Handing out gift cards after the ice storm was a scripted
failure and nobody new.
Not the government, not the legal clinics and not the media
The people of Ontario would have been better served if help
was distributed in this manor.
Stay tune for more on this issue.
Ontario Works Act.
Who receives emergency assistance
9. Emergency
assistance may be provided in accordance with the regulations to or for the
benefit of a person who meets the prescribed conditions. 1997, c. 25,
Sched. A, s. 9.
Ontario Works Regulations
Emergency Assistance
56. (1) If
an applicant requires assistance because of an emergency, emergency assistance
may be paid for a period of not more than one-half of a month and thereafter
assistance shall only be paid after an application for income assistance has
been made under Part II. O. Reg. 134/98, s. 56 (1).
(2) The
administrator may provide emergency assistance under this section if the
administrator is satisfied that,
(a) the applicant does not have enough money or assets and
is unable to obtain credit necessary to provide for the basic needs and shelter
needs for his or her benefit unit; and
(b) a failure to provide the emergency assistance will
result in danger to the physical health of a member of the benefit unit or in
one or more dependent children being unable to continue to reside with his or
her parent who has requested the emergency assistance. O. Reg. 134/98,
s. 56 (2).
Ron Payne
Welfare Legal
Hamilton, Ontario
