THUNDER BAY -- Social assistance rates are inching up in November but looking back over decades, Bill Bradica sees a small slope on a long road.
Starting on Nov. 1, single adults registered with Ontario Works are receiving $305 per month, an increase of $25 a month and $75 a month more than they received in 2013.
The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board’s CAO appreciates the provincial announcement but he says Ontario’s support for the less fortunate still doesn’t parallel the efforts it made 20 years ago.
“For single people, it looks like a fairly significant increase and it’s very welcome that it wasn’t just one or two per cent. However, it’s still not where it needs to be,” Bradica said.
He pointed out $305 covers little more than the cost of food for a single person and despite other programs designed to alleviate the pressure of rent, the $376 in monthly shelter compensation is unfeasible in Thunder Bay’s market.
“I think overall rates are low for Ontario Works recipients, not only here but across the province,” he said.
“It has probably been felt a little more keenly in that utility costs have risen, especially hydro and water costs have increased far more than inflation over the last five years and that’s really becoming more and more of an issue.”
When pegged to inflation, rates still haven’t reached their peak in 1995 when the then-newly elected Progressive Conservative Party cut most social assistance rates 17 per cent and single individuals saw 25 per cent cuts.
Bradica is looking forward to the province’s response to the 2012 Social Assistance Review Report, which called for increasing rates as well as asset limits, ensuring a 50 per cent exemption in child support payments, and improving access to both housing and child care.
“They (the government of Ontario) have made indications that they're looking to implement some of the recommendations but other than this commitment to go three-quarters of the way for single individuals, we’re waiting to see what they might do with some of the other recommendations.”
In other changes that began on Nov. 1, families receiving Ontario Works and those who access the Ontario Disability Support Program are seeing a one per cent increase in government support. The one per cent increase is also being applied to the Remote Communities Allowance and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities.
