Waterloo Activists say Axing Special Diet Allowance is a "Cruel Cut"

Event against the proposed cut in the McGuinty Liberals budget planned for May 20

Waterloo Region, ON

Waterloo Region community members are saying the McGuinty Liberals should reconsider axing the Special Diet Allowance as announced in their latest budget by demonstrating the need for increased access to healthy food for Waterloo Region's poor. An informal group of concerned Waterloo Region will be distributing free, healthy food as well as information about the Special Diet Allowance this Thursday, May 20 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at Speakers Corner in Downtown Kitchener. John Milloy, the Kitchener Centre Liberal MPP is being invited to attend.

The Special Diet Allowance allowed individuals and families using Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Payments (ODSP) to access additional funds to supplement their diets for a variety of medical conditions. It was being accessed by 16-20% of OW or ODSP recipients when the cut was announced. Rates of use of the programme had gone up in recent years, largely as a result of a successful public education campaign initiated by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP).

“Living in poverty means people have decreased access to healthy food because they simply can't afford it” said Alison Murray, one of the organizers. “Over 50% of the people accessing food banks in Canada are on some form of social assistance. Hunger Count 2006, a report released by The Canadian Association of Food Banks, shows that 78% of Food Bank clients are unable to afford fresh vegetables and 57% can't afford milk products.”

Hunger Count 2006 also stated all food back clients are at risk of malnutrition as a result of their low income.

“Adverse health effects from lack of access to nutritious food is a no-brainer,” said Nadeem Lawji, an event organizer, “the Special Diet Allowance was being accessed by people whose medical conditions necessitated special dietary provisions they were unable to afford without additional funds”.

He went on to add: “Poverty itself is a health condition necessitating more access to funds for nutritious food. Statistics Canada national health study showed that poor people are more likely to suffer from heart problems, high blood pressure and depression. 1/5 of the poor suffer from three or more chronic conditions”.

People in Waterloo Region were travelling as far as Toronto to find doctors who would help them access the programme, including one doctor currently under investigation for fraud. Citing this and other fraud in the programme, the McGuinty Liberals decided to axe the Special Diet Allowance in favour of a 1% increase in social assistance.

“Fraud prevention is a politically expedient claim that does not reflect the reality of how people living in poverty access social assistance,” said Evan Coole, another organizer. “A 1% increase in rates means a single parent with two children will receive just $10 more a month. $10 couldn't buy fresh fruits and vegetables for 3, let alone provide adequate funds for special diets needed by people who have diabetes or other chronic illness”.

The event is taking place between 4-6pm on Thursday, May 20 at Speakers Corner in Downtown Kitchener. Members of the public, media and local politicians are being invited to attend.