Ontario revamps rules to bar illegal residents from receiving social aid

Ontario's government has altered its social assistance regulations to prevent individuals without legal immigration status from receiving benefits under Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. Premier Doug Ford announced the change on social media, stating that taxpayer-funded aid was never meant for people living in the province illegally and that the new rules are effective immediately. The amendment, detailed in a government statement, excludes both undocumented residents and those authorized to stay temporarily, such as student visa holders.

The policy shift was prompted by one outlet's report about a man who, despite living illegally since 1997, won a benefits tribunal ruling. Minister Michael Parsa said the revisions protect taxpayer dollars and keep programs focused on their intended recipients. Federal Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner had recently called for such measures, urging the federal Liberal government to support provincial changes.