McGUINTY'S REPEAL OF ZERO TOLERANCE
OPENS
DOOR TO ABUSE OF WELFARE SYSTEM
BROCKVILLE – Leeds-Grenville
MPP Bob Runciman today warned the McGuinty government
that its decision to scrap the PC government’s
zero tolerance for welfare fraud policy will
result in a return to fraud and abuse of the
welfare system.
On December 24, the McGuinty government filed
a regulation under the Ontario Works Act that
repeals the lifetime ban on welfare benefits
for those convicted in a court of law of intentionally
defrauding the welfare system. Ontario Regulation
456/03 is published in the January 10, 2004
edition of The Ontario Gazette.
“Welfare fraud is a crime against welfare
recipients and taxpayers,” said Runciman.
“Those who commit welfare fraud are stealing
from people on welfare who really need the assistance
and cheating the hardworking taxpayers who support
the system.”
Between April 1997 and March 2002, the PC government
identified $276.8 million in social assistance
that people were not entitled to receive, as
well as over $123.2 million in avoided future
costs.
“Zero tolerance was put in place by our
government to protect the system for those who
really need it,” said Runciman. “Welfare
is for the needy, not the greedy.”
The zero tolerance policy on welfare fraud
applied only to those convicted of welfare fraud.
Other family members continued to receive their
portion of the assistance.
Media Contact:
Don Swayne
Constituency Executive Assistant
(613-342-9522)
