London mayor to lobby Ontario to hold ODSP rates as new federal program rolls out

London city council is calling on the Ontario government to keep provincial disability payments stable, and not claw back money when the federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) rolls out this summer.

Mayor Josh Morgan plans to bring the issue to the province's Big City Mayors caucus with a call to Premier Doug Ford to commit to not reducing Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits, once Ottawa's program takes effect in June.

"Ontario has been non-committal so far [about clawing back ODSP], and so we're asking the mayor to encourage every city to call on the province to leave this benefit alone," said deputy mayor Shawn Lewis, who was among three councillors who put forward the idea.

"Let folks with a disability situation in their lives get that little bit of extra help that might make the difference between them being able to make ends meet and not."

The concern comes after Alberta said it would claw back disability supports. Ontario has yet provide its stance, while Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Nunavut have all promised they will not reduce funds.

The CDB will give up to $200 per month, totalling $2,400 for the year starting in July, to eligible recipients. The amount will be adjusted for inflation each year, the government said.

Ontario's disability payments are specific to the individual but the maximum is $1,368 a month, according to the province. A claw back would mean the province could cut ODSP by up to $200, if a person receives the full federal benefit.

The province said Monday not decision had been reached on the matter with a spokesperson from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services saying it's "continuing to work with the federal government as the details of the Canada Disability Benefit are being finalized.

Our focus is on ensuring the Canada Disability Benefit builds on existing programs like Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) including amending the treatment of the benefit in the Federal Income Tax Act," the statement said.

The province said ODSP rates have increased by 17 per cent since 2022, with inflationary increases each July.

Morgan was not available for comment ahead of publication.

When discussing whether London's mayor should advocate for stable provincial funding, councillors noted that many people on ODSP are not able to afford housing and groceries with the money they get.

That's the case for Londoner Jeffrey Salisbury, 40, who lives with developmental disabilities and depression. His only source of monthly income is $1,381 he gets from ODSP, and with a monthly rent component of less than $600, Salisbury cannot afford his own place so he lives with his parents.

An extra $200 from Ottawa will go a long way in helping people with disabilities afford basic necessities, Salisbury said.

"That could be more groceries for the month, a little bit more money for rent, clothing and all the daily living things that we have to spend on," Salisbury said.

He and others on ODSP are frustrated there's no word from the province on whether they'll have less money with less than a month before the federal program rolls out, he said.

"Every month it seems like the prices go up more and it just gets a little harder to get by. I worry that there's going to be a lot more disabled people out sleeping on the street because they're not going to have a place to live."