... the provincial new democratic party is one of the most generous with regards to increasing support to the most vulnerable (a 20% increase to odsp). The provincial progessive conservatives have conceded a 5% increase to these rates as an election promise. It remains to be seen whether they will keep this promise if re-elected. The provincial green party promises to double the rates; however, shows less promise at the polls.
... the provincial liberal party suggests that all ontarians should be working. Nevertheless, they promise an increase in disability rates similar to the provincial NDP.
... meanwhile the federal liberals have yet to legislate a pan-Canadian disability supplement taking into consideration the amplified affects of inflation on the disabled poor.
... PC leader Doug Ford has touted his record on highway creation over the last four years as government leader. Northern Ontario issues took center-stage at a recent provincial debate.
... locally the number of homeless, many with mental health concerns, pushed onto Kingston streets has increased substantially as a result of the pandemic. The lack of psychiatric hospital beds and a revolving door mental health system has forced these suffering homeless onto the streets. A lack of local housing solutions has compounded the issue.
... the City of Kingston's attempt at housing the unhoused at Portsmouth harbour has proven to be yet another temporary solution as the structures installed there are about to be moved to Centre 70 arena.
... the de-institutionalization policies of the late John F Kennedy have largely failed the most vulnerable of our society. Have the costs saved by de-institutionalization been passed onto the mentally ill and their families? If governments expect the mentally ill to be housed in the community, they must provide sufficient financial support to those suffering in this way.
... ACTT teams are nice but who's there to support the mentally ill the other 24/7 of the week -- it's the family who are drained financially and emotionally.
