My question is to the Premier. This government announced that the earning exemption for ODSP recipients will be raised to $1,000. While this was a step in the right direction, it still does not address the issues of clawbacks from other benefits, such as CPP disability.

After hearing about the government’s announcement about how it’s going to help his ODSP amount, a constituent, Shah Hamidi, reached out to our office with confusion. Our government is clawing back his CPP disability income to continue to keep him in poverty. My question to the Premier: Premier, you know the harsh reality that those with disabilities face. They’re barely surviving. Why is your government continuing to means-test ODSP and forcing people to live in legislated poverty?

The earning exemption does nothing for spousal income either.

Another constituent of mine, Thomas Robinson, receives lower monthly income payments because of the program’s cuts to his ODSP due to his wife’s income—who, by the way, works precarious hours—leaving him with just $300 to $400 per month. So instead of barely surviving with the insufficient disability benefits and his wife’s income, Thomas is punished because of his wife, who works precarious hours, and he’s trying to pay the bills.

Speaker, my question again to the Premier is why has this government done nothing for people like Thomas and Hamidi who are unable to survive on a program designed to fail people with disabilities and their families?

I’m very pleased to read this petition to the House. It is entitled “Enhancing Public Transit Accessibility.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas access to public transit is essential for Ontarians to be able to work, go to school, and for their day-to-day activities;

“Whereas youth, seniors, and families across Ontario rely on public transit to access basic necessities such as groceries, health care, recreation, and more;

“Whereas people living with disabilities face immense accessibility barriers, physical and otherwise, when accessing public transit;

“Whereas there are public transit stations across the province, including in the GTA, that are not equipped with facilities that allow people living with disabilities to be able to reach the trains, bus bays, streetcars, LRT, etc., without leaving the premises;

“Whereas transit agencies such as TTC have begun the work to ensure accessibility on transit vehicles and some stations, there are many stations across the city, as well as stations operated by various transit agencies across the province, that need to continue adding and enhancing accessibility features to ensure transit access for all Ontarians;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass Bill 82, Enhancing Public Transit Accessibility Act, 2023, and ensure that Ontarians living with disabilities or who have accessibility needs can use public transit.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my signature to it and give it to the Clerk through Mikaeel.

Our transit system is essential for commuters across the province, and we are thankful to transit workers and community members for making it as accessible as it may be. However, there still remains some work to be done.

This bill amends the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, to provide that the Minister of Transportation and the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility shall jointly conduct a review of standards for public transportation organizations with respect to the accessibility of existing transit stations and stops. It provides 12 months for the ministers to do so and provide a report on their findings to the Legislative Assembly.

The act is also amended to provide that every public transportation organization shall ensure that all stops and shelters are accessible to persons with disabilities—be it someone visually impaired, someone in a wheelchair, whatever means it may need be—that persons with disabilities can access bus bays in transit stations without having to leave the premises and that persons with disabilities can access all trains, light rail transit and streetcars in transit stations.