Who to send letters about ODSP to!

[Malcolm53]

I am frequently asked who should we send complaint letters about ODSP services and problems to.  I am sure that the obvious contact people are your local MPP and Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services (mmeilleu...@liberal.ola.org). 

If you are not sure who your local MPP is you can find out at: http://www.electionsontario.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp

Other contacts who are all too often overlooked, unknown or forgotten are:

Deborah Matthews (LIB) - Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services
dmatth...@liberal.ola.org

Ernie Parsons (LIB) - Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services (Disabilities)
eparso...@liberal.ola.org

Gerry Martiniuk (PC) - Critic, Community and Social Services
gerry.m...@pc.ola.org

Michael Prue (NDP) - Critic, Community and Social Services
mpru...@ndp.on.ca

Rosario Marchese (NDP) - Critic, Disabilities
rmarch...@ndp.on.ca

And of course you can always write to Mr. McGuinty.  Believe it or not someone actually reads the correspondence sent to his address.  dmcguint...@liberal.ola.org

Finally I would also recommend that you send a copy of your letter to your local government.  Local governments have a huge stake in how ODSP operates as they still fund a major portion of the program.  Our local governments MUST be made aware of how the Minister of Community and Social Services treat Ontarians and must begin to support reforms.  Without their help and input Ontario will never be willing to break with tradition of painting ODSP recipients as leeches on the system.  Send a copy of your letter to BOTH your local mayor and alderman(person) / councillor.

I would love to receive copies of letters sent out. It is much easier for me to receive a copy of your letter via email.  If you have prepared your letter on a word processor (IE. MS Word, WordPerfect, Notepad) you could just send the file as an attachment.

Blessings
Malcolm

[Lady Shoshin]

I would love to receive copies of letters sent out. It is much easier for me to receive a copy of your letter via email.  If you have prepared your letter on a word processor (IE. MS Word, WordPerfect, Notepad) you could just send the file as an attachment.

Blessings
Malcolm

Malcolm, thank you for providing this space, walking through the fires is easier if someone walks alongside you. 

I just emailed the organization who commissioned the 2003 "Deserving Dignity" report and asked if they might consider presenting it to Parliament again.  If we knew about it, we could mount an email campaign in support of it.

I think it is fair to write MPPs and recommend they have their staff check the numbers of people on OW and ODSP, then consider what a voting block that could be if our concerns were addressed.

Shoshin

[Glenn]

Malcolm,
Maybe make this a "postie" or "stickie, like two other posts in this
group? It would make it easier to find in the future for people to use
it the information :)

[Terrie]

That would be great if the majority of us voted.

Unfortunately most  people in poverty chose not to vote. Politicians tend to work with areas of their riding where they  perceive that  people are voting and  can possibly be persuaded to vote for them.
  The best thing for us to do right now is to  quiz the local politicians on what they will do to address our concerns  and how they will work to persuade  their counterparts in  the provincial and Federal elections to effect change  on our behalf.

Then  spread the word to vote for those that can be our allies.


I already know who I  want as Ottawa's Mayor. I have been busy but will be checking  who the candidates are for  my new  ward as I moved in March. I  will continue to pester the incumbent in my old ward as I feel Mme Meilleur  picked a whiny brat to replace herself when she moved to provincial  politics. Even if he realizes hat I am no longer voting in his ward I still   do much of  my volunteer work and advocacy  there.

Terrie

On 10/10/06, Lady Shoshin <lady.s...@gmail.com>

I think it is fair to write MPPs and recommend they have their staff check the numbers of people on OW and ODSP, then consider what a voting block that could be if our concerns were addressed.

Shoshin

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

--
Terrie ( mocha...@gmail.com )

Satyagraha

[Lynn Watson]

Something I find really dumb with this new idea of ODSP's to force the spouse of recipients out to work under OW is that the form states right on it to the doctor that "no diagnosis or documentation is required". Well you tell me then how in heavens name can they tick off a box that states that the spouse can "participate as long as their medical condition is taken into consideration" when the OW worker is going to have absolutely no idea what the condition is nor what their limitations are???? They certainly can't guess nor can they check with the doctor since the form says no documentation is required and you haven't given any sort of permission to check your spouses medical records so think they have rushed this way to fast trying to put this idea into motion. I really don't understand how they are going to make they idea fly. Are they still going to force this spouse to do their bidding? Go out to work regardless? I am worried.   Lynn

[sidney95]

Dear Lady Shoshin,

Thank you for picking up where I don't have the courage or strength to
do so. Honestly, I never thought anyone would even look at the link
for that article I posted. This is how things get done. Big Hug to
you! If more people would add to the ODSP Wish List I posted, I would
like to assemble that information to "wordsmith" into those
recommendations made in the "Deserving Dignity".
Thanks, Sid

[Glenn]

Terrie wrote:
> That would be great if the majority of us voted.
>
> Unfortunately most people in poverty chose not to vote. Politicians tend to
> work with areas of their riding where they perceive that people are voting
> and can possibly be persuaded to vote for them.

I vote in all 3 elections and I'm sure the politicians know it. Look
out ballots, here I come in November!!! <evil grin!>

:)

[abrowne]

Hi Terrie,

Hey, let's prove them wrong ... I voted in every provincial, federal and

municipal election since I was old enough to vote.  I even belonged to

a political party before I was old enough to vote.  I changed political

stripes since then, but I always watch what they're doing and I always

get to know the ones that *do* get elected.

 

The municipal elections are important as they include administration

of Ontario Works, Discretionary Funds, Housing Supports in Your

Region, Public Transit, some aspects of Education (school trustees),

Employment Supports (for OW and non-disabled spouses of ODSP),

Regional/municipal planning issues (which will affect in the future some

of the other above issues), Water, Sewage, Cleanliness, Policing, etc.

Most of these things are important to all of us everyday and with

regards to this election, ask your candidates questions about what

you're most concerned about. I'm already having a heyday with my

region as yet another article on public transit will soon be published.

A

Terrie <mocha...@gmail.com> wrote:

That would be great if the majority of us voted.

Unfortunately most  people in poverty chose not to vote. Politicians tend to work with areas of their riding where they  perceive that  people are voting and  can possibly be persuaded to vote for them.

---

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business.

[Terrie]

I also always vote when given the opportunity.

As exec for NDP in my riding I saw the other side where stats were looked at as to where to target info.

I  was highly unimpressed. 

I also know the local players. in fact I  lived in the same apt building as one of the mayoralty candidates until March LOL

My new faith discourages me from actively  campaigning for my favourite candidates (working on that one) but I am encouraged to vote and be informed. I have always encouraged those around me to vote and make informed choices. I  am proud to say that the homelessness debate here ( www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca to hear it ) was well attended, all 6 candidates  addressed the issue and  we were honoured that we were asked if our format could be duplicated in several of the debates that hare following us. 


Terrie