Low-income Ontarians are facing uncertain times as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. In particular, people are worried about being able to meet their basic needs while living on social assistance – and stay healthy.
Across Ontario, recipients of Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are calling on the provincial government to implement changes to allow them to access federal emergency income support benefits and to increase social assistance rates.
“Living on a low income is a vicious circle of worries…You worry you are going to lose income, you are going to lose your housing, you worry you’re are going to be homeless, you worry you will get sick… This is all made worse during a pandemic,” says Claude Wittmann, a housing advocate in Toronto and member of the advocacy group Defend Disability. He is also an ODSP recipient.
Wittman is one of the 75,000 individuals on social assistance who reports earned income. He was planning on applying for the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB), but says he is waiting to do so because of concerns that any monies he receives through it would be clawed back.
Any income someone on OW or ODSP receives from sources other than employment can be deducted from their social assistance benefits. And until recently, federal COVID-19 emergency benefits could be deducted dollar- for- dollar, cutting recipients off from their primary source of income support.
Advocates are urging the provincial government to allow people on social assistance who work on a part-time basis to keep any monies they might get through the CERB – which provides individuals who earned at least $5,000 in the past year and lost their job because of the pandemic with $2000 per month for a period of four months.
The province recently announced that it will grant a partial exemption of CERB payments for recipients of social assistance by treating CERB as earned income. For those on OW or ODSP, this means the first $200 of CERB payments and 50 per cent of each additional dollar received per month will be exempt from any deductions. If an ODSP recipient receives $1169 per month and qualifies for the $2000 CERB, ODSP would deduct $900, leaving them with $269, plus the $2000 from the CERB. This means the recipient would get $2269 per month as opposed to $1169.
The Ministry has also clarified that those who qualify for the CERB partial exemption, but become financially ineligible for either OW or ODSP as a result, will not lose access to health benefits. These recipients will stay on social assistance, being paid a nominal amount, to ensure they can access health benefits.
For people who applied for OW after March 1, any payments received through CERB will not be exempt when assessing their eligibility for social assistance. This means they may not qualify for OW but will keep the money they receive from CERB.
Wittman says while it is positive the government is not going to claw back CERB benefits entirely, it is problematic that they are choosing not to exempt the benefits from any deductions.
“In the end, the Ontario government is using an emergency benefit supposed to help individuals who struggle financially to fill its own coffers,” says Wittman.
And the health risks of inadequate income security programs will be felt by all Ontarians, warn health practitioners.
“Highly infectious diseases like COVID-19 will thrive when individuals don’t have the financial means to live independently…this means more spread, more illness and more deaths for all Ontarians” says Jonathon Herriot, a family physician in Toronto and co-chair of advocacy group Health Providers Against Poverty.
For many social assistance recipients, it can be a struggle to secure adequate housing and purchase cleaning products during the best of times. In the midst of a pandemic, those challenges are even more pronounced. Advocates say the government should not be looking for ways to cut off income supports but looking to enhance them.
Arash Ghiassi, a lawyer at the Income Security and Advocacy Centre in Toronto, says the province should be re-investing the money to raise social assistance rates during the pandemic to assist low-income Ontarians who may not qualify for CERB or EI.
“This is money is intended for all Canadians to cope with the COVID-19 situation, it is not intended for the province to use for other purposes. So, while the province has made the decision to partially claw back the CERB, it has also made a commitment to re-invest any savings that come from that back into social assistance…It should go towards raising social assistance rates across the board,” says Ghiassi.
Advocates say action is needed now to ensure that people can access the income they need to survive during the pandemic.
“Income is the single most important social factor that contributes to the health of Ontarians… during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating health impacts of poverty have become even more clear,” says Herriot.
Ghiassi says social assistance rates are keeping people in poverty at a time when access to stable income is crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19. He says the government has not been responsive to the needs of low-income residents.
“Ontario’s response so far has been to provide recipients with pocket change in the form of discretionary benefits that are inadequate, inefficient, and hard to access,” says Ghiassi.
The province has announced that people on social assistance can access discretionary benefits to help afford additional costs during the pandemic. But advocates say these aren’t readily accessible and don’t go far enough to help people meet their basic needs.
The current rate for a single person receiving OW is $733 per month. For ODSP, the monthly amount is $1169.
A single individual receiving either OW or ODSP is eligible to receive an additional $100 benefit to help with costs associated with COVID-19. Families on social assistance can get $200. These are one-time payments and are available until the end of April. In order to access these benefits, a recipient has to contact their caseworker and request the extra money. Ministry spokesperson Kristen Tedesco says the discretionary amounts are “determined locally for one-time exceptional costs base on need.”
Advocates say this discretionary benefit opens to the door to unequal access and doesn’t provide the degree of continuous financial support that low-income Ontarians need.
Kyle Vose, co-chair of the advocacy ground ODSP Action Coalition, says many people on ODSP and OW aren’t even aware these discretionary benefits are available.
“People might not even know they could get this. From what we’re hearing, this isn’t being publicized as widely, so the people that could use this help – however small and short-term it is – might not even know it’s out there,” says Vose.
If an individual doesn’t have access to a phone or internet service, they may be unable to access a benefit that is meant for them.
Andrea Hatala is an ODSP recipient in Toronto. She says it’s hard to get in touch with caseworkers at a time when many offices are closed down because of pandemic. She has had difficulty trying to contact her caseworker by phone and says this is likely a common problem for many others trying to navigate daily life under quarantine.
Across Canada, there is variability. The Yukon government is still clawing back CERB dollar-for-dollar. British Columbia, on the other hand, has introduced changes that advocates in Ontario say should be a guideline for the province’s ongoing COVID-19 response. Earlier this month, British Columbia exempted EI and CERB benefits from being clawed back for social assistance recipients who lost their jobs because of the pandemic. The province also announced increased social assistance benefits, raising the monthly amount by $300.
“British Columbia made the right decision to exempt EI and CERB from claw-backs, says Ghiassi. “These benefits are meant to support all Canadians through this crisis. They are not meant for provincial coffers.”
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My son is on odsp..after rent and bills he has $197 to live on all month. That is food clothes cleaning supplies hygiene products etc.
He is depressed and has no life. How is this right?????
My sister frauds my bank account, the bank took my disability to pay it off. Need a job but hard to find a job through covid 19…and on low budget had have to come up with 4000 for the rest of the rent I can’t even afford groceries or even dog food very stressed to the max
First off why does your sister have access to your bank account?
Why is it that you owe 4,000.00 for rent? you live in a fancy building? doesn’t make sense.
I would call the bank off and ask them why they have the right to take the money from your account and then I would call the police and have her charged with fraud if the story you are telling here is correct.
Get yourself a lawyer from ODSP to find out what you can do.
O.D.S.P. does not care, PERIOD! Based on my true story! A woman working full time for minimum wage met a man who could not work and wondered how could she ever have a future with this man. And then she found out he received help from the Ontario Disability Support Program. He could receive up to $800 for housing and $440 for basic needs each month. $1240 plus her take home of approx. $1900 a month would be $3140. She could start a family with the man. It would be tight. They moved in together had a child. And that is when O.D.S.P. showed how little it cared. They started by giving an extra $400 plus another $100 because she works. Then the deductions began based on her income. Everything earned over $200 half of remainder was taken from his check. 1900 – 200 = 1700 1700/2= 850 His $1740 check would now only be 1740-850= 890 dollars. O.D.S.P. punishes receipients for finding love and having a family. The harder she works the less he brings to the table. It can be hard for the man to look into the mirror and see a man! This is why there is a high rate of suicides amongst those who need support from the O.D.S.P. NO ONE CARES!!
Oh yeah and when she had to collect e.i. for 6 weeks where she brought in $100 less a month they completly stripped him the full amount of his check!! No one cares.
People do not understand,, some people work part time receiving ODSP. iF you are off work and do not have enough weeks for U.I. you can apply for the CERB for you worked and made over 5000. People lied to the government and applied answering yes to these questions. I received to cerb payments and did not receive anything from my ODSP for those months. Was not much left over when my bills were paid. I do agree that living expenses should go up, the price of renting is so high now. This needs to be looked into. I am a senior who has health problems and finding it hard to work, but working 12 hours a week helps me. The internet is a expense and we have to choose if we want that monthly payments. most people on ODSP can afford cars, pay insurance. I can not afford this. It is like someone on mothers allowance saying they are separated but their husband is working at Toyota and still living with them.
I am an ODSP client and the Ford government was sneaky about this whole thing. 2018 My son and I lived on a little over 18k ( I was able to eat daily, pay my bills and had $50 at the end for emergencies or if my son needs shoes or clothes) 2019 and 2020 my t5 were both for 9k. Yep you read that right. $9000 for an adult and a dependent to live on for a year. Nothing change with my living situation so why was I 1. Cut 10k and 2. Not even given any warnings to the cut? I am literally dying. No joke. I went from someone who went for 10k walks daily to being trapped in bed, lost over 150lbs, have malnutrition, muscle wasting, hair falling out, nails falling out. I am wasting away because I am slowly starving to death. I’ve contacted every level of government and get 0 answers, Just get pushed onto the next person. My death won’t even be noticed, so why will the government change. They want their old and weak dead.
Please reach out to the food banks, or even go to the hospital. Your life matters.
Hi
I had to go on assistance because of COVID 19 as I am still waiting for CRA to view my documents that I submitted 2 months ago. Any ways I am struggling with the amount OW gives you and I have access to internet but this is the first time I’ve heard of discretionary benefit. My worker never said anything to me about that in which even though it’s an extra 100.00 would help instead if of me trying to get to food banks when I run out of groceries and beleive me 733.00 isn’t enough to survive the month after paying rent,hydro leaving approximately 118.00 to purchase food and personal hygiene supplies ,cleaning and laundry supplies doesn’t leave much for food that’s for sure. If the Discretionary Benefit was made aware to myself and most people on Assistance we would of definitely applied or asked our workers how to apply because the extra 100. 00 would definitely help with Groceries.
Now here we are in May and you could only apply untill April which doesn’t make sence as we still are in pandemic with restrictions.
I was reading some articles and came across this one and that is how I found out about the Discrectionary Benefit alittle too late. I know a few people on ODSP and OW and no one is made aware of that benefit.
Than you for your time I just wanted to leave my comment on How OFSP and OW Reciputions are not made aware of these benefits and with the amount you are entitled for with OW isn’t enough especially during this pandemic and are struggling to make ends meet.
Thank you
Yvonne Cyr
A friend of mine is trying to live on a net income of $1322.//mth. Which does not cover his rent and food..
He was declined Gains program money or any additional income recently as they told him he makes to much money !!
He is unable to work currently and recently out of the hospital.
What are his options for receiving “some “ additional income?
As he is going deeper in Debt weekly……
First off where is his income coming from? is he on ODSP or OW?
He must be living in a high end place to not have money left for rent or food.
His problem is probably where he is living is to high.
He can try getting extra from the government but like they said he probably making to much money and the answer was no.
I am on ODSP and have problems also, but I only get 1169.00 per month like everyone else is on this site.
Call your member of parliament and see what can be done.
With the average rent for a single bedroom in a shared house around $700/mo and a bachelor or 1 bedroom $1000-$2000/mo in just about every city or town in Ontario why are we on odsp only getting >$500/mo towards rent. No wonder everyone is taking advantage of cerb and the hotels that were turned into rental shelters in Ontario. The rent averages have been at this level for many years yet no one will stand up to demand the government to provide a living income to disabled people. They talk about human rights but we disabled are 2nd class or worse. Where I live it costs about $10 minimum every time you have something delivered or go out to get it by car or cab and there is no viable regular scheduled transit. There is “transit” but it is not very accessible if you are disabled as it only stops at one or two places per town and if you are not close enough to physically get to the stop and don’t own or have access to a car you are out of options.
I’m on ODSP and my roof leaks any help assistants getting a new one
Thank you
Well said
Hi I am on o.d.s.p and I don’t get the 1169. Amount on my chick I get 2065. How come our gov just talk most of our chick and leve us to little to live on its like we r the bad people here not the sickness
Sorry error 1065. Not 2065
where do you live?
How the hell do you get over two grand for two of you but a single mom of 3 and only recieve 1650 which is literally paid directly to my landlord and I dont see a dime st the beginning of the month and I cant afford to feed my kids! Gov is denying me cerb they want proof of income which can 6+ was for them to get thru and crap
guess what if you live in Alberta, and you do not work, the government raises your children for you. there is no mothers allowance past your child being 2. then you get a job or you let the Province Raise your child.
now I am not being rude, but the truth is, basically the truth is the Government passed a law that lets the corporation manufacter their good whereever and sell them in Canada, the candian government get to borrow 30 billion a year from them in exchanged started in 1974.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/a-really-quick-history-of-canada-s-federal-debt
https://www.greaterfool.ca/2018/12/08/the-decline-of-manufacturing/
you will notice they lay all the manufacteror worker off once a decade
What are they paying on the receipt?
How much toward…
rent?
expenses?
utilities?
transportation?
Out of Pocket reimbursement?
miscellaneous?
One, thing is certain. Your taxes are up-to-date.
Thanks for sharing Tracey.
Hello info my friend got cerb on odsp what do I tell her
I am trying to Start a Movement enough is enough, look me up Drakenfyr on Discord, I have a channel, we can fix this just because i am disabled doesnt mean I am not still an INTJ
can you send me a link to your discord plz?
oskiwee@yahoo.ca
You wanna know what the Canadian government thinks of ppl on OW, and ODSP? A bunch of low life’s at the bottom of the barrel that they use as there first means of cutting off in order to give to the higher class richer people. Picking on us they feel no one will care. These pieces of crap in are government swindle money into the millions that gets funneled to there close family. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the story. It was everywhere a few months ago. That pay day his wife got is more money than what everyone on ODSP and OW makes in a year in Toronto and maybe even the whole southern Ontario. Easy to sign off millions to a rich family who will continue getting rich right? This is why you take from rich and fight back ruthlessly.
You are absolutely dead on and did you know that they also say that we don’t deserve a helping hand because we already received money and don’t need to get any more, but people that are or are not working at all get all these benefits except us. This needs to get fixed and in a hurry or you will keep seeing more and more people living on the streets or committing suicide.
I would like to have more knowledge about the cerb payment and what other help the government has to offer
For the record, ODSP has takes 100% of the cerb benefit off of the cheques of people on odsp. Which means that there is only cerb income and not cerb and odsp income. Its been this way for 6-8 months now. CERB is treated as income.
I have been trying to tell people who write here that same thing you’re saying but I guess some just don’t listen
In so sad all the time worried about everything you said …. 2 ppl after rent get 680.00 to love on , I got a 13,800 overpayment from an ex who said I wrecked all our things ! He beat me up I was in 3 womens battered shelters back when they were brand new 1991
First of all everyone eligible and receiving OW/ODSP should automatically receive the increase, not having to apply for it, and/or it be at the discretion of our workers. That’s just bull crap.
Another thing that isn’t fare that Ontarians, who are the highest taxed in Canada period, to have to pay for the CERB, when the rest of Canada is exempting the amount payed. If it’s exempt across the rest of Canada, Ontario should follow suit. I’m so tired of us being the highest taxed and lowest paid from government agencies. They’re there to help people not make them loose everything they’ve worked years to acquire, only to have to sell everything just to get money to pay for shelter, eat, pay your utility bills, or anything else that has put you into this type of situation. My health is in the crapper, and I just almost died over summer of 2020. I just got out of the hospital after 6 months of struggling, can hardly walk and have medical supplies being delivered bi-weekly. The housing I need is a one floor bungalow style with 3 bedrms and the laundry on the main floor. Being on ODSP I only receive approximately $950 for housing.. that is not market rent even for what the city considers market rent; and, most homes fitting that criteria for me are more than my entire cheque, and I’d still have to pay for utilities, food and internet due to covid and my kids having to learn online. These basics just don’t cover the basic cost of living. The housing costs are out of control and that is for a home that is infested with bugs, is out of date and cant run even the basics of our electronics. The government says people should be making $15 / hr; now, if they’re insisting every employer to pay that amount they should at least meet the same criteria per person, per household.
A lot of changes need to be made to our system. ODSP is there for people who no longer can work due to long term or permanent disabilities, we shouldn’t be penalized for all of a sudden becoming disabled. Most of us have worked crap jobs or very good jobs, making excellent money and have worked up a good savings, rrsp’s, not to mention filling our home with the basics and expanding and spoiling ourselves during our time of working. Then when we become disabled, we are penalized, first by the waiting process, by the time you get accepted you’ve lost your car, and have been made to go through all your savings, cash in your rrsp’s and being penalized during tax time, and selling off those extra goodies you worked so hard to get. Some have gotten so behind on bills, borrowing money then not being able to pay the loans, they have to claim bankruptcy and then they lose everything. Why is it when we end up with a disability we are penalized by losing what we worked so hard to get. All these new rules are not updated with people who receive these benefits. Yet its our responsibility to stay updated.. how do we know when the government is making changes, we are not told. And why do the applicants/people receiving these benefits penalized for the errors of the workers.. using “Administrative Errors” as their way of covering their asses for screwing up on their job. We’d get fired over it, they get to pass the buck and make the person who thought they were abiding by all the rules, penalize them for their workers screw up. It’s disgusting and unfair. If done purposely, then I can see penalizing them, but for errors done by the employee.. I don’t think so.
Sorry all over the place with this just a few things that get to me. Also, some people like myself have comprehension and learning issues, not to mention mental issues that impede on remembering and making sure everything is included in most packaging and communications with these agencies. just saying. If I’m wrong I apoligize, not everyone understands everything that is required of them, knows how to implement it, and comprehends what everyone is saying. I may sound somewhat intelligent in what I’m saying in the above, but its taken me all day and I’ve looked up alot of wording to try and get my opinion across.
AMEN!!!
Finally someone thinks like me. I want to say thank you for this and wish that we as OW or ODSP could get more money but we can’t. I wrote a comment about this and the person replied to me as follows :
Highlighted reply
Kaylin Mann
5 days ago
You would continue looking for a job like everyone else. You don’t deserve “ extra money” for being on odsp or OW. The government is already giving support to those people! This is for people that have lost their JOBS or got caught in between jobs when the lock down happened. The government already pays you
Wow I couldn’t believe what I read from this person, umm doesn’t ei get money from government? they get to get 2000.00 but we as a whole can’t get crap even like you said we have to almost start selling stuff we saved up for.
Totally Agree with you my Dear!!! Why is everyone making such demands on us. I am very vulnerable to alot of what society dishes out to us. I am made to feel stupid. And then penalized with less financial assistance. This is no way to live, it makes us even more mentally unstable. Why isnt there help for people who cant even get their affairs in order, to even start the application process of becoming officially disabled. Very very depressing to say the least!!! It really seems like they would rather we all die.
Well said
I would like to address that by saying as a candidate in the last federal election for the riding of Central Hamilton ,I really tried at that time through Twitter to draw attention to the issues of the working poor and those collecting ODSP. I went so far as to state that each person in the riding of Central Hamilton receive $500 a month on top of ODSP without claw back . But even that at this time in history is too little too late. It is not possible to survive in any real way on the amounts that are being given to those collecting ODSP . Why has Mathew Green ignored this issue ? Why is that man in politics when he talks nothing but race…It is all about skin colour nothing more and social justice causes ,while the biggest injustice in the city of Hamilton is being carried on without a word in parliament. He should be standing up and finding the money for his constitutes .Go and find the money and fight for your riding of Central Hamilton …As now he appears close to useless …Sorry but Mathew Green is all talk and no action and this I find an issue when people are staving and going homeless.
Should of Applied for CPP disability, and you wouldn’t of had to suffer the ODSP,
we can talk about this further if you wish,
truth is Canadian Government SOLD US ALL OUT in 1974
I know people on OW who been claiming CERB since it started and live at home with no bills making more than me working. Makes me sick. The gov told people to apply if your unsure but everyone gets approved. Its the gov fault, you cant punish people for it when they apply for something and get approved. You cant even get a 300$ credit card without being approved. You cant let people decide if they are eligible or not for $. Almost seems like theres some agenda behind it all.
Oh and by the way I can not work because of my disability.
So then can you tell me why is it every Tom, Dick and Harry can get this $2000.00 per month when people who are in same position as me on ODSP gets nada, zero,. Are we just fools or people that the government doesn’t give crap about us. I live with $57.00 at end of each month for food and phone which I need and internet.
I wrote to Mr Ford’s office and still have not heard a word from him or his staff.
Please help us get more even if we get an extra 300 – 500 dollars it would help some.
Hey buddy,
Just read your comment on the last year’s debate for every individual who tried to claim or got the recovery benefits that everyone was intitled for
As a result , we are now turning the table around and new announcement shown that every individual who applied for the benefits doesn’t half to pay back . Youtuber updated this you could check it yourself. People who have collected CERBS . Justin Trudeau had mentioned in the press conference in December 2020 that just passed that everyone who recieved benefits and half to pay back asap he had mentioned . Dont worry for now folks have a great holiday will be back with that answer after Jan 2021. So check it out sweety. The guy on youtube by the name of Russal Matthieu this should help you get back on track . Your intitled to getting back your money and also receive those benefits .
I live in Canada too . And people have a hard time calling the automatic retro line 1800,-959-2019 basically you press 1 for English 2 for French .
When they say pls enter your social insurance number don’t write it right away she will say something else when she finish talking after that write your social insurance number by applying you are giving consent ……
Press one to confirm does your postal code end in …..press 1 to confirm
.
…..
Press 1 to confirm sometimes it’s hard to press 1 and it goes back again by saying
By applying sometimes you’re there for 10 mins trying to confirm I press it twice
.she has to say thank you ….
Than hang up
They are trying to get you hooked to get CRB and then when it is deposit time in your account you will see the CRB pay but will see a huge cut in you ODSP deposit like maybe 200.00 or even less. Once the government decides to stop the CRB payments then good luck on trying to get back on ODSP because they want you to re-apply.
I was told this by a lawyer who even said don’t go for it.
I’m on o.d.s.p. and I never applied for cerb benafits . And I was laughed at from my o.d.s.p. worker. And was told I should of applied I was intuddeled to it. And I said hows is that possible I didnt work, he said I was still intuddeled to it!!! Now I have all his emails whare he tells me all what I’m saying here. This is a government worker telling me out right to brake the law!!! I havent worked in ten years and he new this. What about those o.d.s.p. people that didnt apply because thay new it was wrong!! Now u want to say you should let evryone off who applied for the cerb and i fully agree!!!! But I belive u should be also fighting for the ones that didnt apply and had to live in poverty through this pandemic while the same people lived like a normal Canadian as we all should in this time of uncertainty. Why not fight to get us money recturactivly!!!!!!
hi grace if you have cpp disability you are also to get odsp but the odsp will claw back from ccp disability.
I thought that if you got one you were not able to get the other. CPP is a lot less then ODSP plus you miss out on some benifits from CPP then you do ODSP
agreed !! you have to give these people a break that is trying to work to get ahead. i love working and i think most people would like to work but its hard, but the people that are trying they dont want to go back to disablilty or o.w. they will like working and get back into the working community. help these guys dont try and strip them of so much money.
my beef is you gave us $100, for 4 months. how ignorant is it to take that away from us. it is still covid time, we are told to go to one store , so you cant always get just sale items. everything has gone up and its not coming back down. that 100. dollars should never be taken away from us like they did. its so hard to eat good
What is the liberal government doing about the poorer old age pensioners who during the Covid-19 pandemic are really strap for a little financial help from the liberal government.
This Trudeau government seem to be helping everyone except seniors. these people were given two little top up since July-2021 and was not mention in any other hand out the government issue.
I can see even the refugee are better off than the seniors, when will Canada start thinking of those poor seniors who is barely able to keep a roof over their heads.
My conclusion is i guess this government is trying its best to put more seniors in the street.
‘@Kenneth Dafoe:
How can you get CERB if you are on ODSP? are you on ODSP for ever or just a time being?
When I contacted a lawyer they said that because I am on ODSP I CAN NOT collect it.I am on ODSP and it is because of my illness. So do you think that others like me should apply?
To argue the meaning of what constitutes a sales job is semantics! As in my own personal observation how Justine Trudeau sold the original CERB relieve checks seemed deceitful with the intent to deceive those that might have been in need of financial assistance. The CERB program seemed to be created originally to gain the attention of those that needed it regardless of whether that person was working or not! Trudeau in my opinion knowingly oversold the program in a knowingly confusing way with that intent in mind. I think Trudeau lacked altruism when he implemented the program and cared little about those effected and or displaced by the lock downs.
When Loblaws originally agreed to pay danger pay to there employees who might come into contact with the corona virus only to end the program extremely early in the pandemic it seemed indicative of a public relations move at the time and not one out of concern for the working poor who found themselves laid off because of the actions of the Trudeau government.
It is now February 9 2021 and in hind sight and taking into account everything that has transpired I think Justine Trudeau should be ashamed by how he has handled those who have been affected .
He could have claimed his actions where pure and just if those that needed the money originally where given the funds without any stipulation other than they where effected disportionitly by the sole actions of the Trudeau government.
I think the virus was a exscuse to impose restrictions on Canadians that might other wise have been unavailable!
The actions from day one by the current Liberal government are abhorrent and pathetic to say the least.
Our Government, has Destroyed the Social Assistance Program that Was Created because Our corporation no longer want to Pay the Canadian to manufacture the Good they Sell us. I hypothesis that it is the Corps are Saving 83% of their Labor costs, and they want to only pay 15% tax after they write off hordes of expenses.
If you are on ODSP so What isn’t it still a human Right to have Shelter, and if you earned $5000 and you are disabled you will earn $1586 a month before tax and ODSP work Deductions, In 1992 the ODSP rate was $1586 the difference is it cost me $2 for a 600ml of Pepsi and i chocolate Bar, whereas the Same store they want
$4.95 for the same Pepsi and Wonder bar. So what they have Done next is Drove the Price of Food and Rent so the Meddle class is suffering also, and the Middle class are too busy Working to makes a fuss, and this just keep getting worse and worse.
I’m a odsp recipient and claimed 6000 of the cerb benefits I’m a single father of a 5 yr old daughter and worried about the clawback we need this to stop ASAP
Cerb was ment for those who lost there jobs because of the pandemic, if u claimed under odsp and ow then thats your own fault and it even says that it was for those who lost there jobs during covid, I am on odsp I had a friend on ow applied for cerb and they are now paying for it, I think they could’ve handled it better and denie those who are on assistants like myself but I didnt apply because I read the actual terms on what it was ment for I’m sorry times are tough but you took it upon yourself to apply for something you weren’t eligible for to begin with, I think they should’ve made sonething else for those who are on odsp and ow and thats there screw up I dont veiw this as the government taking advantage of us on odsp or ow you knew what it was ment for yet you applied anyways why should the government lose out when Ontario as a hole is in debt or hell even Canada thats why our dollar is so low and like I said I am on odsp but I show no symphony for those who didnt read the cerb properly and I will say again they should’ve denied those on odsp or ow especially if u weren’t working to begin with and made a separate thing for those on odsp or ow to spare the confusion and consequences for applying
Im on odsp and I am the lease holder of a 2 bedroom apartment can I fill the odsp intent of rent form out