Income Security: A Roadmap for Change
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An Important Note from the <strong>Income</strong><br />
<strong>Security</strong> Re<strong>for</strong>m Working Group<br />
Members of the <strong>Income</strong> <strong>Security</strong> Re<strong>for</strong>m Working Group struggled<br />
over the pace of eliminating deepest poverty. The gap between<br />
where people are and where they need to be is so large we could<br />
not agree on a “right” number <strong>for</strong> early rate increases. The Year 1<br />
recommendations reach those in deepest poverty, but make only<br />
modest progress <strong>for</strong> the majority of people struggling to survive<br />
on Ontario Works and ODSP. We chose a number that we expect<br />
government can implement but we strongly urge moving more<br />
quickly to bring people closer to income adequacy.<br />
<br />
People do not just willingly decide one day to leave behind the security of a good<br />
job or the com<strong>for</strong>ts of a home and a family People live in a different world than<br />
they did 25 years ago, and traditional ideas about work and work ethic cannot<br />
be defended in the face of the many barriers and the precarious work<strong>for</strong>ce<br />
realities people face today Action is long overdue to ensure that people living in<br />
poverty have enough to live on, by moving beyond misguided concerns about the<br />
problems of long-term “welfare dependency” and the value of investing in social<br />
assistance, and instead restoring these programs to their intended purpose: to<br />
preserve people’s welfare and well-being<br />
DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
15.1<br />
Implement<br />
changes that make meaningful progress in<br />
improving the incomes of those furthest from the Minimum<br />
<strong>Income</strong> Standard (see Achieving <strong>Income</strong> Adequacy, page 69)<br />
through social assistance as the most readily available and<br />
easily adjusted means by (in Fall 2018):<br />
• Setting the Standard Flat Rate at $794/month (a 10%<br />
increase over Fall 2017 Ontario Works maximum basic<br />
needs and shelter rates)<br />
<strong>Income</strong> <strong>Security</strong>: A <strong>Roadmap</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Change</strong> 127