Computer repair ontario

Ontario computers can't process social assistance increases

TORONTO -- Ontario's increased welfare and disability support payments, the first increase in 11 years, will arrive in two lumpsum amounts in October because of problems with a computer system installed at a cost of $500 million by the Harris government. It cannot process the changes into the monthly installments.

"We have a computer that just can't do it," said Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello. "I'm told it's technologically impossible--the technology is just not there, it will now have to be added in." She accused her Tory predecessors of sacrificing business sense to political expediency when it came to the original computer contract. She states that the paper trail confirms this assertion.

The computer system is unable to incorporate the three-per-cent increase in benefits announced in the May 18 provincial budget.

This means welfare and disability support recipients cannot receive the three-per-cent increases in monthly payments, but will get two separate lump sum payments this fall.

The program design was contracted to Anderson Consulting, now called Accenture Canada. The company was supposed to paid out of savings achieved for the government. Estimated costs were initially $250 million which rose to $500 million. Minister Pupatello has accepted Accenture's explanation and blames the previous Tory government.

Accenture claims that the problems were created by the government of the day which was insisted on deadlines that did not allow for proper testing before it was put into operation.

Provincial auditor Erik Petrers criticized the government in 2002 for cost overruns and technical flaws that included the issuance of cheques for individuals who were not on social assistance. The computer system was supposed to improve welfare fraud detection and the delivery of social assistance benefits.

A family on welfare will get $130 more in October and again in December while a family living on disability payments will get an additional $200 in September and again in November.

Repair to the computer program is expected by March 2005 at cost of $20 At that time the increases will be incorporated into the monthly cheques. The revision work has been contracted to Accenture.