Read Our 2020 Fall Pre-Budget Submission


The Government of Ontario is preparing a Fall 2020 Budget to help start Ontario down the road to recovery from COVID-19. OASW believes that a specific focus must be placed on ensuring equitable opportunities for all Ontarians impacted by the pandemic.

For the Fall 2020 Budget, OASW has recommended that government:

  • Immediately increase social assistance rates to more accurately reflect the cost of living.
  • Increase annual mental health and addictions funding to $380 million.
  • Strengthen mental health care for long-term care residents by increasing the number of Registered Social Workers in homes.
  • Build safer communities by hiring Registered Social Workers dedicated to discharge planning for all provincial correctional facilities.
  • Improve and expedite access to mental health care for motor vehicle accident victims.

We will continue to advance these recommendations and others, in ongoing meetings with government officials.


About OASW
 
OASW is the voice of social work in Ontario. It is a voluntary, bilingual, non-profit association representing approximately 6000 social workers. All members have a university degree in social work at the bachelor, master or doctoral level. OASW works to actively speak on behalf of social workers on issues of interest to the profession and advocates for the improvement of social policies and programs directly affecting social work practice and client groups served.