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Hamilton MPP Sarah Jama announces motions targeting ODSP and OW

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Hamilton’s independent MPP Sarah Jama has announced plans to introduce two new motions that target social support programs in Ontario.

The first motion focuses on the shelter allowances provided by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) program.

The proposal aims to adjust the amount of money paid out for housing by basing its value on the average market rent — rather than the fixed payments that the programs currently offer.

Sara Jama says “the amount of money that the province gives disabled people is not enough to pay for rent, food and basic needs”

Currently, the maximum shelter allowance for a single individual receiving ODSP benefits is $556 a month, according to the ODSP calculation page. A similar benefit for housing from Ontario Works is just $390.

In January, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment was over $1,700 in Hamilton, according to February’s rental report from Urbanation.

“These amounts are much greater than the amounts of recipients of either program actually receive,” said Ron Anicich, a spokesperson with the ODSP Action Coalition. “This is a massive inadequacy, which urgently needs to be addressed.”

READ MORE: Freeland props up Canadian Housing Benefit with federal funding

The second motion aims to forgo an individual’s marital status when applying for ODSP — regardless of whether or not they reside with a spouse or common-law partner.

Jama says the current structure that calculates benefits based on an applicant’s spousal status “creates a barrier for many people who want to leave abusive relationships but fear losing their financial security.”

She says the motion would free victims of domestic abuse from having to rely on their partner’s income.

As it stands now, the province combines the incomes of couples who reside together and uses that total household amount to calculate ODSP benefits.

The province says that any person who has been living with another adult (with the exception of close relatives) for at least three months is required to provide those details when applying for benefits.

Unlike Bills, Jama can table the motions by submitting them to the house clerks, due to the censure preventing her from speaking in the legislature, she will not be able to bring them up for debate.

The two motions, which were co-authored with the ODSP Action Coalition, are scheduled to be tabled on Feb. 20. Though another MPP could do it in her place.

Jama says she plans on “working very closely with everybody who’s willing to collaborate,” saying she has reached out to everybody who’s an independent and reached out to the official opposition as well.

NDP disability critic Lise Vaugeois says she is planning a meeting with Jama soon.

Vaugeois says Jama’s “motions are similar to motions I have been working on with my colleagues, Bhutila Karpoche.”

READ MORE: MPP Sarah Jama continues to fight censure in Ontario Legislature

Jama’s lawyers have applied for judicial review of the censure and will be in court next Thursday in Toronto arguing it is legal and unconstitutional.

Jama’s lawyers say they are not prepared to speculate on the outcome but reiterate that important principles are at play with respect to freedom of speech and the democratic process.

Jama says she is hopeful the censure is going to be lifted but feels she can still be an effective MPP if it is not.

The Ford Government has said the censure will only be withdrawn if Jama apologizes for her statements – calling for a ceasefire and end of the occupation in Gaza.

The speaker’s office told CHCH News, Jama will be recognized if “she provides our office with notice that she has retracted and deleted her statements on social media and intends to make an apology in her place in the House.”

In a Zoom interview with CHCH News Jama said, “30,000 people are dead, if I were to apologize, after 8 hours of debate likening me to a terrorist from the Ford government, what would that mean for the people who have family back in Palestine who are continuing to be killed right now.”

CHCH News asked for an interview with the Ford government about Jama’s censure but they declined citing the ongoing judicial review.

READ MORE: MPP Sarah Jama continues to fight censure in Ontario Legislature

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