In the few weeks since the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario released its discussion paper, we at the Wellesley Institute have been busy analyzing and preparing our response. We’re working with our partners to provide advice to the Commission about promising suggestions, and where they need to rethink their approach to ensure that the reformed system can better enhance people’s opportunities for good health and reduce systemic health inequities.
In the meantime, take a look at the rapid analysis we prepared when the discussion paper was released and our previous social assistance blogs on creating a vision of a high-performing social assistance system, building a basket of essential supports, supporting people on social assistance into training and employment, building on health promotion and primary care initiatives, and collaborative solutions to fixing social assistance.
The Income Security Advocacy Centre has put together a range of resources to help people to understand the Commission’s suggestions and to inform advocacy efforts.
Also, last night TVO’s The Agenda focused on the Social Assistance Review and included interviews with the commissioners, as well as perspectives from people living on ODSP and an OW caseworker.