It’s my honour to present the following petition on behalf of Dr. Sally Palmer. This petition is entitled “To Raise Social Assistance Rates.” Across Ontario, people living on social assistance are living in legislated poverty. As the petition points out, the current social assistance rates are well below the poverty line.

It also asks the question: Why was the basic income, instituted during the pandemic through CERB of $2,000 a month, made standard for others, while social assistance is dramatically lower? It points out that rates are unfair, unreasonable and inhumane. It calls upon this government to do the right thing, listen to its common humanity and double social assistance rates.

I fully support this petition, will affix my signature and deliver it with page Sophia to the Clerks.

This petition is entitled “Raise Social Assistance Rates,” and it’s addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It talks about how social assistance rates, which include Ontario Works and ODSP, are well below the poverty line. The $733 for somebody on Ontario Works is simply not enough to survive in this province. The $1,300 for people with disabilities on ODSP is also not enough. You can barely rent a room for that amount of money, let alone take care of somebody or have somebody live with a disability.

They’ve written an open letter to the Premier and cabinet ministers. They have had this signed by thousands and thousands of Ontarians. They want to double the ODSP and Ontario Works rates. The Ontario Works rates—it has to be more than doubled, minimum. It also talks about how—

I fully endorse this petition, and I will affix my signature and pass it to page Farah to take to the table.