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Letter of Transmittal

May 2010

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur
Minister of Community & Social Services
Hepburn Block
6th Floor, 80 Grosvenor St
Toronto ON M7A1E9

Dear Minister:

I am pleased to submit the Social Assistance Review Advisory Council’s recommendations for a scope and terms of reference of an Ontario Income Security Review. Our report proposes a comprehensive assessment of income security, employment supports and related services for working age adults, which builds on the foundation laid out in Breaking the Cycle and its vision “of a province where every person has the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential and contribute to and participate in a prosperous and healthy Ontario.”

The Council’s journey since our appointment in December 2009 has reinforced a deep and continuing dissatisfaction with the existing approach to social assistance from all quarters: community groups, business, labour, policy makers, the people who run the system and those who receive its benefits.

We believe that now is the time to engage Ontarians from all sectors and walks of life in constructing a long-term vision of an income security system that can guide a coherent, purposeful and focused strategy for reform by successive governments over the next decade and beyond. The Council thanks you for this opportunity to contribute to Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and for the support that the government has provided in completing our task. We remain ready to offer our assistance as Ontario takes the next steps in the review.

Respectfully submitted,


Gail Nyberg Chair,
Social Assistance Review Advisory Council