Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction member Ursula Samuels demanded the provincial government do something substantive about poverty immediately rather than merely talk about it.
“We need action now,” Samuels told provincial officials towards the end of nearly a three-hour public meeting held by the Ontario government at the Crown Plaza Nov. 22 on implementing a basic income program.
“We know what we really need. We face it every day.”
Samuels echoed the sentiment that a number of poverty activists proclaimed at the event, greeting about 90 people taking part in the public meeting, one of 16 the provincial government is holding across the province to hear the public’s views on a proposed basic income program.
John Mills of the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits, ignored attempts by provincial representatives to stop him during the workshop and proceeded to read out a motion calling on the province to increase the Ontario Works rate for single individuals to $1,320 a month and bumping the Ontario Disability Support Program monthly rate by at least $500. The current OW monthly rate for an individual is $681 a month.
This year rates were increased by the province by $25 per month for single adults receiving Ontario Works, 1.5 per cent for families receiving Ontario Works and 1.5 per cent for individuals with disabilities who receive ODSP. Provincial officials say social assistance rates have increased 20 per cent for families receiving Ontario Works and ODSP since 2003, and by 33 per cent for single adults receiving OW.
Most of the people in the room, which included people from Niagara and surrounding areas, raised their hands in support.
Another 20 people demonstrated outside the Crown Plaza demanding the province raise social assistance rates.
Ontario Minister of Consumer and Social Services Helena Jaczek wasn’t present during Mills’ presentation. She arrived late held up by traffic. But Hamilton Liberal Ted McMeekin, a former consumer and social services minister, was present at the meeting, along with Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
The Ontario government has earmarked about $25 million to establish a three-year pilot basic income project. It is not supposed to consolidate or eliminate any existing programs, but to “top-up” programs to lift participants above the poverty line. A pilot project is expected to be introduced in April 2017.
The questions provided to participants, including who should be eligible, what the basic income should be and the criteria of the program, are based upon a paper developed by Hugh Segal, author, political strategist, former Canadian senator, and a proponent of a basic income. He recommended a monthly income of $1,320, with another $500 increase for people on disability.
The pilot project, which participants said should be held in Hamilton, must examine health outcomes, career choices, education outcomes, work behavior, changes in food security and impacts on housing arrangement.
People involved in the project should be from all demographics, making it as “broad as possible” who need benefits, says participants.
Darren Starr, one of the participants, said there are “too many barriers” that are created for people on social assistance. He said the pilot program needs to remove the stigma of people on social assistance and reduce poverty.
Participants also agreed the basic income shouldn’t replace current programs, but provide a boost to people living below the poverty line.
Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction member Ursula Samuels demanded the provincial government do something substantive about poverty immediately rather than merely talk about it.
“We need action now,” Samuels told provincial officials towards the end of nearly a three-hour public meeting held by the Ontario government at the Crown Plaza Nov. 22 on implementing a basic income program.
“We know what we really need. We face it every day.”
Samuels echoed the sentiment that a number of poverty activists proclaimed at the event, greeting about 90 people taking part in the public meeting, one of 16 the provincial government is holding across the province to hear the public’s views on a proposed basic income program.
John Mills of the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits, ignored attempts by provincial representatives to stop him during the workshop and proceeded to read out a motion calling on the province to increase the Ontario Works rate for single individuals to $1,320 a month and bumping the Ontario Disability Support Program monthly rate by at least $500. The current OW monthly rate for an individual is $681 a month.
This year rates were increased by the province by $25 per month for single adults receiving Ontario Works, 1.5 per cent for families receiving Ontario Works and 1.5 per cent for individuals with disabilities who receive ODSP. Provincial officials say social assistance rates have increased 20 per cent for families receiving Ontario Works and ODSP since 2003, and by 33 per cent for single adults receiving OW.
Most of the people in the room, which included people from Niagara and surrounding areas, raised their hands in support.
Another 20 people demonstrated outside the Crown Plaza demanding the province raise social assistance rates.
Ontario Minister of Consumer and Social Services Helena Jaczek wasn’t present during Mills’ presentation. She arrived late held up by traffic. But Hamilton Liberal Ted McMeekin, a former consumer and social services minister, was present at the meeting, along with Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
The Ontario government has earmarked about $25 million to establish a three-year pilot basic income project. It is not supposed to consolidate or eliminate any existing programs, but to “top-up” programs to lift participants above the poverty line. A pilot project is expected to be introduced in April 2017.
The questions provided to participants, including who should be eligible, what the basic income should be and the criteria of the program, are based upon a paper developed by Hugh Segal, author, political strategist, former Canadian senator, and a proponent of a basic income. He recommended a monthly income of $1,320, with another $500 increase for people on disability.
The pilot project, which participants said should be held in Hamilton, must examine health outcomes, career choices, education outcomes, work behavior, changes in food security and impacts on housing arrangement.
People involved in the project should be from all demographics, making it as “broad as possible” who need benefits, says participants.
Darren Starr, one of the participants, said there are “too many barriers” that are created for people on social assistance. He said the pilot program needs to remove the stigma of people on social assistance and reduce poverty.
Participants also agreed the basic income shouldn’t replace current programs, but provide a boost to people living below the poverty line.
Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction member Ursula Samuels demanded the provincial government do something substantive about poverty immediately rather than merely talk about it.
“We need action now,” Samuels told provincial officials towards the end of nearly a three-hour public meeting held by the Ontario government at the Crown Plaza Nov. 22 on implementing a basic income program.
“We know what we really need. We face it every day.”
Samuels echoed the sentiment that a number of poverty activists proclaimed at the event, greeting about 90 people taking part in the public meeting, one of 16 the provincial government is holding across the province to hear the public’s views on a proposed basic income program.
John Mills of the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits, ignored attempts by provincial representatives to stop him during the workshop and proceeded to read out a motion calling on the province to increase the Ontario Works rate for single individuals to $1,320 a month and bumping the Ontario Disability Support Program monthly rate by at least $500. The current OW monthly rate for an individual is $681 a month.
This year rates were increased by the province by $25 per month for single adults receiving Ontario Works, 1.5 per cent for families receiving Ontario Works and 1.5 per cent for individuals with disabilities who receive ODSP. Provincial officials say social assistance rates have increased 20 per cent for families receiving Ontario Works and ODSP since 2003, and by 33 per cent for single adults receiving OW.
Most of the people in the room, which included people from Niagara and surrounding areas, raised their hands in support.
Another 20 people demonstrated outside the Crown Plaza demanding the province raise social assistance rates.
Ontario Minister of Consumer and Social Services Helena Jaczek wasn’t present during Mills’ presentation. She arrived late held up by traffic. But Hamilton Liberal Ted McMeekin, a former consumer and social services minister, was present at the meeting, along with Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
The Ontario government has earmarked about $25 million to establish a three-year pilot basic income project. It is not supposed to consolidate or eliminate any existing programs, but to “top-up” programs to lift participants above the poverty line. A pilot project is expected to be introduced in April 2017.
The questions provided to participants, including who should be eligible, what the basic income should be and the criteria of the program, are based upon a paper developed by Hugh Segal, author, political strategist, former Canadian senator, and a proponent of a basic income. He recommended a monthly income of $1,320, with another $500 increase for people on disability.
The pilot project, which participants said should be held in Hamilton, must examine health outcomes, career choices, education outcomes, work behavior, changes in food security and impacts on housing arrangement.
People involved in the project should be from all demographics, making it as “broad as possible” who need benefits, says participants.
Darren Starr, one of the participants, said there are “too many barriers” that are created for people on social assistance. He said the pilot program needs to remove the stigma of people on social assistance and reduce poverty.
Participants also agreed the basic income shouldn’t replace current programs, but provide a boost to people living below the poverty line.