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)