NDP MPP Michael Prue blasted Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s assertion that Ontario’s social assistance rates will not increase until the Fall due to a “computer system”.

“All Ontarians ought to be outraged by this blame game. The Minister is callously using the crutch of a faulty computer system to explain why social assistance recipients have to wait several months to get a measly two per cent increase in their benefits. Minister Duncan should be ashamed of himself,” fumed Prue.

Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath has called on the McGuinty government to end its “cutthroat” bidding process to enable two respected, non-profit home care agencies to continue providing service in the Hamilton-Niagara Region.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur
Minister of Community & Social Services
6th Floor Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON
M7A 1E9

Dear Madame Meilleur,

I am writing to you regarding Ms. Cheryl Patterson whose story was featured in today’s Toronto Star. We raised Ms. Patterson’s case to highlight the deplorable practice by your government of clawing back children’s Orphan’s Benefits from Ontario Works’ assistance.

Hamilton East MPP Andrea Horwath says the timing for mailing out disability support cheques puts people with disabilities and low incomes in deeper financial trouble.

In the statement marking to provincial legislature marking the International Day of Disabled Persons, Horwath urged the McGuinty government to make allowances for the fact that Ontario Disability Support Plan cheques arrive after the deadline for paying hydro bills has passed, prompting ODSP clients to be hit with unaffordable late penalties and security deposits “through no fault of their own.”

NDP Leader Howard Hampton says working families are struggling to stay above the poverty line and are increasingly turning to food banks under the McGuinty Liberals – more than any other province in Canada.

Hamilton East MPP Andrea Horwath says Dalton McGuinty’s refusal to restore the full special diet allowance to a Hamilton resident with debilitating Lou Gehrig’s disease is an insult to people who need help affording food for medical reasons.