Province clarifies who can get a Special Diet Allowance

News Release
NWHU

The Ontario government has recently clarified their intentions regarding the Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Special Diet Allowance. The press release from the government stated “the Special Diet Allowance is intended to help people on social assistance who require a special diet because of a medical condition”.
This clarification by the government was in response to many medical practitioners approving OW/ODSP recipients for the Special Diet Allowance who are unable to provide enough nutritious food for themselves and their families.
Medical practitioners justified these actions due to the many negative health effects related to poor access to safe and nutritious food. These practitioners believe that the Special Diet Allowance money allow individuals the opportunity to obtain food in a dignified manner, allowing for personal choice and preference.
“These medical practitioners are attempting to prevent illness and disease by helping provide access to healthy foods now; it is unfortunate that this has been seen as an abuse of the system” says Jarrod Gunn-McQuillan, Public Health Dietitian with the Northwestern Health Unit. “Health policies need to focus on factors that we know contribute to health and prevent disease and illness more often. Instead, the majority of our healthcare dollars go towards reacting after the onset of a disease or illness,” states Gunn-McQuillan.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services in conjunction with health care professionals, including dietitians, nutritionists, physicians and the Ontario Medical Association have put together a list of medical conditions that qualify for the Special Diet Allowance. This and other information pertaining to the changes to the Special Diet Allowance can be found at www.nwhu.on.ca.
For more information contact Jarrod Gunn-McQuillan at 807-482-3704 or jgunn-mcquillan@
nwhu.on.ca.