Moira Welsh « Authors « Social Policy in Ontario

Ford government’s internal surveys expose failures in disability job training program

Friday, May 8th, 2026

Ford’s plan to get Ontarians off social assistance and into jobs is failing those with complex disabilities, according to the province’s own research… employers “don’t know how to support” workers with disabilities, and performance targets are pressuring agencies to place clients into jobs too quickly — even when those with “complex barriers” need more time to prepare… the Ford government hired third-party operators to oversee the program’s new rules for funding and contract renewals… “The new model is a disaster”

Tags: budget, disabilities, jurisdiction, participation
Posted in Delivery System, Inclusion Delivery System | 15 Comments »

‘Nursing Home Without Walls’ will offer care for the elderly in their communities

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026

While Ontario is grappling with a long-term care wait-list of 50,000 names, a new pilot project aims to help older adults remain in their communities with the support of three nursing homes… the privately funded “Nursing Home Without Walls” model uses long-term care as a community centre that provides social connections, exercise sessions or a good soak in a bathtub, said Lisa Levin, CEO of Advantage Ontario, which represents not-for-profit and municipal homes.

Tags: Health, participation, Seniors
Posted in Child & Family Delivery System | 2 Comments »

Ontario budget adds $1.1B for home care

Saturday, March 28th, 2026

Housing with supports is a key issue in a province that will hit “super-aged” status this year, when roughly 20 per cent of its 16 million people will be 65 or older… the budget… shows that the government sees long-term care as a “vital part of the foundation that holds our communities together and protects the people who “live, work and receive care in homes across the province.”

Tags: budget, Health, Home Care, participation, Seniors
Posted in Child & Family Policy Context | No Comments »

Privacy commissioner challenges Doug Ford’s reasons for changing access-to-information rules

Friday, March 27th, 2026

Information and privacy commissioner Patricia Kosseim has filed a six-point rebuttal to Premier Doug Ford’s “various” reasons for exempting himself, his cabinet ministers and political aides from access-to-information laws… in a response to Ford’s suggestion that only the media and opposition parties use the laws, the commission said that in the 2024 FOI requests, “more than 95 per cent were submitted by “individuals, businesses, researchers, and community organizations.”

Tags: featured, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, rights
Posted in Governance Policy Context | 6 Comments »

Should we be taking money off Canadians’ paycheques for long-term care?

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

A public — not private — long-term-care insurance program could help pay for costly and unexpected expenses due to ill health or fragility that can be financially devastating… many will spend their later years living on a basic retirement income that likely won’t cover the thousands of dollars needed for health-related services, such as home care from private-pay personal support workers or nursing home “accommodation” co-payment fees.

Tags: disabilities, featured, Health, housing, Seniors, standard of living
Posted in Child & Family Debates | 6 Comments »

Home-care services can’t keep up, audit finds

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Dec. 6, 2010
Auditor General Jim McCarter devoted a chapter of his annual report to home care, finding that the sector is unable to keep up with obligations in providing personal support, homemaking and therapy services. The sector doesn’t have the financial resources to meet the demand for personal support and homemaking services, the report noted. These services are often required by seniors and people discharged from hospital. And a shortage of professionals in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech-language therapy is resulting in waiting lists for their services

Tags: budget, Health, ideology, standard of living
Posted in Child & Family Delivery System | No Comments »

Poverty drives diabetes epidemic

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

November 3, 2010
… research shows that poverty is a leading predictor of the chronic disease, and its devastating side effects… Unmanaged by healthy eating, exercise and medication, diabetes can lead to amputations, blindness, kidney failure and heart attacks. These carry a tremendous personal cost… and impose an enormous financial burden on society. Experts say kidney dialysis, for example, can cost up to $80,000 a year. Diabetics can be on dialysis for decades… Today, 1.7 million Ontarians have diabetes, just over eight per cent of the population.

Tags: disabilities, Health, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Health Debates | 1 Comment »

Complaints overwhelm human rights watchdog

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Apr 17 2010
It is too soon to determine whether discrimination is on the rise or if this deluge is the effect of public awareness campaigns for the new system. But the Star’s examination of at least 50 public cases and dozens of normally private mediated ones gives a stark picture of rampant racism and discrimination. Tribunal decisions show that women, minorities and the disabled are most vulnerable to discrimination by employers, landlords and businesses. In some cases both the victim and the defendant belong to racial minorities but are from different backgrounds.

Tags: rights
Posted in Equality Debates | 1 Comment »

Social Policy in Ontario