OCAP Metro Hall Occupation

More Than 150 Angry Social Assistance Recipients
Storm and Occupy Municipal Welfare Offices

Members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) and more than 150 people struggling to survive on Ontario Works and ODSP occupied the 12th floor of Toronto’s Metro Hall.

The group refused to leave until they receive the Special Diet Benefit that they are entitled to.

The City is responsible for administering social assistance in Toronto, and people are currently being denied their right to the Special Diet Benefit. More people than ever are being forced to live on welfare in Ontario. They face two major problems. First of all, the income they receive does not let them pay their rent and feed their families properly. Secondly, welfare offices do all they can to deny even the small benefits people are supposed to get. When they apply for Special Diet, Community Start Up and other benefits, they are denied their rights. This must stop.

Recorded in Toronto, 8 December 2009.