. 9
The Final Recommendations of the Mowat Centre EI Task Force, if implemented, would be
a considerable improvement.
Recommendation 8-9: Advocate for federal reforms in two key areas:
� Work with other provinces and the federal government to establish a national incomesupport
program for people with disabilities who are unlikely to re-enter the workforce.
� Implement the final recommendations of the Mowat Centre Employment Insurance
Task Force.
Reinvest further savings in targeted social assistance measures
Should the growth of social programs spending be reduced below the 0.5 per cent target —
whether because of policy reforms, reduced demand for social programs, or other reasons —
the savings should be used to make reforms that eliminate barriers that prevent people from
moving back to the workplace. Three areas in particular require attention.
8 M. Mendelson, K. Battle, S. Torjman and E. Lightman, “A Basic Income Plan for Canadians with Severe Disabilities,” 2010, Caledon
Institute for Social Policy.
9 “Making It Work,” Final Recommendations of the MOWAT Centre Employment Insurance Task Force, 2011.
268