NDP MPP Paul Miller, Hamilton East – Stoney Creek, and grandparents across Ontario have won!

After weeks of demanding the Minister of Community and Social Services rescind her new July eligibility criteria for Temporary Care Assistance (TCA), the Ministry has issued a November 24 memorandum to Ontario Works Administrators. The memorandum now says that: “The TCA policy guidelines were updated to provide enhanced information regarding the factors Administrators may consider in determining eligibility on a case-by-case basis.”

“Administrators now have the go-ahead to rescind their cut-off communications and keep families on the TCA program,” Miller said.

“The fiasco caused by the Minister’s July eligibility criteria change has done nothing but cause extreme stress on these families, already caring for at-risk children,” added Miller.

“But, this is only half the job that the Minister needs to do. When the grandparents of ROCK (Raising Our Children’s Kids) met with the Minister in June, they asked that families cut off TCA since 2004 be reinstated and that families whose applications were denied since 2004, now have their applications accepted. This is the next battle with this Minister.”

In a question to the Minister today in the Legislature, Miller implored: “It is almost Christmas, will the Minister respond to the season and direct that another memorandum be sent to ensure Temporary Care Assistance eligibility for all grandchildren? Will the Minister, issue a directive clearly stating that those families cut-off TCA since 2004 be reinstated and that those applications not accepted since 2004, now be accepted?”