(PETERBOROUGH) - Staff with the Ontario Disability
Support Program are speaking out against downloading ODSP from the
province to municipalities. They are members of the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union and are holding public events before work or
during their lunch hours.
What: Distribution of flyers followed by a
march
When: Wednesday, May 23
What time: Noon - 1 p.m.
Where: Peterborough Square
March from there to Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal’s office 236 King St.
The union is concerned that a provincial Commission
examining social assistance will recommend combining ODSP with
Ontario Works in its final report expected in June. This will lead
to inconsistent delivery across the province with clients getting
more or less help depending on where they live, according to the
union.
“ODSP is about a lot more than simply income
support,” says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “Our members
advise and counsel clients to help them achieve their potential and
participate in the community and workforce. They celebrate a lot of
successes with their clients.” It’s premature and counterproductive
to take the system in an entirely new direction before a recent
customer service overhaul is fully implemented and evaluated, says
Thomas. The overhaul was designed to end delays and provide
long-term, seamless support to clients.
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