Doug Ford tells homeless to get off their ass and work, the “best way” to solve homelessness

September 23, 2024 – During an announcement of investing up to $25M in Cobourg’s water infrastructure to help enable new-home construction in the town alongside Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini and Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland, Premier Doug Ford spoke highlighted his government’s spending on housing benefits and homelessness supports in the local area, but said the “best way” to solve homelessness was for individuals who are experiencing homelessness and healthy to start working:

You know what the best way to get people to be able to get out of the encampments, get out of homeless? Get an application and drop it off [at] one of these companies and start working. You need to start working if you’re healthy, bottom line.

If you’re unhealthy, I’ll take care of you the rest of my life, your life, we’ll take care of you. But if you’re healthy, get off your A-S-S and start working like everyone else is. Very simple.

Premier Doug Ford

This was met with mild applause from those in attendance.

Open Council commentary

If you’re unhealthy or unable to work, the Ontario government’s social support programs will “take care of you” with:

• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) of $1,308 a month
• Ontario Works (OW) of $733 a month, was last increased October 2018
• Minimum wage worker earnings per month: $2,752
• Median rent in Cobourg (October 2023): $1,325

In September 2024:

• Median rent in Ontario for a bachelor unit is $1,833
• Unemployment rate is 6.9%
• Youth unemployment rate is 15%

Critical reception

Sources

• ‘Different this time’: Critics say Ford’s ‘get off your A-S-S’ remarks are an escalation – Global News
• ‘Get off your a-s-s:’ Doug Ford scolded for telling homeless people to get jobs – Toronto Star