The Government of Ontario issued its call for pre-budget submissions for the 2026 Ontario Budget. Feed Ontario has provided a written submission to the Minister of Finance that details the investments we would like included in the 2026 Ontario Budget. Below is a summary of our requests; the full submission can be found in the link above.
Helping people get back to work
Ontario Works (OW) is the social assistance program intended to help “those most in need while they satisfy obligations to become and stay employed;” however, only 7% of OW cases had earnings from employment last year. This low employment rate is nearly half the 13% rate from five years ago, and lower than the rate for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) cases.
Data also shows that fewer people are exiting OW to employment, and 1 in 3 return within one year and that more recipients are experiencing homelessness, further reducing their ability to obtain employment and move off the program.
This is a problem for all of us. For the Province, it means greater costs in the long run. For businesses, it means missing out on an eager and willing labour force. For OW recipients, it means greater challenges getting back on their feet and a higher chance of long-term dependence on the program.
Feed Ontario’s budget submission
In Budget 2026, the Government of Ontario has an opportunity to support low-income workers and strengthen Ontario’s labour force.
One of the ways that this can be accomplished is by increasing the monthly income cap for Ontario Works (OW) from $200 to $600 while maintaining the current 50% clawback rate. This change would build on the Province’s past successes of increasing the income cap for ODSP recipients in 2023 and annual increases to the minimum wage.
Endorsements
This submission has been endorsed by 141 Feed Ontario food bank members.
Read Feed Ontario’s full pre-budget submission.