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the state of ontario's social justice tribunals is alarming. the HRTO is notoriously backlogged. the LTB is synonymous with dysfunction. the CICB was abolished. less is known about the social benefits tribunal...
the SBT hears all social assistance matters, but most relate to denial of disability benefits (ODSP). if on ODSP, you live in poverty and are too disabled to function/work. there are now 520k beneficiaries on ODSP. a single person on ODSP gets $1169/mo or $14,028 annually.
the province is showing signs of abolishing/curtailing the SBT. vacancies are not being filled. the SBT hears thousands of appeals (~10k recvd every year) but there are only ~a dozen FT members currently sitting. these vacancies are likely why appellants wait 1+ year to be heard.
appellants are now receiving hearing dates for late 2021 or 2022. many of my clients who had hearings rescheduled due to covid (9 months ago!) have not received a new hearing date. if you are poor and disabled, you cannot wait a year or longer to receive your benefits.
hearings are also moving permanently to tele/videoconference (w exceptions) *even after* covid ends. the province has put the onus re access to technology on individual appellants or their home clinics.
some don't have access to phones, let alone a laptop with webcam and internet. clinics are already underfunded & do not have resources to take on this added responsibility (esp considering LTB is also digital during covid). the SBT has no plans to address these issues.
the auditor general's reports over the years have also included language of reform of the SBT, w calls to amend the current process w new legislation expected to be passed in March 2022. there have been no plans to consult w clinics or those who live in poverty re these changes.
finally, SBT management is largely unresponsive to many of these concerns raised by clinic staff over the years. watching this downward spiral is deeply troubling. cc @fordnation @douglasdowney
