Income Security: A Roadmap for Change

• People are able to access services and supports in a place where they feel
safe and comfortable, as well as heard and understood by staff sensitive
to people’s diverse backgrounds and experiences For Indigenous peoples
this must mean the ability to access supports in the location of their choice,
whether within their First Nations community, a local Indigenous Friendship
Centre or other Indigenous agency where there is a range of connected and
culturally relevant services and supports
• Financial penalties that have been shown to be ineffective and counterproductive
are eliminated and policies that create barriers to safety and wellbeing
are changed
Currently, there are a number of financial penalties that can be
applied against an individual. Today, a condition of eligibility for
Ontario Works and for non-disabled individuals receiving ODSP
is that they develop a “participation agreement” that outlines
activities they will undertake to get employment-ready or find a
job. Not signing a participation agreement, or not upholding the
commitments contained within it, can result in assistance being
suspended, reduced or cancelled. Similar penalties can occur when
a person does not provide a specific piece of information within a
certain number of days regardless of whether the information is
truly critical. While front-line workers often stop these automated
penalties or take steps to reach out to people to probe what is
happening, a stronger and more consistent service expectation
needs to be put in place, one that reflects current best practices in
the duty to accommodate. Penalties rely on negative reinforcement
that is shown to be ineffective and counter-productive, commonly
leading to stress and anxiety, and creating a real risk of pushing
individuals further into poverty.
98 Income Security: A Roadmap for Change