Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Chart 20.10 Employment Outcomes for
Persons with Disabilities, 2006
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Without Disability Mild Disability Moderate Disability Severe or Very Severe
Disability
Average Income Participation Rate Unemployment Rate
Source: Statistics Canada’s Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, 2006.
Chapter 20: Intergovernmental Relations
Average Income ($) Per Cent
These vulnerable individuals are currently served by a “tangled safety net” that includes
disability benefits from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit, federal disability tax
credit and provincial social assistance programs. However, assistance from CPP and disability
tax credit is of little benefit to individuals who are detached from the labour market. In addition,
provincial social assistance programs, which already serve 22 per cent of those with severe
disabilities, are overburdened.
See Chapter 8, Social Programs, for the full recommendation.
Immigration Policy
Immigration will be an increasing source of growth for Ontario’s working-age population and
economy. As discussed in Chapter 10, Immigration, the integration of these newcomers into
society and the workforce requires effective settlement and integration services, in addition
to health, social and education services. Despite this, the federal government underinvested
in settlement services in Ontario from 2005 through 2011 compared to its commitment to
the province, and plans to further reduce its immigration settlement spending in Ontario in
2011–12 and beyond. Moreover, Ontario is allowed to nominate only 1,000 principal
applicants through its Provincial Nominee Program, compared to 5,000 for Alberta.
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10
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