Speaker, my question is to the Premier.

Conservatives have pushed Ontarians living with disabilities into legislated poverty. After Mike Harris’s callous cuts in the 1990s people are worse off now than ever, and part of that is due to Liberal neglect.

People on ODSP can barely afford housing, but especially now, healthy food. The Middlesex-London Health Unit is sending a letter urgently requesting that the province raise social assistance rates. The medical officer of health, Dr. Alex Summers, and CEO Emily Williams stated, “Food insecurity has a pervasive impact on health; and there is a need for income-based solutions.”

Will this government listen to experts and lift ODSP recipients out of poverty, yes or no?

My question is to the Premier. This government announced that the earning exemption for ODSP recipients will be raised to $1,000. While this was a step in the right direction, it still does not address the issues of clawbacks from other benefits, such as CPP disability.

After hearing about the government’s announcement about how it’s going to help his ODSP amount, a constituent, Shah Hamidi, reached out to our office with confusion. Our government is clawing back his CPP disability income to continue to keep him in poverty. My question to the Premier: Premier, you know the harsh reality that those with disabilities face. They’re barely surviving. Why is your government continuing to means-test ODSP and forcing people to live in legislated poverty?

The earning exemption does nothing for spousal income either.

Another constituent of mine, Thomas Robinson, receives lower monthly income payments because of the program’s cuts to his ODSP due to his wife’s income—who, by the way, works precarious hours—leaving him with just $300 to $400 per month. So instead of barely surviving with the insufficient disability benefits and his wife’s income, Thomas is punished because of his wife, who works precarious hours, and he’s trying to pay the bills.

Speaker, my question again to the Premier is why has this government done nothing for people like Thomas and Hamidi who are unable to survive on a program designed to fail people with disabilities and their families?