Ontario’s Premier feels some people are not working but should.
Doug Ford twice this week remarked about people receiving some form of government assistance but are healthy to work.
He says it costs the province billions of dollars to pay people to sit at home.
“If you’re healthy, a healthy mind, a healthy body, you have to find gainful employment. You have to contribute,” says Ford.
Ford says for those people who may have a mental health issue, drug addiction or disability, the province remains there to support them.
He also looks to refugees and asylum-seekers contributing to the labour force.
He says with them, the federal government needs to be quicker in approving their work permits.
“It’s taking 18 months to two years. They’re living in the apartments up the road here, and they want to work. But guess what, they’re costing the taxpayers of Ontario $1 billion on Ontario works.”
Ford says 24% of all Ontario Works claimants are refugees and asylum seekers who want to work but are held back by paperwork.
“They aren’t lazy. They aren’t sitting there saying, I’m not going to work. I want to work.”
