· The last increase to ODSP was in 2018. The Liberal government was proposing a 3% increase and when the Conservatives came into power, they reduced that to 1.5% and has been frozen since then at the current level of $1,169.

Q: At the beginning of the pandemic, the Federal government CERB amount was $2,000 per person (many on ODSP did not qualify). Given the poverty line in 2020 was $2,160, would you commit to increasing ODSP to the poverty line or above?

2. Provide Fair and Equitable Funding to ALL:

2021 Developmental Services Budget was $2.7B

$1.8B served 19,300 people in traditional agency-based service (average cost of $93,264 per person)

Only $434M supported 53,000 people (average cost of $11,500 per person) through direct funding.

Therefore, 85% of the Developmental Service Budget served approx. 20% of people with developmental disabilities with 15% of the budget supporting the remaining 80%.

Q: Would you commit to eliminating this imbalance

3. Provide a dedicated stream of Individualized support arrangements for those who want it.

Canada is a signatory to the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities and Article 19 which provides for the right to choose where and with whom a person lives and to have the supports necessary to do so.

Individualized support arrangements:

· ensure people have choice and control in their lives

· are often less costly with better personal outcomes

· allow people to contribute to the economy as they themselves have purchasing power and by providing employment to support workers

Q: Given that there are long waitlists for all services in a congregate setting and many people want individualized funding to create their own plan for supports that meet their needs, will you commit that any new funding be dedicated to an individualized funding stream?

4. Reduce Overhead Costs & Redundant Processes:

Current system is heavily bureaucratic, both within the government and the transfer payment agency system and is extremely costly and difficult to navigate.

Find cost efficiencies through the elimination of many repetitive processes required for families to access services and supports--Passport and Passport One is an example.

The resulting savings could be used to fund the dedicated stream of individualized funding.

Q: Would you commit to reducing the existing bureaucracy to make it more cost-effective and easier to navigate?

5. Bring in a model of Supported Decision Making Thereby Reducing the Need for Guardianship:

Family Managed Home Care requires that, if a person is not able to manage their own contract independently, the family must apply for guardianship if they want to keep that support.

A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) requires that if a person is not competent to open an RDSP themselves, the only other people who can be the plan is a legal representative (guardian) or a parent (only until Dec. 2023).

· Unless some form of Supported Decision Making comes into effect by Dec. 2023, families will be forces into applying for guardianship to open a plan.

· When a parent, who is a plan holder, dies, a need for guardianship is triggered.

· When a child who has an RDSP turns 18, there will be an expectation that parents apply for guardianship.

Q: Would you commit to bringing in a form of Supported Decision Making as they have in other Provinces?

If you would like more information about these and other issues affecting people with disabilities and their families, please contact the Leeds and Grenville Family Network.

LGFN

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511 Lower Oak Leaf Road
Athens, Ontario
(613) 349-5073