This article was first published by Sudbury.com, a Village Media publication.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, Nickel Belt Ontario Liberal Party candidate Natalie Labbée said her party’s pledge to double Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates is “excessive.”
Political opponent France Gélinas, who is campaigning under the Ontario NDP banner, called these comments “hurtful to people with disabilities.”
At issue is Labbée’s response to a comment on the “Sudbury Politics and News” Facebook page regarding the Liberal ODSP pledge, in which she posted, “I agree, the doubling is excessive.”
“I am certain these policy statements will be adjusted so that there is more fairness across the board in supporting people who need it and what the government can actually afford,” she added.
Although “in support of a livable income,” she said ODSP rates need to be “fair to those who do work, or have to work two jobs to make ends meet and don’t qualify for ODSP, rent subsidy or other medical benefits.”
“The apathy of the working person would be even greater as a result, and nobody wins when that happens,” she added.
In an email response to Sudbury.com’s inquiry regarding her going against party line, Labbée said she “misspoke about this and the comment certainly doesn’t capture my full position on the doubling of ODSP.”
“There are nearly half a million people who rely on ODSP across Ontario, which currently provides a maximum of $1,368 per month and has remained nearly stagnant under Doug Ford,” she wrote. “It simply isn’t enough to live on.”
In contrast to what she had previously posted, Labbée said that she is “fully behind” the Ontario Liberal Party pledge to double ODSP, which she said is “a commendable commitment for sure and well overdue.”
The Ontario NDP has also pledged to double ODSP rates, which Nickel Belt NDP candidate France Gélinas said has her full support.
"You don't choose to be disabled,” she said. “You don’t choose to be born with cerebral palsy or be in a wheelchair for your life, but it happens, and this is what a caring society does.”
Successive Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments have allowed ODSP to fall far behind where it should be, she said, clarifying that not just anyone is admitted to the program.
“They are disabled, and if there’s any chance you could work, you don’t qualify for ODSP,” Gélinas said, citing various checks and balances by medical professionals which are required before people, who are often receiving active medical treatment, qualify for payments.
“Life sometimes is not fair, and they’re forced to live in poverty, and this is wrong, Gélinas said.
Comments such as those made by Labbée, are “hurtful to people with disabilities,” Gélinas said, questioning the notion that doubling ODSP would have any of the ill effects the Sudbury Liberal candidate cautioned against in her since-deleted post.
What’s wrong with people being able to live where they want to live and not necessarily in supportive housing, or feeding themselves and having clothes, a cell phone and internet access, Gélinas asked.
“When you have a position of leadership, you cannot fan the flame of this discrimination,” Gélinas said, adding that under the existing ODSP funding scheme, people can survive, “but cannot live.”
“She is in a position of leadership right now, she is a city councillor, we have to be careful with the language that we use,” Gélinas said of Labbée. “To fan the flames of division when you’re in a position of power does a lot of harm to a lot of vulnerable people."
Sudbury.com also reached out to Nickel Belt Progressive Conservative candidate Randy Hazlett and Libertarian candidate James Chretien for their insight on ODSP and Labbée’s comments. We did not reach out to Green candidate Connie Hill or New Blue candidate Paul Divincenzo because they became official candidates as work on this story was wrapping up.
Hazlett is not granting interview requests during his campaign.
His campaign manager, Katie Robinette, sent an email response to Sudbury.com’s inquiry defending current ODSP rates.
“Our Ontario PC team made the two largest increases to ODSP rates in the program’s history – and we did it back-to-back,” according to the statement. “We’ve tied ODSP rates to inflation, raising rates by nearly 17 percent since the last election, with future increases each July.
“We’ve also increased the ODSP earned income threshold by 400 per cent (to $1,000 per month), allowing recipients who can work to keep more of their hard-earned money.”
ODSP is projected to cost $7.7 billion by 2028-29, according to the Progressive Conservative statement, which dismisses the notion of doubling rates as “an unrealistic plan.”
Chretien said he would support increases to ODSP as long as the government guards against raising taxes or adding to the province’s debt load to pay for it.
“I do personally know people who have been on it for some time and have heard the issues with rent costs and food cost increases and the necessity of a higher monthly allowance to cover these inflated costs caused by all levels of government in Ontario and Canada.”
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
