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Poverty is the root cause of food insecurity, and government social assistance programs like Ontario Works have not kept up with inflation or the rising cost of living. As a result, people who find themselves close to or below the poverty line face an uphill battle out of poverty and increasingly rely on food banks. They are being legislated into poverty.

When food banks were formed across Canada in the 1980s during a recession, they were meant to be a temporary band-aid solution. A helping hand until folks were back on their feet. But 40 years later, food banks are still here, larger, and serving more people than ever before. 1 in 4 households across Canada report being food insecure.

Food banks were meant to act as the “emergency room” for neighbours in need, but they have become the “family doctor” because there are not enough adequate supports for people who are struggling.

Ontario Works (OW) is our province’s “welfare” program. It is meant to provide financial assistance for residents in financial need to help cover living expenses such as food and rent while they are between jobs. There are eligibility requirements in addition to financial need, such as being at least 16 years of age, an Ontario resident and proving that you are participating in what the government of Ontario calls “employment activities” (i.e. actively looking for employment, activities to improve skills).

There is a detailed application process, and applicants who are approved are assigned a caseworker to support them through the process and develop a plan that supports the required employment activities. 

You may have come across some misconceptions about who is using OW. It’s important to understand that OW is meant to help people get back on solid ground. It is a temporary support until people can re-enter the workforce.

The most that a single individual can receive on Ontario Works is $733 a month. $733 is nowhere near enough for food and housing.

OW has been frozen at $733 since 2018. As the cost of living rises, people who rely on this temporary income support can’t afford their basic needs. Another factor is that, unless they have had direct experience with OW, many Ontarians don’t know how limited this program is, and shedding light is important to grow public support.

Would you be able to live on $733 a month? Use Feed Ontario’s Fork in the Road interactive tool and select the ‘Angela’ persona to see how you would stretch $733 to make it through the month.

Ontario Works is meant to be a temporary income support to bridge a gap when people are between employment. People can begin working while on OW, but their support begins to be clawed back (50%/dollar) when they earn $200. That means that if you are an OW recipient and you start earning a minimum of $200 a month, the government will take away 50% of every dollar that you are meant to receive while on the OW program. 

If the government were to raise the earnings exemption to $600, it would help people keep more of their own money before the clawback starts, making it easier for people to transition back to the workforce and get off OW sooner. An improved Ontario Works helps build a more secure workforce.

Let’s help Ontarians keep more of what they earn when returning to work. 

We are calling on the Ontario government to update Ontario Works so the program works the way it’s intended and strengthens Ontario’s workforce.

1. Increase the rates that have been frozen since 2018 so they meet the current cost of living. 
2. Change the earnings exemption to $600 to allow people to keep more of their own money to help them get back to work sooner and off OW

While Ontario’s economy has changed drastically in the last eight years, OW has stayed the same. Updating the program to better meet the needs of Ontarians in 2026 would help OW work as designed, enabling Ontarians to transition back to the workforce more securely.

Make Ontario Works work better for Ontario.

Contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) about Ontario Works:

• If you don’t know who your MPP is, you can find your MPP here.
• Ask your MPP how they’re working to improve Ontario Works to help more of our neighbours get back to a more financially secure place.
• Everything costs more than it did in 2018, but OW rates haven’t changed to keep up with those rising costs. Ask your MPP when they are planning on updating OW and if we will see it in the upcoming Fall Economic Statement.