March 24, 2021 – Toronto – Upon the release of the Ontario government’s 2021-22 Budget, March of Dimes Canada welcomes investments in COVID-19 vaccination access and broadband infrastructure while regretfully noting a lack of support for Ontarians with disabilities as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to expose inequality and inaccessibility in Ontario’s economic and social structures. 

It is of no surprise that the pandemic response and vaccination efforts are at the forefront of the 2021 Budget. March of Dimes Canada supports ensuring that the COVID-19 vaccination process is barrier-free for Ontarians with physical, cognitive, communication and sensory disabilities. We thank Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and Minister of Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho for investing $3.7M to transport Ontarians with disabilities and seniors with mobility issues to and from vaccination sites. 

“March of Dimes Canada looks forward to continuing to work with Minister Raymond Cho and the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility deliver on this commitment as a key stakeholder in ensuring barrier-free access to COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Leonard Baker, President & CEO, March of Dimes Canada. 

As a major provider of supportive living and attendant care services in Ontario, March of Dimes Canada is acutely aware of the challenges being faced by Ontarians with disabilities, their families and other home and community care service providers across the province in recruiting and retaining personal support workers (PSWs). We appreciate the province’s recent decision to extend temporary wage increases for PSWs in home and community care until June 30, 2021. However, March of Dimes Canada encourages the provincial government to continue to ensure the economic feasibility of pursuing a career as a PSW in home and community care settings by making wage increases permanent and addressing wage and job parity issues as quickly as possible. 

Ontarians with disabilities and seniors have said time and again they want to live safely and independently in their own homes. March of Dimes Canada strongly supports this desire and thus we are disappointed by the government choosing to not increase their investment in the March of Dimes Canada Home and Vehicle Modification Program (HVMP). 

Administered by March of Dimes Canada on behalf of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, an increased investment in the HVMP would help more Ontarians pay for changes to their homes or vehicles so they can stay in their own homes, be active in their communities, and work. The government’s decision to instead re-emphasize the Seniors Home Safety Tax Credit, already announced in the November 2020 Economic Update, unfortunately does not adequately address this need. 

While many Ontarians with disabilities are seniors, the tax credit leaves aside younger persons with disabilities, whose home renovation needs are often complex and fails to benefit low-income Ontarians – including seniors – who require costly renovations they cannot afford to pay for up front.

“At this historic moment when more Ontarians than ever have expressed their wishes to remain in their own homes as long as possible, this was a missed opportunity to support some of our society’s most vulnerable – and to deliver direct stimulus to home and vehicle modification businesses in every community,” said Mr. Baker. “March of Dimes Canada will continue to act as a trusted service provider for this program and looks forward to future opportunities to increase its reach.”