Title: Stop the Confiscation of Federal Disability Grants

The Issue:

Every year, post-secondary students with disabilities in Ontario are being unfairly penalized by a systemic policy shift. Since 2021, the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) has targeted the Canada Student Grant for Disabilities and Services and Equipment (CSG-DSE)—specifically the disability portion formerly known as the CSG-D.

The Evidence:

The Policy Shift: From 2009 to 2021, Ontario treated the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities as fully exempt income. In 2021, the Director of Income Maintenance reversed this policy.
The Bundle Trap: The disability grant is now bundled under the name CSG-DSE. While the federal government issues this as a unified grant, the Province treats a portion of this bundle as "non-exempt," leading to dollar-for-dollar clawbacks.

The Legal Challenge:

This practice is currently the subject of a Class Action lawsuit (Court File No. CV-24-00727226-00CP). The claim, filed by Sotos LLP and Ross & McBride LLP, alleges that this clawback is a breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Impact: By seizing portions of federal disability grants, the Province is creating a systemic barrier to education. Students are being forced into financial crisis simply for trying to better their lives through schooling.

Our Demand: We call on the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to:

Restore the Exemption for the disability portion of the CSG-DSE bundle, returning to the policy standards used between 2009 and 2021.
Cease Retroactive Overpayments: Stop penalizing students for funds that the federal government intended for their educational success.
Respect Federal Intent: Align provincial policy with the federal purpose of the disability grant: to remove barriers.
 
Disclaimer: This petition is intended to highlight a specific policy gap between provincial and federal funding for students with disabilities. The author of this petition is not a legal authority and does not offer legal advice. For questions regarding specific legal rights or the ongoing class action, please contact a qualified legal professional.