Petition: Restore Dignity and Spending Power to Social Assistance in Ontario

To: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario

WHEREAS the current rates for social assistance in Ontario (Ontario Works and ODSP) have failed to keep pace with the basic cost of living for decades;

WHEREAS the last significant, non-inflationary increase provided by a provincial government occurred 36 years ago in 1985, followed by a devastating 21.6% cut in 1995 that rates have never recovered from;

WHEREAS a single individual on Ontario Works is expected to survive on approximately $733 per month—a figure that has remained largely frozen while the cost of housing, food, and utilities has skyrocketed;

WHEREAS the spending power of these funds has decreased by an estimated 150% when adjusted for the actual cost of survival in 2026 compared to 1990;

WHEREAS it is mathematically impossible to secure housing and basic nutrition in any Ontario municipality on $100 for "basic needs" when the average rent for a bachelor apartment far exceeds the total monthly benefit;

THEREFORE, we the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

Immediate Rate Increase: Transition Ontario Works and ODSP rates to a floor that matches the Low Income Measure (LIM) to ensure no Ontarian is forced to live in absolute poverty.

Inflation Indexing: Legislate a mandatory annual increase for all social assistance components (including Basic Needs and Shelter allowances) tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

End the Frozen Status: Recognize that the "frozen" rates since the 1990s have created a humanitarian crisis in our province and act immediately to restore the purchasing power lost over the last three decades.

THEREFORE, we the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

Restore 1993 Standards: Immediately increase Ontario Works and ODSP rates to match the purchasing power of the 1993 peak, adjusted for 2026 inflation.

Close the 150% Gap: Commit to a permanent, livable floor for social assistance that recognizes the massive drop in spending power over the last three decades.

Mandatory Annual Indexing: Legislate that all social assistance benefits must be automatically adjusted every year to match the Consumer Price Index (CPI) so that the value of these funds never again erodes over time. 

Sincerely 

Eric A Snider