Budget 2009

Recommendations from ISAC's Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

January 15, 2009

The Government’s commitment to reducing poverty provides Ontarians with a long-awaited opportunity to start building a more just and prosperous province. The creation and implementation of the PRS, as Government as acknowledged, is a long process. Therefore, both short and long-term strategies to address poverty in Ontario must be undertaken.

Recommendation #1: ISAC recommends that the income of people on social assistance be immediately increased by a minimum of $100/month per adult through either an increase to the basic needs allowance or through a universal benefit to all low-income people.

Recommendation #2: The budget must adequately fund the Social Assistance Review so that it can be conducted in an effective and thorough manner that will ensure success.

Recommendation #3: The budget must fund the cost of increasing the asset level that Ontario Works recipients are allowed to keep to be and remain eligible for benefits.

Recommendation #4: ISAC recommends increasing the maximum Ontario Child Benefit payment to $92 per child per month in the 2009 budget and increasing it to $125 per child per month in the 2010 budget. These increases should be available to all families with children regardless of source of income. The increases should not be offset by decreases to social assistance rates.

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