Ontario Greens will end legislated poverty

February 6, 2025

GUELPH — Ontario Greens announced a Plan to End Legislated Poverty by immediately raising ODSP and OW rates and getting rid of unfair clawbacks, and building 310,000 affordable homes.

“Poverty in Ontario is escalating at an alarming rate,” said Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner.

“More than 80,000 people in our province experienced homelessness in 2024, up 25 percent since 2022. Over the past two years, food bank usage in Ontario has increased by 78 per cent.”

“Doug Ford isn’t just failing to solve the problem – he’s making it worse by keeping Ontarians with disabilities locked in legislated poverty.

“Monthly payments for those on the Ontario Disability Support Program have increased by just 4.5 percent since 2018, and Ontario Works rates have remained at 2018 levels. When the average rent in Ontario is $1,600, how is anyone supposed to survive on just $1,368 on ODSP, or $731 on OW?

“People with disabilities shouldn’t have to choose between keeping a roof over their head or putting food on the table.”

Ontario Greens Plan to End Legislated Poverty would:

• Immediately double Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) rates and tie all future increases to inflation;
• Get rid of aggressive and unfair clawbacks, including clawbacks from the Canada Disability Benefit; and
• Work with nonprofits to build 310,000 new affordable non profit and co-op homes, including 60,000 supportive homes with wraparound supports

-30-