Provincial Funding Cuts – Our Communities at Risk
Make Your Concerns Known
Great news. Premier Doug Ford has reversed his government’s announced plan to cut funding for public health, land ambulances and childcare funding in 2019. This is an encouraging sign that he will respond when residents express their concerns about the impact of reductions in social programs. However, there are signs that proper funding for these important services may still be at risk in 2020 and beyond.
We encourage you to write to your MPP and to Premier Ford to let them know how important it is that plans to cut public health, land ambulances and childcare funding have been reversed because you value these services. Join with members of Ottawa City Council to let the Provincial Government know that there needs to be meaningful conversations with cities and communities to fully understand the impacts of any future funding reductions.
At the same time, you can express your concerns about other cuts that were announced in the 2019 Provincial Budget:
- Legal Aid Ontario –The provincial government has cut funding to Legal Aid Ontario by 35%. Because of that, Legal Aid Ontario is cutting funding to community legal clinics by 16%. These cuts are retroactive to April 1st and they are just the start. The cuts to Legal Aid Ontario will continue to increase, reaching 45% by 2021 – which will mean more cuts to funding for community legal clinics.
- Children’s Aid Societies – funding cuts to the 49 Children’s Aid Societies that serve and protect vulnerable children.
- Transition Child Benefit – plan to eliminate this fund, which provides up to $230 per month, per child in families receiving social assistance benefits who are not receiving the Ontario and Canada Child Benefits, such as refugee claimants.
- Social Assistance spending on benefits and services to some of the Ontario’s most vulnerable people is being reduced by 11%. This, along with redefining who qualifies for Ontario Disability Support Program benefits, leaves people living with disabilities and people on Ontario Works with uncertainty.
- Ontario Arts Council funding reductions will impact the Indigenous Culture Fund that provides opportunities to reclaim teachings and cultural practices.
Making Our Voices Count - the health of our city and our communities depend upon it.