Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak is calling for changes to the welfare system in the province.
Hudak explained his plans Thursday at a town hall meeting at the Canadian Transportation Museum in Essex, Ont.
He says he wants to get people off of welfare and back into the workforce.
“Here in southwestern Ontario, we need to take another path," says Hudak.
Hudak suggested giving those on social assistance "food only" debit-style cards.
“The money that has been designated for food - you can have a debit card to actually make sure it goes to food," he says.
Hudak points to Toronto, saying it already has a similar plan in place.
“Tax payers sacrifice a lot of money,” says Hudak . “They want to make sure it goes to the purposes they suggest."
Hudak introduced his plan earlier Thursday at Queen's Park. He says the current system is long outdated and offers little encouragement for people to re-enter the workforce.
Hudak says changes would only apply to able-bodied welfare recipients.
Nearly half a million Ontarians are on financial assistance, which he says is costing billions in tax payer dollars.
Hudak’s plan would combine Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program into one agency.
“The case workers say they spend 70 per cent of their time trying to figure out this maze of paperwork,” he says. “Clear the paperwork aside, merge the programs and focus of getting people into the workforce or the training they need to actually get a job."
Hudak also suggested keeping track of the monthly activities those on welfare do, in order to qualify for the support.
