Ontario Premier Doug Ford is moving to restrict access to provincial social assistance for people without permanent legal status in Canada, following through on a promise he made last month after an illegal immigrant was awarded Ontario Works benefits.
The Ford government has amended the eligibility rules for Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), immediately making people living in Canada without legal status ineligible for assistance under either program.
The new rules also exclude people who are legally in Canada on a temporary basis, including individuals holding student visas and work permits.
