QUEEN’S PARK – During question period on Tuesday, NDP Social Services critic, Lisa Gretzky, said the Ford government is making unilateral decisions on changes to social assistance after it failed to consult with the public and people who have lived experience with ODSP and OW.
The Ford Conservatives announced they will be releasing the results of their 100-day review of Ontario’s social assistance system on Nov. 8.
“This government has been surprisingly tight-lipped about how exactly they are conducting this review, and who has been involved in its development,” said Gretzky, MPP for Windsor West.
Gretzky said the Ford government failed to answer her questions about who it consulted during the process and if the public was included, particularly those with lived experience with the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW).
“It’s shocking to hear that this Conservative government is not including the very people who will be impacted by this social assistance review,” said Gretzky.
“Over the past month I’ve spoken to members of my community, social policy experts, and leading advocacy organizations, and I have yet to find anyone that was invited to take part in this review.
“Does the minister think that it’s smart policy-making to make unilateral decisions without consulting the people whose lives she is directly impacting? Does she think she simply knows best, and understands social assistance better than those currently receiving it?”