Facilitator’s Guide for a Workshop on the Social Assistance Review

Facilitator’s Guide for a Workshop on the Social Assistance Review

ISAC has produced some great materials, that I'm excited to use during the next "Community Conversations" I facilitate later this summer.

Interested in organizing in your community around Ontario’s Social Assistance Review this summer?

Not sure where to begin or want some support? You’re not alone!

That’s why the ODSP Action Coalition, with support from the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) and the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, has developed a Facilitator’s Guide for a workshop on the Social Assistance Review.

And we’re sharing it with YOU!

If you’re a community leader or working at a community-based organization – and you’re planning to organize a discussion about the Review – you may find our facilitator’s guide a very valuable tool.

Here’s the Facilitator’s Guide:

• SAR Workshop Facilitator’s Guide
• Le Guide d’animation sera disponible en français a compter du 18 juillet.

To facilitate the workshop, you will need to download the following documents:

• PowerPoint – Effective Advocacy Presentation
• Discussion Question – Social Assistance Rules
• Discussion Questions – Employment Supports
• Discussion Questions – Money
• Activity Sheet – One change
• Activity Sheet – Effective Advocacy
• Handout – Effective Advocacy Slides
• Commission’s Discussion Paper – this link will take you to the Commission’s website

These are documents that you can use and/or provide to workshop participants:

• Flyer – Workshop Flyer Template - just add your own details in the highlighted areas
• Membership Form – ODSP Action Coalition
• Info Sheet – Effective Advocacy Tips
• Info Sheet – Participating in the Social Assistance Review
• Info Sheet – Information about ODSPAC-ISAC-SSO

In preparing to facilitate the workshop and when writing your workshop report, you may find some of the following materials helpful:

• ODSP Action Coalition’s Submission to the Commission
• Backgrounder – Overview and Analysis for the Workshop
• ISAC Report on the IPPR’s “Welfare to Work” symposium
• ISAC: Principles Behind Poverty Reduction
• Additional materials from ISAC will be linked here as they are produced – watch this space for more!

We invest in roads; why not people?

We invest in roads; why not people?
The Hamilton Spectator
July 5, 2011

Hightlights:

In sum, higher benefits, better training, accessible child care and affordable housing are all areas where making further investments would allow us to achieve the far greater and dynamic economic benefits made possible by our existing investments. Be it the Kubursi report or the story of the child-care system that pays for itself, it is clear that investing in people is like investing in roads. To treat it as money wasted is to ignore the evidence, and to forego our greater prosperity.

Inadequate social assistance costs us plenty

Inadequate social assistance costs us plenty
July 8th, 2011 issue
The Kitchener Record

Hightlights:

As of December 2010, the average single individual supported by Ontario Works was receiving $592 per month, the equivalent of working full-time for $3.70 per hour — and a full $6.55 less than minimum wage. Yet this amount is expected to cover food, housing, transportation and all incidental expenses while the recipient seeks employment.

In April 2011, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimated the average rent for a bachelor apartment in Waterloo Region at $603 per month—that’s $11 more than the average recipient of Ontario Works is allocated for all of their monthly expenses. This tells us that, even without eating, the average person on social assistance cannot afford the average cost of the smallest dwelling on the housing market.

Social Assistance Review: Report from the Field on London Consultation

http://www.povertyfreeontario.ca/2011/07/04/social-assistance-review-report-from-the-field-on-london-consultation-june-29-2011/

Guess I spoke too soon - a report regarding the London whistle stop of the Commission was posted on the Poverty Free Ontario blog today:

The Social Assistance Review Commissioners spent Tuesday, June 29 in London, Ontario.

A breakfast meeting with the commissioners and key sectoral leaders from the community was followed by two half-day facilitated “conversation cafes” with a tour of three agencies over the lunch – My Sisters Place, London Inter-Community Health Centre, and the Men’s Mission.

The conversation cafes were structured around the five issues plus a sixth table to surface “other issues.” Invitations were sent out broadly in the community with specific asks to advocates to see if individuals with lived experience in OW/ODSP worlds would attend and participate.

Sixty people attended the morning session including about 5 individuals with lived experience. In the afternoon, 115 people attended with perhaps a dozen or so people with lived experience. The emerging local Inter-Faith Social Action Coalition had representatives at both sessions. A number of OW caseworkers and front-line supervisors also participated.

A number of advocates took the Commissioners’ workbook and are going to work with their clients to complete and submit to the Commission. A summary of the comments is being prepared and will be distributed to all participants and to the Commissioners and will also be made available to Poverty Free Ontario for posting on this web site.

Thanks to Ross Fair, Chairperson of the Child & Youth Network Ending Poverty Committee of London, for this initial report on the London consultation.

800-rule welfare system assailed

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario  visited London this past Wednesday.  Strangely, I have seen nothing in the press about this.  I attended the morning and afternoon sessions at the London Convention Centre and felt energized by the wisdom, common sense, and passion in the room. It was a fantastic experience for me--being 'brand new' to the social service world--and I felt privileged to bring the opinions and ideas of the "community conversation" participants I met with a week earlier.

The Commission will be visiting Hamilton tomorrow (the 4th of July).  You can read about it here: The Hamilton Spectator

From Mission Services Blog:

Government Commissions, royal or otherwise, can be a good thing. Cynics might suggest that the only time we have commissions is when things go so wrong the “powers that be” don’t really know what to do, or that it is a way for the “powers that be” to stall. It makes it look like something is being done when nothing is being done. A more favourable viewpoint is that commissions are actually an important part of democracy, that people can get their say, that somehow collective wisdom makes it to the corridors of power. And lastly, there is the view that if you choose not to participate, you have no right to complain.

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario is coming to London on June 29, 2001 for two community consultations at the London Convention Centre.

There are bound to be many suggestions for the Commissioners. The caliber of leadership at the many social service agencies in London is impressive. I am convinced that there will be many useful suggestions and recommendations.

From a Windsor Star article:

As she begins consultations in the city with Canada's highest unemployment rate, the woman charged with reviewing the province's welfare system says a fundamental overhaul is needed to help lift families from poverty.

Frances Lankin, recently appointed commissioner of the province's new Social Assistance Review Commission, told the general meeting of the United Way for Windsor and Essex County Tuesday that the system may be too complicated and irrational.

"We've been asked to simplify the rules," said the former NDP provincial cabinet minister. "There are now 800 rules. How does anyone navigate through? It's not humanly possible for a caseworker to know all the (eligibility) rules without bogging down in administration .... There's no time left to help families."

In addition, she said, the benefit rates, which are supposed to guarantee a basic living for recipients, seem to be based on random numbers.

Another news flash on the Commission for Review of Social Assistance in Ontario

Another news flash on the Commission for Review of Social Assistance in Ontario

 

I just got an email from ISARC with the list of 11 cities that will be included in the Commission review this summer: 

 

List of Cities and dates (where known)

 

Windsor (June 28)
Hamilton (July 4)
Niagara (July 5)
Toronto (being negotiated for early-mid July)
Peterborough (July 13)
Peel (July 25)
Kingston
London (which we know is June 29th)Ottawa
Thunder Bay
Timmins

 

Led by Frances Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh, the Commission is charged with examining social assistance in Ontario through engagement, research and analysis to provide the government with a concrete action plan to improve the system for the people who need it.

 

http://www.socialassistancereview.ca/home?language=en_CA

Social Assistance Review Commission invites feedback on first discussion paper

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario has now released and invited feedback on its first Discussion Paper. The Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas, and a short version, Summary and Workbook, are now available on the website: www.socialassistancereview.ca

The Commission will be travelling around Ontario through the summer to meet with groups in formal consultations. They have prepared the Workbook for people to use as a tool to provide input, and a Guide for hosting community conversations on the issues. The deadline for input in this first round of consultations is September 1.

The Commission will be visiting London on June 29th.  I'll share the details as they become available, but consider this your "Hold the Date" notice. 

Good jobs a lifeline for people with mental illness

Good jobs a lifeline for people with mental illness
Dr. Kwame McKenzie
Toronto Star
May 28, 2011

The hightlights:

"Living with the stigma and symptoms of a severe mental health problem is challenging enough. But they have to add to that the social isolation that comes with being jobless. Many people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses do not work, and many have been told they cannot work. Yet an interesting thing happens when they do find employment — their health improves.

Study after study has confirmed that a good job is good for their health. Their quality of life goes way up. Their use of health services goes way down.

Almost half of provincial government resources are spent on health care. When we find a proven formula for improving health and reducing use of health-care services, we should be doing everything possible to implement it. But this is not what we are doing. We are not doing enough to find jobs for people with serious mental health problems and we penalize those who battle prejudice and actually succeed in finding jobs for themselves."

A related story:

 

Penalized for working? Disabled lose 50 cents on every dollar earned

Laurie Monsebraaten

Toronto Star

May 24th, 2011

 

The highlights:

 

"Like everyone who receives a monthly cheque from Ontario's disability support program, Sharon Burfind loses 50 cents on every dollar she earns in her part-time job.

The meagre amount of earnings she and other disabled people keep then triggers higher costs for other help they receive, such as subsidized rent, child care and student loan repayments.

"The rational person would say 'What’s the point of working?'" says Burfind, 60. "The majority of people work to get ahead, not to get behind."
Earning rules and administrative practices are one of the reasons why those who rely on Ontario's welfare system for the disabled are 11 times more likely to be unemployed than the average Ontarian, says a new report by advocates for the mentally ill."

The long view: Frances Lankin co-chairs a massive review of Ontario's social support structure

The highlights:

"Public policy," says Frances Lankin, "is not an exercise in sheer logic."

So call it an exercise in endurance, or an experiment in stamina. Lankin brings both qualities to her new role as co-commissioner of Ontario's Social Assistance Review Committee, a massive policy meditation spelled out in the province's 2008 Poverty Reduction Strategy. Lankin -- erstwhile provincial NDP cabinet minister and the former head of United Way Toronto who oversaw publication of the organization's seminal Poverty by Postal Code -- is joined by Dr. Munir Sheik, an economist and the former head of Statistics Canada.

The two of them will be mining programs like Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). They'll examine the policy interface between different levels of government. They'll cut through the reams of red tape embodied in the approximately 800 rules bureaucrats and applicants have to navigate to access or disseminate benefits. Meetings have been ramping up in the past couple months. Come June 2012, the commission will deliver a set of recommendations, possibly to a government of a different political stripe than the one that commissioned their work."

Click here to see the full article.

Online Application for Social Assistance

https://saapply.mcss.gov.on.ca/CitizenPortal/cw/PlayerPage.do?

It is now possible to apply online for Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Temporary Care Assistance, and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities.

I tried to find out if this online application was available to the entire province, or just certain areas, but I can't get a solid answer right at this moment.  However, it appears to be available locally.

Email me if I've got that wrong.  In any case, I'll be interested to hear about any experiences, positive or negative.

Here are the steps from the MCSS website:


Step 1. Is the online application right for you?
We will ask you a few basic questions to make sure this process is right for you. It will take you about 2-5 minutes to complete this step.

Step 2. Am I eligible?

We will ask you for some basic information about you and your family, for example:

• money you receive (e.g., from a job, child support)
• your assets (e.g., cash on hand, bank accounts, bonds, vehicles, jewellery).

It will take you about 5-10 minutes to complete this step.

This step will tell you if you may be eligible for any of the programs, based on the information you give. This is just a guideline. Only a representative from the local office (see Step 4) can tell you if you are actually eligible.

Note: This information will only be sent to the local office if you decide to submit it at the end of Step 3. If you choose not to submit this information, none of it will be saved.

Step 3. Online process

We will ask you to provide more detailed information about your situation and your family. It will take you about 20-30 minutes to complete this step.

At the end of this step, you can:

• review all the information you have given, and
• change it if you need to

You can then choose to send your information to us to ask for financial help and set up your appointment with a caseworker. The application can only be continued with a caseworker.

A caseworker will call you within 3 business days to confirm that we have received your online information, to arrange the appointment and tell you what you need to bring with you. If you do not have a phone number, you will need to call your local office to arrange an appointment instead.

Step 4. Appointment with caseworker

After you submit your information, you will need to come into your local office for an appointment to continue the application.

You will also need to bring your spouse (if you have one) and any children who are 18 or older to the appointment.

In this appointment, we will verify the information you sent in online.

The Peoples Blueprint -- Real Voices for Real Change

http://peoplesblueprint.ca/

Real Voices for Real Change

"The Peoples Blueprint is a unique and empowered group of men and women with lived experience of poverty and all it brings with it.  Isolation, depression, constant anxiety and pressure, they have know it all.  As a group they learned leadership and peer research skills and conducted over 100 video recorded research interviews that demonstrate the hopes, challenges, and abilities of people living on social assistance in an intensely personal way.  Problems with the social assistance system as identified by people experiencing it, as well as areas in which reform should take place are presented in these videos.  The goal of this project is to change social assistance in Ontario for the better."

thestar.com – March 6, 2010An investment that would pay off by Mark Sussman

thestar.ca – January 29, 2010Welfare reviewed by those who know by Sima Dini

Caledon Institute of Social Policy – January 2011People’s Review Panel:Getting the Ontario Social Assistance Review issues straight… from people with lived experience of poverty

Life on ODSP - a compelling video

View the compelling video of Darren Nesbit (Sarnia) as he tells of his struggle to live on limited groceries after paying his rent.This presentation occurred at an event convened in Hamilton on Friday, December 4, 2009 to mark the first anniversary of the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Ligne de Conseils Juridiques Sommaires

Ligne de Conseils Juridiques Sommaires –
French Legal Advice Line
1 855 650-9716

May 1, 2011 marks the official opening of the French Legal Advice Line for Southwestern Ontario which is administered by the Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic. This pilot project, funded by Legal Aid Ontario, was created to promote and enhance access to justice and French Language Services and is not intended to replace existing services. This is the fourth line of its kind in the province.

A Community Legal Worker will respond to calls via a toll free number and will offer summary legal advice to low income residents of Southwestern Ontario under the supervision of clinic lawyers. The goal is to reach underserviced areas in the counties of Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Brant, Huron, Perth, Bruce and Grey.

Callers will be able to discuss their rights and responsibilities. Referrals to appropriate agencies will also be provided.

Areas of law include : Social Assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works, Canada Pension Plan, Employment rights, Immigration, Housing (Tenants Rights) and Human Rights. Consultations are private and confidential.

The three other Legal Advice lines already established are:

1) Le Centre communautaire de Vanier for Eastern Ontario ;

2) La Clinique juridique communautaire de Sudbury for Northern Ontario and certain central regions including Barrie, Parry Sound, regions of Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes;

3) Le Centre francophone de Toronto for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

For more information on our service, please call 1 855 650-9716. We look forward to serving you in French!

Ontario: February 2011 OW/ODSP caseloads

From:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net

Below, you'll find links to the statistical reports for both of Ontario's social assistance programs, along with an analysis of the caseload trends by John Stapleton, who is a former official with the Ontario ministry responsible for social assistance programs now working with the social advocacy community in Toronto.

The reports:

* Ontario Disability Support Program Statistical Report
* Ontario Works Statistical Report

Commentary by John Stapleton:

Social assistance dependency is already starting to moderate in Ontario, but entirely thanks to the newest and most profound long term trend we have seen in social assistance in many a decade. Although the count of social assistance households is only down by about 300 overall, the drop is almost entirely due to a reduction in lone parents and their children.

The combination of child support guidelines, better enforcement of child support, the advent of DNA evidence for use in paternity cases, large child benefits outside of welfare that stack with child support and better opportunities at the low end of the labour market for women, has made a real difference.

Once again, lone parents on social assistance - despite the recession - are closing in on multi-decade lows in both absolute numbers and even longer as a proportion of population.

From a communications perspective, it is always difficult to point out that the number of social assistance households is rising but the number of beneficiaries (men, women, and children) is going down. The number of households overall went up by about 700, but the total number of beneficiaries went down by 300. This occurs because families with 2+ beneficiaries are decreasing while singles with 1 beneficiary (by definition) are increasing.

Source:
John Stapleton
Open Policy - John's personal website
NOTE: The above analysis is not yet on John's website, but you can peruse dozens of his articles, commentaries and reports there.

Public Legal Education Webinars

http://www.cleonet.ca/training/most_viewed_webinars

I'm amazed by the number and variety of webinars available for viewing at CLEO! There is something on this list for everyone:

• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Standards
• Bill 168 Harassment and Violence in the Workplace
• Cell Phone Contracts
• Child Custody and Protection
• Collection Agencies
• Consumer Reporting and Credit Reporting
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
• Door-to-Door Sales
• Elder Abuse
• Employment Rights
• Energy Re-billing
• Fired or Laid Off?
• Forced to Quit?
• Health Care Consent
• Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning
• Human Rights in Your Workplace
• Identity Theft: An Overview
• Identity Theft: Assisting Victims
• Investment and Saving for ODSP Recipients
• Legal Aid Ontario
• Motor Vehicle Dealers Act
• Motor Vehicle Repairs
• ODSP Disability Determination and Application
• OW and ODSP Applications and Appeals
• OW and ODSP Rights and Benefits Overview
• Pay Day Loans Act
• Pre-Paid Services
• Private Career Colleges Act
• Reporting Peer to Peer Violence in Schools
• Residential Tenancies Act: The Basics
• Sexual Assault and Harassment
• Social Media
• Social Media for Clinics (Northern Regional Training)
• Substitute Decision Making ABCs
• Substitute Decision-Making Authorities and Powers of Attorney
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Basics

More Info on Federal Disability Tax Credit

Where to Get the Forms
I picked up a stack of T2201 "Medical and Disability-Related Information and Forms" at Canada Revenue Agency (SW corner of Queens and Talbot - 1st floor) this morning.  (What a gorgeous day for a stroll - WOW! Can spring be here???).  Since they couldn't spare as many as I would have liked to have on hand, I also ordered some from CRA @ 1-800-959-2221, and expect to have a stack of them delivered to the Food Bank as well.

You may also print off a copy of the T2201 HERE. It's 12 pages.

Your Member of Parliament's office may also have a supply.

Will my Doctor Charge Me to Fill out the Form?
Probably - this is an uninsured service, so not covered by OHIP. The College of Physicians & Surgeons has this to say:
"Physicians should refer to the Ontario Medical Association document, Physician’s Guide to Third-Party & Other Uninsured Services, for the recommended schedule of fees. Physicians are obligated to let patients know if they will be charging more than this guide."
According to the Ontario Medical Association's Physician’s Guide to Third-Party & Other Uninsured Services :$35.21 + tax is the recommended fee.
It's best to simply call ahead and ask.

I talked to a staff member at Irene Mathyssen's office this morning, and she told me that you can include a letter with this form and ask that previous years' tax returns be reassessed back to the date of onset of disability indicated by your doctor's certificate, up to 10 years.

More NEWS on the subject:

Disability tax credits under investigation

CBC News

February 9, 2011

Company using unqualified doctors to cash in on tax relief

Toronto Star

February 9, 2011

From Ontario Coalition Against Poverty: Raise the Rates Campaign

Join the Raise the Rates Campaign!

Dear Allies,

We are contacting you about the ‘Raise the Rates’ Campaign and a call for
community organizations, union locals, community health centres, social
agencies, drop-ins and beyond to join the campaign and be a part of
building a provincial movement to raise social assistance rates to where
people can live with health and dignity.

What you can do to join this campaign:

Endorse the Raise the Rates Campaign: Take this to your organization and
officially sign-on to the Raise the Rates Campaign! Contact us to add your
name as an endorsing organization: ocap@tao.ca / 416-925-6939.

**We are proud to announce a broad range of Raise the Rates
endorsements-growing by the day! (in alphabetical order):
• Aids Action Now
• Barrio Nuevo
• BASICS Community News Service
• Bread and Bricks Social Justice Group
• Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits (Hamilton)
• Community Solidarity Network
• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Ontario
• CUPE Toronto District Council
• Disability Action Movement Now (DAMN)
• Health Providers Against Poverty
• Jane-Finch Action Against Poverty
• New Socialist Group
• No One is Illegal – Toronto
• No One is Illegal – Ottawa
• Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH)
• Ontario Nurses Association (ONA)
• Ontario Public Interest Research Group at U of T (OPIRG-Toronto)
• Ottawa District Labour Council
• South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO)
• Sudbury and District Labour Council
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicutural Women Against Rape
• Toronto Drug Users Union
• Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC)
• Under Pressure (Ottawa)

Join the Movement:

• Invite OCAP and the Raise the Rates Committee to come speak to your
organization, union local or centre

• Throughout the month of March, organizations will be hosting ‘Raise the
Rates Assemblies’ in different cities across Ontario to talk about
building this movement provincially. If you would like to be part of these
Assemblies – let us know and we will connect you with existing groups or
help you get something started in your area. In Toronto, this Assembly
will be taking place: Sat. March 19th

• Raise the Rates Days of Action, Friday, April 1st, 12noon @ Nathan
Phillips Square, Toronto: COME OUT as a contingent on April 1st in Toronto
or build an action in your community.

• Start a ‘Raise the Rates’ committee in your area: let’s build this work
beyond the next demonstration and in to a movement that is unstoppable.
**********
Raise the Rates Campaign DEMANDS:

1) Reverse the Cuts, Raise the Rates!

In 1995 the Tory government cut welfare rates by 21.6 % and froze
disability. Since the Liberals came to power in 2003, they have not only
failed to reverse the Harris cuts, but have actually perpetuated a further
decline in rates. As a result of that initial 21.6% cut coupled with
inflation for the last 16 years, welfare rates are approximately 55% below
where they should be. If benefit levels were restored to the same level of
spending power as we had in 1994, a single person on Ontario Works would
receive an immediate $904/month instead of the miserable $593 now being
issued. No one can survive on these poverty rates; $593 cannot afford
someone a place to live let alone food and basic needs.

The Liberal government has now announced that they are freezing the
minimum wage in 2011. Workers trying to survive on minimum wage are
already making poverty wages and will now see their incomes fall as a
result of inflation and a freeze on wages. Currently there are
approximately 1 in 6 workers or working at or close to minimum wage in
Ontario, and the gap between minimum wage and welfare is greater now than
it ever has been.

WE DEMAND an immediate increase in OW and ODSP rates to bring them back to
pre-Harris levels. 55% NOW– raise the rates to where people can live with
health and dignity!

WE DEMAND the minimum wage freeze be lifted immediately and that minimum
wage be increased to a living wage for everyone in Ontario.

2) Restore the Special Diet!

In the 2010 provincial budget last March, the Liberal government announced
that the special diet would be slashed completely. The special diet has
been a vital benefit that has put money in the pockets of communities
forced to live in poverty on social assistance rates that are entirely
inadequate. Due to community outrage and mobilization, the Liberal
government have now backtracked and said that they will keep part of the
Special Diet, however the program is being completely gutted. The new
system excludes numerous health conditions and reduces the benefits
received for many other conditions. In addition applicants will have to
release medical information and face other intrusive measures designed to
prevent access to the benefit. Within the Liberals’ own statement about
this measure, they refer to the fact that ‘many will not be eligible’. The
new Special Diet comes in to affect on April 1st and all those who are not
eligible under the new program will be cut off by July 31st.

The loss of the full Special Diet alongside declining social assistance
rates will drive communities deeper into poverty and poor health. It is
one of many social cuts to come as part of the government austerity
measures and we must mobilize and demand that it be restored.

WE DEMAND the full restoration of the Special Diet to a benefit of up to
$250 for food and complete reversal of all intrusive measures.

May 3: Registered Disability Savings Plan Workshop

Date: May 3, 2011
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Heritage East Resource Centre, 872 Dundas St. Rear (Ontario Street), London, ON

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) helps Canadians with disabilities, and their families, save for the future. RDSP is available to Canadians who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Those who are eligible, can open an RDSP at one of several financial organizations across the country.

This workshop will explain more about RDSP and how the Government of Canada is supporting RDSP's by matching contributions made. This is a great way to maximize any retro payments from ODSP or CPP.

This workshop is open to all, including clients and service workers. Registration is at the phone number below.

For more details visit:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180867238624029&index=1

For more information:
Phone (519) 438-8676

Registered Disability Savings Plan information

Coupons To Help You Save Money On Energy Costs

https://www.saveonenergy.ca/Consumer/Programs/Instant-Rebates/Downloadable-COUPONS.aspx

These downloadable and printable coupons can help maximize one's spending power if taking advantage of the ODSP Low-cost Energy Conservation Benefit.

According the Ontario Power Authority, there's a couple of other ways to get these coupons:

1. Look for your energy-saving coupon booklet from your local electric utility arriving in the mail in March 2011. I checked the London Hydro Website, and it doesn't state whether the booklets will be mailed out or not.

2. Twice a year we feature the coupons in-store at participating retailers. These coupons are available for a limited time on the following dates:

saveONenergy SPRING EVENT^OM:        
     Apr 1, 2011 - May 1, 2011
saveONenergy FALL EVENT^OM:            
     Sept 30, 2011 - Oct 30, 2011

Participating retailers include: Walmart, TSC Stores, Home Depot, Sears, RONA, Moffatt & Powell Lumber Store, Lowe’s, Home Hardware,  Costco, Canadian Tire.

While we're on the subject of energy conservation, and saving money on energy costs, we might as well talk about TOU Rates & Smart Meters

Calculate Your Energy Costs by Visiting 10 Smart Lane: This informative, interactive, online tool enables you to test your appliances during different times of the day, and visualize how power shifting will affect your energy costs.

Time of Use Rates from the Ontario Energy Board

Getting Smart about Smart Meters Q&A Book

NEWS:

Seems Tim Hudak has something to say about Smart Meters when he was in the neighbourhood today.

“A Progressive Conservative government would unplug the mandatory smart meters and give families a choice that works for them,”says Tim.

Really?  And what would that be, Tim?  Why not flesh that statement out a bit? Hm?

Ontario Coalition Against Poverty Demonstration - -SNIPERS?!?!?!?! REALLY?!?!?!?

Snipers on the Roof

Torontoist

Mar 16. 2011

Sniper rifle photo draws ire of social media critics

Toronto Sun

March 16, 2011

"The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is one of the best known anti-poverty organizations in Ontario. It has acquired a reputation for militant direct action tactics on such issues as affordable housing, welfare, homelessness, and immigrant and refugee rights. In a political climate where powerful politicians and vested interests wish the poor would just quietly die, OCAP has proven to be a vocal critic." READ MORE>>>

From the OCAP website:

"OCAP is a direct-action anti-poverty organization based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We mount campaigns against regressive government policies as they affect poor and working people. In addition, we provide direct-action advocacy for individuals against welfare and ODSP, public housing and others who deny poor people what they are entitled to. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves. We believe in the power of resistance."