Kenora Association for Community Living
Shared Responsibilities Policy Analysis Paper
December 2010
In 2008 The Provincial Government passed an Act entitled SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACT, 2008 which a consolidated copy of which may be found at http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_08s14_e.htm.
The Kenora Association for Community Living has long been committed to Social Inclusion and Social Justice and has been out in from t of government promoting such ends.
In 1987 it moved its consumers out of its 15 bed Charlie McLeod Group home into Small Option Residences.
FRom 1988 to 1991 it moved consumers out of Arc Industries a segregated day programs into a number of more integrated options which have continued to expand during the next two decades.
In 1993-94, the Kenora Association for Community Living reviewed its policies with respect to a form of support that has come to be known as life sharing. Following the conclusion of this review, it passed certain policies which in subsequently amended form may be found in a paper entitled Kenora Association for Community Living Lifesharing Policy Analysis Paper.
In 1994-95, the Kenora Association for Community Living reviewed the broader issue of individualized and alternative approaches to support and service delivery and following such review approved additional policies on various issues included in the review. Such policies in subsequently amended format may be found in a paper entitled Kenora Association for Community Living Individual Approaches Policy Analysis Paper.
Following the two reviews, the Association considered addressed a number of issues which included the issue of the balance of responsible among the individual, his family, the community and government (the state). That review produced numerous policies which were then found under the Policy analysis paper entitled Shared Responsibilities Policy Analysis Paper.
In anticipation of the proclamation of the 2008 Act which will come into force in various stages the Association Staff have been reviewing a number of changes in supports that will be necessary including the education of its membership and those we support. The purpose of this paper is to summarize Association's policy and positions on various topics involved in this transformation to greater social inclusion and greater social Justice for those we serve. The Association up to present has maintained the 2004 title to this paper since it considers the issues of Individual entitlement and shared responsibilities.
During the 90s and the first decade of the new century, the Association considered that the economic climate did not favour those we served. From 1997 to 2007, one of the fastest growing decades in this generation, the rich got richer and the poor remained poor (See Yalnizyan, Armine. The Rise of Canada's Richest 1%, http://www.policyalternatives.ca/projects/growing-gap/). In 2008, under the direction of President Anita Rasmussen, the Association commenced to look at policies beyond the administration of services to and for persons with disabilities. In 2010, as one of its Fundamentally Important Goals, it committed itself to study and advocate on issues of social justice on behalf of those we serve and their families.
As identified in the Individual Approaches paper, funding required to support persons requiring assistance, above the amount they can raise for themselves, is divided between "basic needs" and "disability related needs". Basic needs for the bulk of our consumers are currently provided under a pension called Ontario Disability Support Program. Such amounts are intended to cover shelter, clothing, food and basic survival needs. Disability related needs is covered under the new Act, SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACT, 2008, Ontario Works, or under the Mental Health Act.
Basic needs are provided under an entitlement regime that dictates the conditions for entitlement and guidelines or standards to decide level of entitlement. Disability related needs are not legally mandated but prior to January 1 2011 were administratively determined based on what the Association could successfully negotiated from the Ministry and allocate out among all it served. Increasingly during the last few years service funding has been determined by a hybrid of Association and Ministry policy and practice. Subsequently to january 1 and in an ever increasing fashion be made by the Ministry of external entities chosen by MCSS.
The corner stone of the Association's policy to date is set out in the Individual Approaches Policy Analysis paper and it's principle of family and community involvement as follows:
Basis for Amount of funding
All people in Ontario are entitled to an equal assurance of life opportunities in a society based on fairness, shared responsibility, and personal dignity for all. Society has a responsibility for the well being of all its members. The support that society provides is not to be understood as a gift or privilege, nor as charity to the disadvantage. Rather it represents a right to which all members of society are entitled.
It must also be recognized that total independence of the system may not be possible for some people. A new system more oriented toward providing supports and services that will help recipients participate in education and training and get jobs must not ignore those people for whom such activities may not be appropriate. Some people who are ill or disabled may not be able to work, but they may become more involved in community life, if given the opportunity. The system must be prepared to support people who are in need in a way that respects their individual dignity and recognizes society's collective responsibility for the well being of all its members.
Individuals have a responsibility to become, with support where necessary, as self-reliant as possible and to contribute to community life. We see the obligation of the individual to take responsibility for his or her own life as the other side of the coin of mutual responsibility. If the whole of society has a responsibility for individual well being, then individually, there must be a responsibility for society as a whole. This translates into each person making her or his unique contribution to society's social and economical well being.
Individuals have a responsibility to contribute to society to the extent that they are able.
Also relevant is the Association's service delivery principle entitled:
3(a). Principle of Family and Community Involvement
Ensuring the right of all persons with special needs to participate in all aspects of living, learning, working and playing is a shared responsibility among parents, siblings, friends and the association (including its paid staff and volunteers). All must be encouraged to be actively involved in the life of such persons.
Society, through taxes collects resources and employs such resources to meet basic and disability related needs of persons with special needs. The amount of resources distributed to meet basic needs from government resources is primarily determined determined by the Ontario Disability Support Program, regulations and standards or schedules passed pursuant to the act and regulations. Supplemental resources may be accrued by savings on taxes which are primarily intended to be related to compensation for disability related supports provided by the parent.
The Association staff shall endeavor to provide information and education to those we serve and their families to assist individuals and families to be able to increasingly manage their own financial security. Such education will include information concerning the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Ontario Disability Support Program and other government benefit programs. (See Appendices)
The above 3 quotes from Don S. Cochrane's Simple Essential Funeral Planning Kit Self Council Press captures certain basic facts about death.
In line with and respecting its service delivery principles particularly, respect for the individual, his or her autonomy and right to make choices, Association staff currently assist certain individuals and their families to establish a written plan designed to deal with all aspects of funeral arrangements, including costs. The degree to which this is done is determined by age of consumer or survivor, other pressing issues and priorities and the choice of the consumer or survivor. Such assistance is only appropriate where it is chosen and when the manner and content of the assistance is consistent with the consumers orientation or belief structure.
Many choose not to avail themselves of such assistance and it is not forced on anyone. However, such assistance planning for ones funeral is the only way to ensure that the individual’s preference and values in life are reflected in the final event for which the individual will be remembered.
KACL staff will assist consumers and survivors and their families, where appropriate, to gain information with respect to prospective funeral expenses and will be encouraged to plan to meet such expenses in a proactive fashion.
KACL staff will provide education regarding testamentary dispositions to parents. Parents will be encouraged to provide support to children with a handicap as they would to other children. Parents have a right to employ all legal means to enhance the value of their estate that devolves on their intended beneficiaries.
This section will contain information that was more relevant prior to January 1st and most likely will either become irrelevant or be moved to other policy areas in the next few years.
Prior to January 1 2011, resources to meet disability related needs are distributed on the basis of need for services and available government resources.
New consumers applying for supports should be encouraged to use existing supports available and rely on government funded supports only as a required. A certain level of support priority is afforded existing consumers. However, existing consumers must seek natural supports and alternative less costly supports and must co-operate in securing the most efficient and effective use of resources possible and the greatest sharing of resources among all persons with special needs in the geographical area served by KACL as existing levels of funding are pared back.
As a condition of being provided supports, consumers or their families are require to apply for supports and in return for such supports and services must enter undertaking to participate in planning with KACL for their child’s future, including the provision of alternative supports which provide natural or less costly supports.
Existing consumers and their families must seek natural supports and alternative less costly supports. They must co-operate in securing the most efficient and effective use of resources possible and the greatest sharing of resources among all persons with special needs in the geographical area served by KACL. If they refuse to do so they may be required to assume a greater burden of support.
Consumers or their families are require to apply for supports and as a condition of KACL providing such supports Consumers and families must enter undertaking to participate in planning with KACL for their child’s future, including the provision of alternative supports which provide natural or less costly supports. Existing consumers and their families must co-operate in securing natural supports , alternative less costly supports, the most efficient and effective use of resources possible and the greatest sharing of resources among all persons with special needs in the geographical area served by KACL. If they refuse to do so they may be required to assume a greater burden of support
Resource poor consumers and families have a poverty of natural supports of material resources that they control. Resource rich consumers and families have an abundance of natural supports or material resources. It is not always obvious whether a consumer or his family is resource poor or resource rich. A consumer may have many siblings but yet none who are free from their own troubles and turmoil. Material well being is not always easily assessed except by means that have generally been regarded as to intrusive for Association purposes. Consumers who have obtained the age of majority (19 in Ontario) are and should be treated as independent adult and should not be beholden or be required to be beholden to their families. An alternative view is that families bear a moral responsibility to assist their children under the age of majority and dependent children over the age of majority and should be required to fulfill such moral responsibilities before "dipping into the public purse".
The Association adopts the position that resources available to the consumer and his or her family should be one, among many factors, considered in allocating support resources to the consumer and family.
Parents have a complaint and complain to everyone other than personal planner, Directors and Executive Director who could deal with the issue. Constant dealing with complaints cost valuable resources.
Undertaking placed in support agreements or on application for
Families must notify KACL of any concerns regarding their
child and the supports he receives, utilizing established channels of
communication, i.e. communication supports that at regular meetings with case
manager, verbal or written communication with supervisor, and written
communication with Director of Services, and written communication with
executive Director in the event of continued dissatisfaction. Only once this
been done should decisions taken be appealed to the Board.
The intention of the above is that regular verbal communication should take place with the case manager. If parent has problems with staff, verbal communication with supervisor will not impose undue hardship on parent. If problem cannot be resolved at supervisor level then the matter should be put in writing so that the issue can be dealt with in a thorough fashion, having regards to the Association’s existing policy and available resources. Parent will be required to identify basis for belief of "facts" - comments that proof comes from unidentified staff will not be accepted. The Union is available to protect well meaning staff. Written complaint and statement of basis for belief will prevent matters going to Board with changed or incomplete stories. They will also discourage the view taken by certain persons that favourable treatment is afforded to "friends" who provide "secret" information to their friends on the board.
Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) and Child Disability Benefit (CDB) The Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) is a non-taxable amount paid monthly to help eligible families with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CCTB includes a base benefit which is available to a large majority of families and may include the National Child Benefit Supplement which provides additional support to low and modest income families. The Child Disability Benefit (CDB), is available for families caring for children with mental and physical impairment. The base benefit of CCTB is $1340 per year in 2009-2010 and the NCBS has a maximum annual value of $2076. The FPRP is recommending that the combined amounts of CCTB and NCBS be increased to $5000 over the next 5 years. The Child Disability Benefit is a tax free benefit that is meant to offset disability -related costs by providing parents with severe disabilities up to $204.58 monthly, $2455 annually. The CDB starts to be reduced when the adjusted family net income is more than $40,970 (An amount felt to be too small by many families). This federal amount is increased by a corresponding Ontario Child Benefit.
A Registered Savings plan intended to assist Canadians with Disabilities to save for long terms security. Once registered the plan may be eligible (and for most of KACL served adult consumers between the ages of 18 and 49 will be eligible) for Canada Disability Savings Bonds which pay up to $1000 annually until the beneficiary turns 49 ($20,000 Lifetime Limit). In addition the plan may be eligible for Canada Disability Savings Grants which provide matching contributions of up to $3500 annually($70,000 Lifetime Limit). There is no annual contribution limit but a lifetime limit of $200,000. Individuals turning 19 who have not opened a plan should be encouraged to do so immediately to get the benefit of $20,000 by age 39 and thereafter to the extent that contributions to the plan to gain matching grants will be dependent on individuals health, life expectancy and current financial needs. Funds withdrawn from the plan do not affect ODSP but are taxable if recipient has enough income to be taxable (Not a major problem for those served by KACL). Valuable information on RDSP may be obtained at the following websites:
Canadian Revenue Agency: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/rdsp-reei/menu-eng.html
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4460/rc4460-10e.pdf
Royal Bank Summary: http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/rdsp/what-is-rdsp.html
One of the most important income support program for persons with disabilities is the Canada Pension Plan Disability Program (CPPD). This is a program for someone who was in the labour force but have had to stop because of a disability. It provides workers who have contributed to the Canada Pension Plan with access to benefits should they have a severe and prolonged disability which prevents them from working. The average payment, as of July 2009, was $803.33 per month. There have been some complaints that this plan is geared to persons with physical disabilities and that it does not serve those who have been absent from work due to mental illness.
The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) another program is intended to offset work disincentives for those participating in vocational rehabilitation for those who may return to work. Individuals are allowed only to earn $4600 before taxes in 2009 before they lose benefits
Recommendation 4.2.5 of the FPRP
The Committee recommends that the federal government create a federal basic income program for persons with disabilities and support a disability - related support program to be delivered by the province and territories. Recommendation 4 of In From the Margins The committee recommends that the federal government establish with the province a goal that individuals and families, regardless of the reasons for their need, receive income at least after-tax LICOs
This amount in Kenora in 2009 would be about $14000
The DTC aims to promote equality among those who pay income tax and reduce the extra costs incurred by people with disabilities as a result of their illness or condition. Persons with severe and prolonged disabilities, 18 years and older can claim $7196 on their 2009 income tax which is the equivalent of federal tax savings of $1079. Because the DTC is non refundable tax credit it benefits only individuals and family members with taxable income.
FPRP Recommendation 4.2.6
As a first step in addressing the needs of the poorest of Canadians with severe disabilities, the Committee recommends that the federal government amend the Income Tax Act to make the Disability Tax Credit a refundable credit and ensure that the new federal benefits for persons with disabilities are not clawed back from those receiving social assistance payments.
KACL advocated for this change during the last federal election and gain commitments from several Liberal MPs attending Campaigns in Kenora.
The National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) is supplemented by the Ontario Child benefit for low income families as follows:
Ontario Child Benefit Monthly Payment Estimates for July 2009 to June 2010 ($)*
| Family's Net Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Year # of Children | $20,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| July 2009 to June 2010 | 1 | $91.67 | $88.33 | $25.00 |
| 2 | $183.33 | $150.00 | $116,67 | |
| 3 | $275.00 | $241.67 | $208.33 | |
| 4 | $367.67 | $333.33 | $300.00 | |
*The monthly payment values listed in the chart above are an estimate of the amount of Ontario CB you may receive. Monthly payments are determined by the Canada Revenue Agency based on your adjusted family net income as determined by your annual tax return. ( http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/financialhelp/ocb/howmuch.aspx)
The ACSD is a program that provides financial assistance to parents to help with the extraordinary costs related to their child’s severe disability. It is a direct funding program for low and moderate income families. Parents, family members, legal guardians and individuals 16 of years of age and over may apply for resident children under the age of 18 who have a severe disability which results in a functional loss, who live at home with their families (or legal guardian) and who have extraordinary costs which are incurred directly as a result of the disability. Extraordinary costs include:
Included in the benefits are,
Applications are reviewed and assessed by a Special Agreements Officer who determines eligibility and the amount of money a family can receive based on:
| Family Size (Including parents) | Full basic entitlement paid to Gross Family Income | Some entitlement up to Gross Family Income) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 | $42000 | $61201 |
| Up to 5 | $43000 | $62201 |
| Up to 6 | $44000 | $63,201 |
| Up to 7 | $45000 | $64,201 |
|
The income levels will be raised by $18,000 for each additional child with a disability to calculate the net entitlement Breaking the Cycle indicates that the Government will be increasing these amounts to up to $1310 per child by 2011-2012 |
||
MCSS contracts with service providers who are are responsible for ensuring that quality services are provided to Employment Supports clients. Service provides are required to develop individual employment plans with clients. These plans identify the competitive employment goal of the client, as well as the barriers to employment and the key supports and services that will be provided to place and retain the client in employment. In recent years funding models have been changed and many former Service providers such as KACL got out of the arena due to the risks of failure in meeting job placement and retention targets as outlined in the funding agreement negotiated with the MCSS.
Recommendation 4.2.5 of the FPRP
The Committee recommends that the federal government create a federal basic income program for persons with disabilities and support a disability-related support program to be delivered by the province and territories.
In Ontario that program is called the Ontario Disability Support Program. Under the plan an individual who qualifies receives $584 under 6.1 of the Income Support Directives. He or she receives up to $469 shelter allowance under 6.2 of the Directives for a grand total of $1053 a month or 12636 a year. This is well below the Income support recommended by the Canadian Senate’s December 2009 recommendation of at or above Low Income Cutt-Off lines (LICO) or about $20,000 in 2010
Chargeable income is determined by applying exemptions and deductions to gross monthly earnings from employment and training programs.
ODSP payments are reduced by income earned or received by the persons unless exempt. Employment earnings or income from training is reduced by the following:
Up to $6000 may be received as gifts or from a trust.
Previously a consumer could earn up to $160 limit before a claw back of ODSP came into effect. The current system provides a $100 employment payment but the claw back was increased to 50%. Not withstanding that almost every consumers is better under this revised scheme families continue to protest the claw back.
There are limits to the amount of non-exempt assets you can have and still remain eligible for ODSP:
For a single person, the limit is $5,000
For a person with a spouse, the limit is $7,500
The limit increases by $500 for each child.
In some cases, you can get approval to save money over and above the asset limit. For example, you may save money to buy an item or service that you need for your health or for your disability.
Examples of non exempt assets (Unless exempt): Cash, money you have in bank accounts, stocks and bonds , Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP), vehicles, property (for example, land or a house), trust funds (except as described below)
Exempt assets that do not affect your eligibility for Income Support include:
House you own and live in, primary vehicle (the one you use the most, if you have more than one) trust funds derived from an inheritance or life insurance policy, up to allowable limits, the cash surrender value of life insurance policies, up to allowable limits, pre-paid funerals, Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP), Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP), necessary household and personal items, such as furniture and clothing.
Discretionary Trusts (Before funds are distributed to beneficiaries) and Disability Trusts up to $100,000 are also exempt. Gifts up to $6000 are exempts on an annual basis.
Persons receiving Ontario Disability Support Program Income Support get coverage for prescription drugs that are, (1) prescription drug coverage listed in the Ontario Drug Formulary, and prescribed by an approved health care professional. A drug card is mailed to each month with ODSP cheque or statement. This card for prescription drugs can be used in the following month. The card must be presented to the pharmacist when you give them your prescription. Some pharmacists may charge a fee (co-payment) of up to $2 per prescription. A doctor can ask the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to cover the cost of the prescription drug. The ministry will review the request and let your doctor know its decision.
Basic dental services and additional services if one’s disability, prescribed medications or prescribed treatment affects the person’s oral health. A dental card is mailed each month with your monthly cheque or statement. You can use this card for dental care services in the following month. Dental services under the Ministry of Community and Social Services Dental Care Plan may be provided by dentists and, in some cases, by independently operating dental hygienists. The dental card should be presented to the dentist or dental hygienist before treatment. Dentist or dental hygienist is participating in the ministry’s Dental Care Plan. If you get a letter from your Dentist one would think that dentures would also be covered. This is the case in some cities but has been denied to some individuals in Kenora.
The problem with most existing schemes at poverty reduction support is that they do not aim to get people out of poverty but rather to mange within poverty. Long ago private trusts were used to support those who but for such support, would otherwise live in poverty, a dependent on the state. In order to raise the income level and standard of living of a loved one, but still take advantage of a state’s social assistance programs, increasingly during the 20th century discretionary trusts were set up. These have been successfully defended in several Canadian court cases. In Ontario the name of one such Court cases has lent its name to such trusts: “Henson Trusts”.
Such trusts may be set up to take effect immediately but are more often set up in a will. The basic nature of the trust is a transfer of assets to a trustee who holds the assets in trust for the benefit of beneficiaries in amounts which will remain uncertain until a determining event -generally the death of the primary intended beneficiary:
I give all my property both real and personal of whatever kind and wherever situate, including any property over which I may have a general power of appointment, to my Trustees upon the following trusts: I direct my Trustees to set aside and keep invested the residue of my estate for my child x and during the lifetime of my said child x my Trustees shall keep such residue invested and pay the amount or amounts or the whole of the annual net income therefrom together with any amount or amounts or the whole of the capital thereof to or for the benefit of such child as my trustees shall, in the exercise of an absolute and unfettered discretion, consider advisable from time to time. Without in any way binding the discretion of my Trustees I further declare, that it is my wish that in exercising their discretion, my trustees shall take account of and, insofar as they considerable advisable, take such steps as will maximize the benefits my said children would receive from other sources including governmental sources if payments from the income and capital of my estate were not paid to or for the benefit of my said children. Without in any way restricting the exercise by the Trustees of the discretion herein given to them, and without imposing any legal obligation upon them, I declare, that it is my wish in making payments to or on behalf of child x that the trustees consult and be guided by the recommendations of an Advisory Board consisting of my trustees and such of the following persons who shall be living from time to time: ABC, DEF, GHI, JKL and such other person or persons appointed to the Advisory Board by the Advisory Board.
Upon the death of my child x I direct my Trustees to pay the funeral expenses of child x and thereafter to transfer as a gift to Kenora Association for Community Living Permanent Endowment the remaining balance of all income and capital remaining undistributed at the death of my child x.
If the Trustees distributed no more as a gift to x as is then currently permitted as an exempt asset under the ODSP currently in 20100 $6000 annually, X will continue to get ODSP. By this judiciously management of the fund X’s standard of living may be increased by $6000 annually.
Endowments
In addition to financial insecurity, KACL has considered other forms of impoverishment identified by Jerome M. Segal 1999 as often experienced by persons with special needs:
Material impoverishment, meaning inadequacies of goods and services such that the individual experiences (or is exposed to) disease, hunger ,starvation. This could be caused by inadequacies of monetary income, inadequacies of public investment, inadequacies of human support systems, or even simply bad luck.
Intellectual impoverishment, meaning an inadequacy of education and/or absence of interaction with others so that the individual does not partake in a life of the mind. This can be brought about through lack of schooling leading to illiteracy, or more commonly a culture of intellectual isolation.
Spiritual impoverishment, meaning the absence of any transcendent meaning in the experiences or activities of the individual. This might include, but certainly should not be limited to or defined in terms of, religious experience.
Aesthetic impoverishment, meaning the absence of beauty within the person’s life, whether it be the beauty of material possessions, the natural environment, the urban world, or the absence of ceremony.
Social impoverishment, meaning an absence of central relationships, of friends and loved ones. Persons with special needs are often excluded from such areas due to failure of others to accept their personhood, social exclusion or they simply can not afford to participate in opportunities because of lack of financial resources.
Non profit organizations have played a significant role in providing growth and development opportunities in all such areas and has been recognized from time to time by both levels of government. Government has also recognized that the costs of providing such innovative programs has become increasingly burdensome One excellent resource for understanding endowments is Harry van Bommel’s, On Our Own.. Together. In that book mention is made of the Deohaeko Support Network that employed an endowment to support almost the entire needs of a small group of 7 persons with special needs. Another excellent resource is our own KACL Association and endowment where only a small portion of many individual’s needs are met by the endowment and other non government funded programs such as Community Picnic, Community Wellness Program, Art Partners, Fitness Friends, In the Key of Community (multi-talent level sing group), Rise to the Rhythm (a drumming group) and other diverse inclusive activities. In an endowment, a number of donators make contributions to the endowment trustees who invest such proceeds and then distributed the income or (and capital if permitted) according to the terms of the endowment agreement. By the use of such gifts, poverty may be reduced by assisting individuals to enjoy activities or programs that would otherwise not be available for lack of income.
References
Canada, House of Commons, Federal Poverty Reduction Plan: Working in Partnership Towards Reducing Poverty in Canada, Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, (In this report abbreviated FPRP), http://intraspec.ca/403_HUMA_Rpt07-e.pdf
Canada, Senate, In from the Margins: A call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness, The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Report of the Subcommittee on Cities, December 2009 (In this report referred to as In From the Margins), http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/2/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/citi-e/rep-e/rep02dec09-e.pdf
Government of Ontario, Breaking the Cycle: Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy, December 2008, http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/breakingthecycle/index.aspx
Van Bommel, Harry (2002) On our Own...Together, Scarborough, Ontario: Resources Supporting Family and Community
Legacies Yalnizyan, Armine (December 2010) The Rise of Canada’s Richest 1%, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/rise-canadas-richest-1