Social Assistance: The Commission

Social Assistance In Ontario Dept: People on social assistance are poor. Very poor. Worse yet, the very system that s supposed to help them get back on their feet actually traps them in a cycle of poverty. This has devastating impacts on individuals and families, especially when people are already vulnerable or marginalized like immigrants, women, single mothers, people with disabilities, and people from racialized communities aboriginal or First Peoples as well as peoples of colour , according to The Star. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take positive action now. The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario , undertaking the first review of the system in 20 years, is expected to report back to the government in mid-October. Getting this right is critical: we can t wait another 20 years for the system to be fixed. A broad coalition of groups from across the province has set out five key tests to look for in the commission s report and for nearly two decades, Ontario has seen the continuous erosion of social assistance benefits and a system focused on surveillance and punishment rather than dignity and support. Our province s social assistance system fails to provide an economic safety net. It also fails to provide opportunities for all Ontarians to contribute to the long-term prosperity of our province. Poverty also has implications for the quality of life of every Ontarian, because not dealing with poverty creates other expensive problems, like poor health. Poverty costs us all. But we know that when we make the investments and set up the systems that reduce income inequality and provide opportunity, we re all better off. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.