Thank you to the minister for her response. Our government’s track record of supporting those who depend on social assistance is clear. In response to our recent program transformation, the CEO of Community Living Ontario, Chris Beesley, stated that these changes are “a signal from the government, that they are listening” and that “this is a definite step in the right direction.” While these words are encouraging, we all know that there is more to be done to support those on social assistance.

Speaker, once again, can the minister please explain what further actions our government is taking to improve the experience of people on ODSP?

Thank you to the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston for the very good question. He is absolutely right: Our government is making a long overdue transformation of the ODSP, a program that has faced challenges for many years. Earlier this fall, we made the largest increase to ODSP rates in decades. But our work was not done there, and we knew it. That’s why, two weeks ago, we announced the first-ever annual alignment of ODSP rates to inflation. Each of these measures will make a real difference in people’s lives.

This year’s increase in rates is putting money in the pockets of people who need it most to cover life’s essentials, and tying rates to inflation means people can be assured that their ODSP rates will keep up.

Speaker, this is important work and our government will continue to do it.

I’m honoured to be able to present this petition to the House to raise social assistance rates.

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate to cover the rising cost of food and rent: $733 for individuals on OW and soon $1,227 for ODSP;

“Whereas an open letter to the Premier and two cabinet ministers, signed by over 230 organizations, recommends that social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP);

“Whereas the recent small budget increase of 5% for ODSP still leaves these citizens well below the poverty line, both they and those receiving the frozen OW rates continue struggling to live during a period of alarming inflation;

“Whereas the government of Canada recognized in its CERB program that a basic income of $2,000 per month was the standard support required by individuals who lost their employment during the pandemic;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for OW and ODSP.”

I am honoured to affix my name to this. I will send it down to the table with page Kennedy.