Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Aug 27

Ontario’s new Integrated Employment Services (IES) promised to help all job seekers find sustainable employment. But new data analysis reveals a troubling reality: The system is systematically failing social assistance recipients and other equity-deserving groups.

maytree.com/publications...

Ontario's employment services are failing those in greatest need

The new Integrated Employment Services (IES) system promises to help job seekers find sustainable employment. But new data reveals the system is failing social assistance recipients.

maytree.com

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Aug 11

Dougald Lamont’s Substack

At a Time of Global Crisis, the Carney Liberals' Rite-Lite Plans Are a Recipe for Economic Disaster
#Economics
open.substack.com/pub/dougaldl...

At a Time of Global Crisis, the Carney Liberals' Rite-Lite Plans Are a Recipe for Economic Disaster

Instead of New Thinking to Meet the Moment, Carney in Canada and Labour in the UK are trapped by the Same Blinkered and Broken Policies that Got Us Here.

open.substack.com

ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Aug 3

Hospital stay can cost over $16k, & a yr in jail can cost over $120,000.

Supportive housing w/wraparound care? About $20,000 a year.

The math isn’t complicated.

We can pay for survival, over and over again. Or we can invest in stability.

#HousingCrisis
www.thesarniajournal.ca/opinion/ever...

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Aug 1

This report establishes a clear case for govts in Cda to completely decouple employment income from provincial & federal #DisabilityBenefits.

Moving away from traditional clawback models will help people w/disabilities reach their potential & escape the "poverty trap"! #Cdnpoli
buff.ly/8FeIzbA

Additional Resources – Breaking it Down

breakingitdown.neads.ca

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Jul 10

REPORT: Ont’s so-called Poverty Reduction Strategy has failed

#Poverty is rising w/more & more ppl unable to afford necessities for a dignified life, incl. those w/jobs

This is the direct result of myopic govt policies. We need a new path forward
#ONpoli

maytree.com/publications...

Poverty rising: How Ontario’s strategy failed

Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy 2020-2025 failed to reduce poverty. Quite the opposite, in fact.

maytree.com

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Reposted by ODSP ActionCoalition

hamiltonroundtable.bsky.social @hamiltonroundtable.bsky.social · Jun 10

June's webinar is on the Canada Disability Benefit. It's an update on the benefit and what we still need to do to make it as accessible as possible.
Free zoom registration: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Jun 6

Tell your MPP & Ford govt Ontario needs to

🟣 Bring Back Full Rent Control
🔶 Strengthen Tenant Rights
🟣 Expand Public Housing
🔶 Increase Income Security
🟣 Support Dignified Housing for All

Full mandate letter: buff.ly/BkLepxl

Send Renter Mandate Letter to your MPP & Ford govt: buff.ly/IkpjVsz

Resources – Fair Rent Ontario

buff.ly

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · May 29

Yes, 2.8%, will be on July's cheque (end of July)

ontario.ca/page/ontario...

Ontario is increasing ODSP rates by 2.8% effective July 2025
Protecting Ontarians starts with safeguarding our social services.

This is the fourth rate increase since we tied ODSP rates to inflation in September 2022. Rates have increased by a total of 20% since then.

The 2025 inflation-based increase to ODSP will take effect on July 1, 2025. People receiving ODSP will see an inflation-based increase of 2.8% to:

basic needs and shelter maximum amounts for singles and families
board and lodge amounts for singles and families
the amount provided for a couple where both have disabilities
amounts for services provided by a Long-Term Care Home or a Specialized Care Residence
For example, effective July 2025, if you are a single person, your payment could be up to $1,408 for basic needs and shelter.

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · May 29

Rally held outside Queen’s Park over Bill 6 which criminalizes #homelessness and conflates it with addiction.

Thank you @dianacmcnally.bsky.social for your tireless efforts organizing & pushing back against this harmful & dangerous piece of legislation.
#ONpoli
cp24.com/video/2025/0...

Rally held outside Queen’s Park over bill critics say targets encampments, public drug use

Members of the Encampment Justice Coalition formed a rally outside of Queen’s Park to speak out against the Ford government’s Bill 6.

cp24.com

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · May 27

Ontario govt has officially announced that they will exempt the #CanadaDisabilityBenefit as income under #ODSP, #OW & ACSD.
#ONpoli
👇
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

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Reposted by ODSP ActionCoalition

Diana Chan McNally @dianacmcnally.bsky.social · May 20

My latest op-ed for @thestar.com: when it comes to encampments, Doug Ford is looking south of the border when he should be looking west. Ontario is importing failed American policies to punish homelessness, while Manitoba is doing what works: housing people. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Doug Ford’s America-inspired solution to homelessness won’t work. This will

While Manitoba is instructing us on a "Made in Canada" approach to homelessness that works, Premier Ford is modelling dysfunctional policies championed by an irrational American president.

www.thestar.com

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · May 1

TO's #homeless encampments are up 20% — expanding into areas they've never been before

A whopping 248 tents & other makeshift structures were counted across 81 locations as of Mar 15th, up from 202 camps in 72 locations the same day in 2024.
#ONpoli

thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

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Reposted by ODSP ActionCoalition

Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · May 1

Ontario has reintroduced Bill 6, which will punish encampments even though people have nowhere else to go. That's why we've formed the Encampment Justice Coalition. We're asking Ontario to rescind Bill 6 and commit to housing — not punishment. Read more: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6

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Reposted by ODSP ActionCoalition

Diana Chan McNally @dianacmcnally.bsky.social · May 1

Today, I released a letter, signed by 67 organizations working across Ontario, asking the Ford government to rescind Bill 6. We can't adopt Trumpian policies to punish encampments; people need proven solutions — especially housing. Read our letter: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Apr 30

The so-called 'Safer Municipalities Act' (previously Bill 242), which essentially criminalizes being #homeless, & conflates homelessness & addiction, is back.

With nowhere else to go, clearing encampments only moves the misery from one place to another 🤷
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Apr 21

What Happened to #Poverty as an #Election Issue?

Despite the growing number of Canadians struggling to make enough money to feed, clothe and house themselves, the word “poverty” has seldom been uttered on the campaign trail.

thetyee.ca/News/2025/04...

What Happened to Poverty as an Election Issue? | The Tyee

As politicians fixate on an anxious middle class, millions of Canadians are left out of the conversation.

thetyee.ca

6 10

Reposted by ODSP ActionCoalition

Frazer 🇨🇦 🇳🇿 @heyfrazer.bsky.social · Apr 7

Far too many Canadians live one paycheque away from homelessness. #EndTheHousingGame this election.

#cdnpoli #canadavotes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPLR...

www.endthehousinggame.ca/watch-share

We're Ending the Housing Game. Are you in?

YouTube video by Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness

www.youtube.com

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Mar 18

BLOG: How income clawbacks work in the real world of social and income assistance

If the #CanadaDisabilityBenefit had been implemented as a refundable tax credit as many of us advocated for, we could have avoided a variety of negative interactions/impacts

openpolicyontario.com/whats-it-all...

What’s it all about, AFNI? | Open Policy Ontario

How income clawbacks work in the real world of social and income assistance Many disability and poverty activists are wondering what provinces and territories will do when it comes to the treatment of...

openpolicyontario.com

ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Feb 24

Lost her job 2 yrs ago, 56 yr old couldn't find another, had to sell her house & became homeless for 4 days before renting a room in her daughter's apt.

She only receives $800/mo from #OW.

She's not healthy & isn't watching The Flintstones!
#ONpoli
www.mississauga.com/politics/pro...

Ontario election parties pitch affordability plans as food insecurity rises in Peel Region

Ontario parties unveil affordability plans as food insecurity affects nearly one in four Peel residents.

www.mississauga.com

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Feb 19

If a recipient is homeless, when they're rock bottom and need the most help they receive less, only 'basic needs' which for OW is only $343/mo. 🤦

Reposted by ODSP ActionCoalition

Erin Caton @caton.bsky.social · Feb 17

Happy #FamilyDay! LGBTQ+ youth have disproportionately high rates of homelessness. Call upon all the candidates to ask what they are doing to protect the rights of homeless youth and provide housing so they can grow up healthy. Vote for a party that protects families on February 27th.

I can’t afford an apartment anywhere. Nobody in Ontario wants to live in an encampment. But without affordable housing, it’s not a choice.

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Feb 19

From our understanding, Lib's indicated they'd double ODSP over two years, but saw nothing from them regarding increasing/doubling OW, which is badly needed. Have a link/source? Thanks!

ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Feb 13

Ford was asked about potentially doubling ODSP

He responded by attacking recipients of OW, claiming "healthy people" are defrauding the system of $733/month.

Number one, you’re not going to be healthy if you’re living on 733/month.
#OutOfTouch #ONpoli
pressprogress.ca/doug-ford-cr...

Doug Ford Criticized for Out-of-Touch Comments Comparing Ontario Works Recipients to Lazy Youths Watching ‘The Flintstones’ Cartoons at Home

Ontario PC leader says unemployed workers “sit on the couch and watch The Flintstones” instead of looking for jobs

pressprogress.ca

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Jan 13

With great sadness & heavy hearts we learned our long-standing Co-chair, and social worker w/TorontoPWA, Kyle Vose, passed away this morning.

Thank you Kyle for teaching us to advocate with passion, and lead with kindness and love.

Rest easy dear friend. We'll take it from here 😰

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ODSP ActionCoalition @odspaction.bsky.social · Jan 6

11 Ways to Respond When Someone Insults a Loved One’s Disability 🤔

time.com/7202210/disa...

11 Ways to Respond When Someone Insults a Loved One's Disability

“I’m going to assume that came from a place of ignorance.”

time.com

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