Government appointed Council recommends bold vision for social assistance reform

TORONTO, June 14 /CNW/ - The province urgently requires a more effective system of income security programs that meet the needs of Ontarians in a rapidly shifting economy, says a new report by the Social Assistance Review Advisory Council (SARAC).

Appointed by the government of Ontario, the Council was mandated to recommend a scope and terms of reference for a review of Ontario's social assistance system. In a report released today, it outlines a consultation process focusing on six key strategies that would transform the delivery of income security programs, employment supports and related services for low-income working age adults.

"We are currently investing billions into federal and provincial programs that too often trap people in poverty and fail to offer alternatives to social assistance," said Gail Nyberg, chair of the Social Assistance Review Advisory Council. "Tinkering with a broken system will not lead to different outcomes. It's time to unleash a bold review."

The Council recommends the review focus on the following six strategies for reform:

    -  Building on the approach of the Ontario Child Benefit, develop an expanded range of income and services to be available to all low-income Ontarians.

    -  Strengthen initiatives such as minimum wage increases, enhanced employment standards, fair employment initiatives and the federal Working Income Tax Benefit to ensure the labour market offers effective pathways out of poverty.

    -  Replace short term coverage in Ontario Works with more appropriate financial support outside of the social assistance system for those who are temporarily unemployed.

    -  Re-engineer long-term coverage in Ontario Works as an opportunity planning program to support achieving full labour market potential through skills building, education, training, employment and related support.

    -  Develop standards for a liveable income and a process to use those standards to assess the adequacy of Ontarians' incomes.

    -  Improve income and social supports for those whose reasonable prospects of earning liveable incomes from employment are limited by disability or other circumstances, including a possible new vision for the Ontario Disability Support Program and exploring options for alternative models of financial assistance.

"The next step is for the Ontario government to appoint Income Security Commissioners and to start a comprehensive review," said Nyberg. "Now is the time to engage Ontarians from all walks of life to ensure income security programs meet the needs of Ontarians and our economy."

The Council is also calling for immediate action to address the incomes of social assistance recipients without children. Their incomes fall far below any reasonable liveable standard.

The Social Assistance Review Advisory Council (SARAC) was appointed by the government of Ontario to submit recommendations to the Minister of Community and Social Services regarding the scope and terms of reference for a review of Ontario's social assistance system. The report is available on the Ministry of Community and Social Services website at http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/sacouncil/index.aspx

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TORONTO STAR EDITORIAL

WELFARE REFORM ROADMAP (June 15)

 Everyone agrees that Ontario’s welfare system is a mess. In a report released Monday, a panel of experts cites “deep and continuing dissatisfaction” with the status quo in all quarters — government, business, labour, community groups, and welfare recipients. What is lacking is a consensus on how to fix it, which is why the provincial government is planning a major policy review of welfare.

The expert panel, chaired by Gail Nyberg of the Daily Bread Food Bank, has given the government some useful signposts for the review. It says the review should be arm’s-length from the government, rather than internal, and be completed in 12 to 18 months, not dragged out endlessly. As for the scope of the review, the panel says it should be comprehensive and not focused exclusively on welfare, per se, which accounts for just 23 per cent of all income support programs. Other relevant programs include child tax benefits, employment insurance, and CPP disability payments.

Of course, all these fall under federal jurisdiction, and the Harper government has no apparent interest in the file. But the panel says that the “lack of federal government co-operation . . . should not impede Ontario’s work to define the reforms needed in federal programs to meet Ontario’s interests.”

“I cannot agree with them more,” said Madeleine Meilleur, minister of community and social services, in welcoming the report’s recommendations on Monday.

That’s encouraging. Now the provincial government should move quickly to start up the review, which is long overdue. Some argue for delay because the province faces a monstrous deficit. But the expert panel rightly says that the review should proceed “not despite Ontario’s fiscal situation but because of it.” That is, Ontario’s economic recovery depends, in part, on helping the province’s poorest residents to break out of the welfare trap and lead productive lives.

Selected media coverage

Ontario should adopt bold vision for welfare reform
Toronto Star, Laurie Monsebraaten June 14
Ontario urgently needs a more effective system of income security to meet the rapidly changing economic times, says a government-appointed panel.

Ontario welfare system needs overhaul: panel

CBC.ca - June 14

A government-appointed panel says the Ontario welfare system is not working, and is calling for it to be completely overhauled.