PETITION TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
WHEREAS the CRTC states it is important for all Canadians to be able to connect to quality internet services at affordable prices;
WHEREAS Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients live significantly below the poverty line, a gap that continues to grow;
WHEREAS our dependence on the internet has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic;
WHEREAS free, public Wi-Fi access - from libraries to coffee shops - has been severely reduced or completely eliminated due to the pandemic, and even when they are operating in full capacity, these places are not appropriate for confidential or private meetings;
WHEREAS lower-cost internet options may exist in some urban areas, in Northern Ontario, Internet prices sky rocket to $100 a month or more;
THEREFORE we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately amend the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program Directive to include financial support for the cost of on-going internet access.