Rima Berns‑McGown MPP, Beaches–East York

Government of Ontario

Services and Assistance


We are here to help! Contact us for assistant with any provincial matter such as education, healthcare, employment, OW/ODSP and more. Please also see the links below for more information on navigating provincial services and programs or the official website of the Ontario Government. 

Our office is happy to act as a Commissioner of Oaths on many provincial government documents (ex. Ontario name change forms). Please note that our staff are not notary publics, and therefore cannot notarize documents. For information about the difference between a notary public and a commissioner of oaths, and for information on how to find a notary public or a commissioner of oaths, please see here. Please note: our office does not commission Vaccination Exemption Forms.

  • Housing help centres 
    • The Housing Help Centres listed are non-profit agencies that help people find and keep housing and avoid eviction. Housing help services are available in most shelters and many drop-ins as well. Use this link to find a housing help centre near you. 
  • Flemingdon community legal services
    • FCLS may provide legal representation in in certain areas of landlord and tenant law, please refer to their website to find out more.
  • East Toronto Community Legal Services

    • They can provide legal advice and representation in the following areas of law:

      • Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
      • Landlord/Tenant
      • Immigration
      • Employment Insurance and Employment Law
      • Canada Pension
      • Criminal Injuries Compensation - Advice only
      • Family Violence
      • Consumer Law
      • Small Claims Court matters - Advice only
      • Chinese speaking Clinic - Tuesday Afternoons
      • Certified True Copies and Affidavits in limited areas of law

  • Service Ontario 
    • Driver's licences, plate stickers, health cards, birth certificates and other services provided by the Ontario. 

Ontario Works - OW provides money for food, shelter and other costs to people in financial need who meet the eligibility criteria.

Financial Assistance may include money for food, shelter, clothing and other household costs, the cost of prescription medications, and other help with health costs.

Employment Assistance may include options to help people find jobs or become more job-ready, money for training and other employment related expenses, and employment programs that offer career exploration, skill training and more.

You can find an online application for OW here and a link to local resources here. 

Ontario Disability Support Program- ODSP 

If you have a disability and need help with your living expenses, you may be eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

ODSP offers:

  • financial assistance to help you and your family with essential living expenses
  • benefits, for you and your family, including prescription drugs and vision care
  • help finding and keeping a job, and advancing your career

Legal Resources if you need to appeal a decision or have concerns: 

East Toronto Community Legal Services 

Flemingdon Community Legal Services 

A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.

Eligibility for OHIP

Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). Generally, to be eligible for Ontario health coverage you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or among one of the newcomer to Canada groups who are eligible for OHIP as set out in Ontario’s Health Insurance Act ; and
  • Physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period; and
  • Physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after establishing residency in the province; and
  • Make your primary place of residence in Ontario.

OHIP coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario. The ministry strongly encourages new and returning residents to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the OHIP waiting period.

Finding a Family Doctor – Health Care Connect

Health Care Connect helps Ontarians who are without a family health care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to find one. People without a family health care provider are referred to a family doctor or a nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in their community. To find out more information about Health Care Connect, click here.

Finding Long-term Care

Arranging care for yourself or a family member will involve a number of steps. This section of the website describes the process for arranging care, and the role you can play in the process. See the Arranging Care page for more details.

Your local Local Health Integration Network can help. LHIN are provincially-funded agencies that provide Long-Term Care information and referral services in your area. The information is provided free of charge. To locate the LHIN nearest you, use our LHIN locator.

To find a suitable long-term care home, this search engine will help you. If you require any assistance with finding a long-term care space, please contact my office.

If you or someone you know will soon be celebrating a special birthday or anniversary, or commemorating a special event, you can request special greetings by sending an e-mail to our office.

NOTE: The recipient or requester must live in the riding, and scroll requests will only be processed if the recipient is a resident of Ontario.

Here is the criteria:

The Premier of Ontario will send a congratulatory letter on:

  • a 40th wedding anniversary and all subsequent anniversaries; or
  • an 80th birthday and all subsequent birthdays.

Requests for the Premier’s greetings must be submitted at least two (2) months in advance.  Please note that congratulatory letters will not be issued more than once every five (5) years.

Your Member of Provincial Parliament, will send a congratulatory letter on:

  • Any birthday or wedding anniversary; or
  • Any celebratory occasion.

Requests for the MPP's greetings must be submitted as early as possible.

Rent-Geared-to-Income Subsidy

Housing help centres 

  • The Housing Help Centres listed are non-profit agencies that help people find and keep housing and avoid eviction. Housing help services are available in most shelters and many drop-ins as well. Use this link to find a housing help centre near you. 
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