McGuinty government scraps lifetime welfare ban
POLICE AND COURTS TO HANDLE FRAUD, PUNITIVE POLICY REPEALED
TORONTO, Jan. 9 /CNW/ - Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello announced today that the McGuinty government is delivering real, positive change by putting an end to Ontario's lifetime welfare ban policy.
"Our approach will help people in need, treat them with dignity, and make
sure that those who defraud the system are dealt with appropriately,"
Pupatello said. "It's a plan that will work for all of us, for a change."
The repeal of the ban will leave responsibility for fraud investigation
and criminal penalties squarely in the hands of the criminal justice system.
This important step is part of the government's commitment to end the
inappropriate treatment of people who rely on social assistance. Provisions
requiring three and six-month suspensions from social assistance for those who committed fraud prior to April 1, 2000 have also been repealed.
"This government has no tolerance for people who want to take advantage
of our social safety net," said Pupatello. "But putting people who may have
made a mistake in life-threatening circumstances is not the answer. The
lifetime ban policy placed people and families already vulnerable at greater
risk. We can do better."
Under the lifetime ban policy, social assistance staff were often
reluctant to refer suspected fraud cases to police because of the potentially
devastating consequences to people in need. With the repeal of the lifetime
ban, social assistance administrators have been directed to refer all
suspected cases of fraud to police for investigation. Judges determine
appropriate penalties under criminal law for fraud convictions.
