Bill 185 explained in plain English

Bill 185, the Ministry of Community and Social Services Amendment Act (Social Assistance Research Commission), 2016, proposes to establish an advisory commission to research and recommend social assistance rates and policies in Ontario.

This bill, titled the Ministry of Community and Social Services Amendment Act (Social Assistance Research Commission), 2016, proposes to establish a Social Assistance Research Commission. This commission would be an advisory group tasked with making recommendations on social assistance rates and policy in Ontario. The Act also defines "provincial social assistance" to include basic financial assistance under the Ontario Works Act, 1997, and income support under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997. The commission would be composed of nine individuals appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, with specific expertise required in areas such as socioeconomic policy, cost of living, and the economic and financial challenges faced by various vulnerable groups. The bill specifies certain requirements for the composition of the commission, such as including individuals with expertise related to disabilities, Indigenous individuals, and recipients or former recipients of provincial social assistance. The commission's mandate includes defining regions based on economic geography and cost of living, recommending annual social assistance rates based on an analysis of basic necessities and additional expenses for specific groups, and recommending policy on how social assistance interacts with precarious employment, child support, and workplace injury benefits. The commission would report annually to the Minister, who would then make these reports and their responses public. The Act would come into force six months after receiving Royal Assent.