Five Ontario MPPs say they will live on a “social assistance diet” for two weeks in an effort to show that a five per cent increase to Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) payments is not enough.

'We are calling on the provincial government to end legislated poverty,' said Coun. Janet-Lynne Durnford, who brought the resolution forward at Monday's council meeting

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath pledged on Saturday that the party will double current Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works payments in its second year of government if elected.

Fraser chose to end his life at age 55. He wasn’t terminally ill — he was unable to pay his rent and get outside. How is this remotely acceptable?

Zeljko Bibic relies on the Ontario Disability Support Program to pay his bills. Without warning, his monthly amount was slashed. Part 6 in our series

The local United Way has called on the province to double social assistance rates, which they say keep people in deep poverty and struggling to claw their way out of debt. One London woman details...

The home Jenn Whalen and her three children have rented near Kincardine since 2021 is being torn down to make way for a commercial development.

Some people living on social assistance say they're angry the Ontario government is hiring 17 fraud inspectors instead of answering their calls for more help during the pandemic. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has revealed his new majority government will include 43 parliamentary assistants, a role that comes with extra duties and a $16,600 annual salary bump.

The Ontario government is facing a class action lawsuit for the cancellation of the province's basic income pilot project — an abrupt move that some say caused significant emotional and financial...

TORONTO - Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives promised Monday to increase disability support payment rates by five per cent, if re-elected, a pledge that was not in their recent budget that is...

For Brian, every single day is a struggle — even when it comes to having enough food to eat.

The Progressive Conservatives' promise to modestly boost disability support payments is not enough to fix an "extremely broken" system that has left many Ontarians struggling to get by, those who...

"If you spend $650 a month on rent and your maximum Ontario Works (OW) allowance is $733 a month, you simply can't afford the basics of food, clothing, personal care,

The latest insights and commentary about news in Hamilton, surrounding areas and the world from columnists, editors and our readers.

The Ontario Works single rate is an impossible $733 a month. Let’s ask parties to pledge to raise rates to the amount Mike Harris cut them to in ’95.

COVID-19 has proven itself as not an equal opportunity crisis, revealing cracks in the system that leave the most vulnerable exposed. Low income and racialized communities have been hit the hardest,...

Recipients appear set to receive last payment at the end of the month

Redwood Park Communities and Barrie Food Bank are just two of the 236 signatures on an open letter to the province.

Ontario will allow disability support recipients to earn more in exempt funding, but it is unclear how effective it will be with less than 10 per cent of recipients working.

There's no word from the government on whether it will support them

The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out...

HALTON - Rent hikes have a considerable impact on those relying on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

If passed, the bill would increase the number of people who will get the benefit by expanding eligibility for the disability tax credit to automatically include anyone already receiving provincial

Rent prices exceed income for two St. Catharines women

Social assistance rates have been stagnant since 2018, with a single person able to receive up to $1,169 a month on ODSP and $733 on OW — well below the poverty line.

As Premier Doug Ford prepares to unveil his new cabinet, there are renewed calls for the government to raise Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates higher than what had been promised during...

Submitted by Joel Harden, MPP Ottawa Centre

Ottawa recently reintroduced legislation to create a national disability benefit. So where is it?

Trudeau government must substantially increase Canada Disability Benefit's allocation to achieve stated goal of lifting people with disabilities out of poverty, writes David Lepofsky.

Researchers find homeless people more likely to spend lump sum on housing and food and not ‘temptation goods’ such as alcohol

A Sudbury woman who advocates for people with disabilities says more financial support is needed for that community. Nadine Law, with Access2All, says people with disabilities have largely been...

Prominent Hamilton activist Sarah Jama says she intends to seek the nomination from the Ontario NDP to run as their MPP in Hamilton Centre. Afro Canadian Caribbean Association Hamilton president...

It’s a complicated benefit with low uptake, and now it’s the proposed gateway for the Canada disability benefit. Its shortcomings must be fixed.

Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says proposed changes to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) announced today would create chaos and uncertainty for many of the...

With the cost of living skyrocketing, a Sudbury group that helps people with disabilities says 'the fear of becoming homeless is apparent' and the Ontario Green Party wants to help.

The Guelph Community Health Centre has joined community groups across the province calling on the Ontario government to double welfare and disability support payments.

The people are hungry and sleeping outside. Where are Canada’s premiers?Randy Robinson, Troy MediaIn days of old, kings and queens were often judged b

A push from the NDP to see the Liberals follow through 'without delay' on their promise to implement a new federal disability benefit got unanimous backing in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Parliament passed legislation in June to create the benefit, but the federal government has indicated the rollout won’t begin until December, 2024

“Social assistance is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to ensure that people have adequate incomes and can live lives of health and dignity and participate in the labour market as much or as...

Fellow citizens of this province who rely on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to provide an income or to supplement their earnings, risk having their benefits scaled back or taken away...

“I am constantly made to feel like a second-class citizen,” said Michael Iacovone, a 32-year-old university student with spina bifida.

A recent analysis finds that Ontario Works recipients would need another $17,000 a year just to reach the poverty line. That has advocates calling for the Ford government to make changes.