Raise the Rates

In the 2007 Provincial general election, millions of Ontarians voted to elect a government that promised that it would seriously look at the social assistance situation in the province. In response, the Ontario Liberal government promised to “Raise the Rates” for social assistance to individuals with the highest need in our province.

I am pleased to say they did keep this promise: the government of Ontario did increase the funding by a few extra dollars a month. However, I am equally displeased to say that, in doing so, they also cut the annual funding for “back to school allowance” for the very same social assistance-dependant recipients. In this fashion, any material benefit for struggling families was rendered ineffectual.

On Tuesday September 2nd, Kingston City Council heard a recommendation from the Arts, Recreation & Community Policies Committee and from City Staff that would provide a one-time funding allowance for persons receiving Ontario Works (OW) assistance. This payout would provide $175 per child to help families cope with the cutbacks to the school allowance. The city proposed to pay 20%, with the other 80% coming from the province.

Unfortunately, a number of Kingston families in financial need - those who receive social assistance from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) - were excluded from this recommendation. City staff also noted that they only expected 70% of OW recipients to step forward and apply for funding due to the lack of public knowledge and publicity about this program, and an unwillingness of some to ask for handouts.

To their credit, four councillors: Steve Garrison, Robert Hutchison, Robert Matheson and Vicki Schmolka, fought valiantly to not only increase the funding to $250 per child, but also to provide “blanket coverage” for people on OW and ODSP.

I will grant that the increase of $75 and the addition of ODSP recipients would have resulted in an increased cost to the city. But I would argue that it this is absolutely necessary to provide the basics for younger children who are going back to school. This would provide parents with the ability to adequately clothe and feed their children, ensuring they are given a good start to each school day. The idea behind social assistance is that we provide people who are disadvantaged with the basic necessities to be successful in our society.

Having been one of those children reliant on social assistance myself, I can clearly remember times when my dad would starve himself so that my brother and I would have enough food to eat. I can remember that turning 18 meant an end to benefits and brought with it the uncertainty of bills not being paid and food not being on the table.

In a time where the economy and inflation have taken so much from middle and lower class families and economic uncertainty is becoming certain, taking away the smallest bit of benefits that help provide a staple existence for children is shameful and ruins the chances that we all want to provide for the next generation. As a society, we should be demanding more from our leaders to help make ends meet for those who actually need the help.

It is of note that Kingston City Council at the very least passed the recommendation to provide for members of our communities on OW - with the knowledge that about 70% would step forward to access this program. However, one can’t help to wonder how many children whose parents are obtaining assistance from ODSP or whose parents will not come forward are shamefully being left behind.

Council Members voted Against the motion to increase that assistance to everyone:
Mayor Harvey Rosen
Councillor Lisa Osanic
Councillor Ed Smith
Councillor Bill Glover
Councillor Joyce MacLeod-Kane
Councillor Mark Gerretsen


Not Present:
Councillor Sara Meers
Councillor Lenore Foster
Councillor Dorothy Hector


Jamie Masse
Kingston