Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentOntario changes regulations to prevent illegal migrants from collecting social assistanceScott Stinson: The Ontario premier was responding to a story first reported in the National Post last month You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The Ontario Legislature at Queen's Park in Toronto. Photo by Martin Bertrand/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Ontario government has changed regulations to prevent people who are not legal immigrants from collecting social assistance payments.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorDoug Ford posted on social media Thursday morning that “taxpayer-funded social assistance was never meant to support people living in Ontario illegally. As of today, it doesn’t.”The Ontario premier was first alerted to the situation by a National Post story last month that reported on the case of a man who was awarded social assistance payments by a provincial tribunal despite living in Canada illegally for more than two decades.In that case, the man entered the country in 1997 on a visa that expired after four years, but stayed and worked cash jobs until 2023, when he entered the homeless shelter system. He had initially been denied benefits by Ontario Works due to his lack of legal status, but successfully appealed to the benefits tribunal.The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture.By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Right? will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againFord said last month, citing the Post story, that “our government will always be there to support people on hard times — but that doesn’t include people living in Canada illegally,” and he vowed to change the regulations.Thursday’s announcement does that, amending regulations under the Ontario Works Act and the Ontario Disability Support Program Act to “provide clarity on who is eligible for social assistance,” according to a government statement.Under the new rules, those in Canada illegally and “individuals authorized to remain in Canada on a temporary basis” — on a student visa, for example — are no longer eligible to collect social assistance payments.“These changes will protect taxpayer dollars and ensure these programs are there for the people they were intended to support,” said Michael Parsa, minister of children, community and social services, in a statement.The federal Conservatives called for such a change last week, with Michelle Rempel Garner, the Tory critic for Immigration and Citizenship saying the tribunal decision was “yet another government action that undermines core principles of our immigration system: those who come to Canada should do so legally and with a clear commitment to becoming self-sufficient as quickly as possible.”She said then that the federal Liberal government should back any change to the regulations that the Ontario government might make. 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