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OASW SOCIAL ADVOCACY INITIATIVES

For information on OASW's latest initiatives, go to the News and Current Initiatives pages.

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SPECIAL SOCIAL ADVOCACY INITIATIVES (Click on this link to view the following articles.)

                    Bill 8, Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2003

                    Ministry of Finance’s Pre-Budget Discussions

                        Repeal of Lifetime Welfare Ban

                        SARS

                        Roméo Dallaire

                        Mental Health Reform

                        Working with Coalitions

 Letters to the Editor – On May 19, 2004, letters were sent by OASW to major newspapers across Ontario and was published in the Toronto Star.   

ONTARIO BUDGET 2004: GOVERNMENT REINVESTS IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: A SOLID START BUT STILL MORE TO DO: The Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) is pleased that the Liberal Government in its 2004 Budget is placing emphasis on reinvestment in social infrastructure including health care, education and financial supports for vulnerable populations. However, OASW is deeply concerned by the reintroduction of the Ontario Health Care Premiums which erodes universal access. In addition, though modest, the 3% increase in welfare and disability rates is an important first step; we will expect the government to at least restore the 21% funding cut levelled by the previous government, together with regular cost-of-living increases. Despite these concerns, we recognize that there is too much to be addressed in one Budget alone and view it is a solid start; nevertheless, OASW encourages the government to continue to redress the harsh and far-reaching cutbacks created by its predecessors. The people of Ontario are counting on it. Signed: Beverley J. Antle, President, Ontario Association of Social Workers

On June 3, 2004, a letter from OASW was published in The Globe and Mail:  Who needs a hit of caffeine in the morning when one can simply be jolted awake by Margaret Wente’s article, “Oh, Give Them A Home Where The Social Workers Roam” (June 1) and her obvious disdain for the homeless and the people who work with them, whom she categorizes as “social workers”? (In fact, few social workers are directly employed in shelters or welfare offices, but are the prime providers of mental-health counselling and psychotherapy). Despite the tone and content of her article, Ms. Wente is correct that the link between cheap housing and homelessness is not simple. The City of Toronto’s Report of the Mayor’s Homeless Action Task Force, January, 1999, indicated that 30 to 35 per cent of the homeless in general, and up to 75 per cent of homeless women, suffer from mental illness. Approximately 20 to 25 per cent of homeless people were also reported to have concurrent disorders of severe mental illness and addictions.  Similarly, a significant number of young people opt for life on the street over physical and/or sexual abuse at home and, once on the street, frequently experience an array of economic, emotional and social problems. Given the diverse and complex needs of the homeless, affordable housing is clearly not the only answer to this troubling social phenomenon.   Signed: Beverley J. Antle, President, Ontario Association of Social Workers

Bill 8: Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act:  OASW has made oral and written submissions to the Legislative Standing Committee on Justice and Social Policy in Sudbury, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara Falls and Windsor on Bill 8-Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act.  The bill was introduced by the Ontario Government to enshrine the Canada Health Act in Ontario law, create a Health Quality Council to monitor and provide accountability, and prohibit two-tier health care.  OASW Branches embraced the opportunity given on short notice to respond to the proposed bill and concerns that followed, mobilizing quickly so that the social work profession could exert some influence on health care reform in this province.  

Letter to the Editor on Welfare Reform:  The following letter was sent to newspapers across Ontario in January 2004 and was published in the Toronto Star, Ottawa Sun and Le Droit. 

"The Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) applauds the Ontario Liberal government’s repeal of the lifetime ban from welfare for welfare recipients convicted of defrauding the system.  This is an important first step in reversing the harsh and unfair welfare reform policies implemented by the previous government that have resulted in enormous hardship for countless vulnerable Ontarians who through no fault of their own, have needed financial assistance for food, shelter and other necessities.   While cases of fraud should clearly be reported and investigated,  “a one size fits all” punishment established another tier of penalty that allowed no discretion in suspending welfare benefits based on the individual and/or family’s life circumstances. OASW strongly urges the Minister of Community and Social Services, Sandra Pupatello, to now move forward on implementing the 13 other jury recommendations emanating from the Kimberly Rogers inquest.  Specifically, we encourage the Ministry to give priority to adjusting welfare rates to the cost of living and to reverse the policy denying access to student loans for welfare recipients who want to improve their job opportunities and become self-sufficient.  Until the previous Conservative government was in power, it was not a crime to be on welfare while receiving a student loan.  Kimberly Rogers' only "crime" was to accept welfare benefits while pursuing a social service worker diploma."