NDP wins vote to use evidence, not politics, to set social assistance rates

QUEEN’S PARK — NDP MPP Paul Miller’s long fight to remove the politics from social assistance and establish an evidence-based process to set rates came one step closer to reality Thursday.

Bill 60 seeks to establish a Social Assistance Research Commission to set social assistance rates in Ontario.

“People struggling to get by on disability supports or social assistance have fallen victim to the callous cuts and inaction by previous governments,” said Miller. “Social assistance rates are arbitrary with no framework, no research, and no evidence to inform decision-making. Now, our most vulnerable populations are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet while living on social assistance, facing skyrocketing living costs with little relief.

“It’s time to use evidence to set social assistance rates, not politics.”

The bill ensures that social assistance rates are determined by the cost of necessities in a particular region, additional expenses incurred by individuals living with disabilities in order for them to fully participate in society, and additional expenses incurred by people who face long-term barriers to employment.

Miller has been fighting to establish a Social Assistance Research Commission since 2016.

“We need to do so much better for the most vulnerable people in our province,” said Miller. “New Democrats will continue to partner with people throughout Ontario and bring relief to those living on social assistance.”

Miller said he will continue to press the Conservatives to ensure that Bill 60 continues to move through the legislative process.