To: Premier Doug Ford; Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa; and all Members of Provincial Parliament

Ontario’s social assistance system is failing the very people it was designed to protect.

A single person on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) currently receives up to about $1,400 per month. This is expected to cover rent, food, transportation, clothing, and disability-related expenses.

It is not enough.

At the same time, the government points to policy improvements—like allowing people to earn up to $1,000 per month without clawbacks—as proof the system is working.

But this reveals the truth:

If people are allowed to earn an extra $1,000 just to get by, then the base support is already too low.

This is not a safety net. It is a system that keeps people in survival mode.

 
What this looks like in real life:

Choosing between rent and food
Being unable to replace essential items like winter clothing
Having to justify basic needs through paperwork and approvals
Living with constant financial stress and no ability to save
This is not dignity.

 
Many people on ODSP and Ontario Works are not “dependent” on the system by choice.

They are:

Workers who paid into the system
People who became disabled or faced crisis
Individuals fleeing abuse or recovering from loss
They have not lost their work ethic, identity, or value.

But the system treats them as a cost to minimize—not people to support.

 
Dignity means more than survival.

It means:

Being able to afford basic living costs
Having the ability to save even a small amount
Participating in society without shame
Living with stability—not constant crisis
 
We are calling on the Government of Ontario to:

✔ Raise ODSP and Ontario Works rates to reflect the real cost of living (minimum $2,000/month)
✔ Reduce barriers and excessive administrative requirements
✔ Replace patchwork supports with stable, livable base income
✔ Create real pathways to education, recovery, and employment

 
Ontario is one of the wealthiest provinces in Canada.

No one should be forced to live without dignity.

If you believe the current system is enough—try living on it.

 
Sign this petition to demand a livable income and dignity for all Ontarians.

Created by The Dignity Collective