Welfare? Or What?

Shifting thinking about poverty reduction and income programs

Poverty Reduction in Ontario

Poverty reduction strategy launched in 2008 Poverty reduction act made law in 2009 Social assistance review is a major component Ontario Disability Support Program – main income support

program for people with disabilities in Ontario Submissions on the review:

– Income Security Advocacy Center: www.sareview.ca– ODSP Action Coalition: www.odspaction.ca

Shifting Thinking about Poverty

What are the shifts in thinking about the nature of poverty that have been revealed in the process and politics of policy reform in Ontario?

How do these shifts in thinking relate to broader shifts in Canada and internationally and where do they take our policy analysis about income programs and disability?

Measuring Poverty

Absolute definition and measures of poverty: not enough money for basic needs of life

– Basic Needs Poverty Line (Fraser Institute) – Market Basket Measure (Statistics Canada)

Measuring Poverty

Relative Measures:

– Low Income Cut Offs– Low Income Measure

Measuring Poverty

Conference Board of Canada: Income inequality (relative poverty) rising in Canada – and is rising faster than in other countries

Income inequality points to rising ‘social distance’ in society

Relative poverty shows that the wealth and benefits are not being distributed and that some are being left behind.

We know that Canadians with disabilities have been particularly vulnerable to being left out: low levels of employment, educational achievement, access to adequate housing

Measuring Poverty

Poverty involves factors broader than income

Some poverty reduction strategies have adopted a framework of social and economic inclusion

Need to apply lens of social and economic inclusion to income reforms

Social and Economic Inclusion

People with disabilities want to be socially included in the sense that they, like others, want:

– To participate as valued, appreciated equals in the social, economic, political and cultural life of the community (i.e. in valued societal situations).

– To be involved in mutually trusting, appreciative and respectful interpersonal relationships at the family, peer and community levels.

Social and Economic Inclusion

Involves numerous interrelated factors such as:– basic needs of material well-being: housing, nutritious food, clothing,

health needs; – income levels;– employment and access to inclusive labour markets; – skills, training and education; – access to disability related supports;– self-esteem;– family and relationships; and– civic, legal and political rights.

Rationale of Disability Income Programs

Welfare? Pension? Disability-related support? Income security? Replacement of employment income? Compensation for inaccessible labour markets?

Crossroads

Broadened understanding of poverty and factors in the relationship between poverty and disability

Broader understanding of disability as a social phenomenon with structural causes – UN Convention definition of disability as interaction of impairment and barriers in the social/economic environment

Systems and policy development struggling to catch up