On February 25, 2009, the provincial government introduced Bill 152: The Poverty Reduction Act, 2009.
This legislation is significant because it acknowledges that poverty is not inevitable and that government can and should create policy to reduce poverty. But it has been criticized for a variety of shortcomings.
The Bill passed first reading in the legislature on March 25 and has been sent to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs for review. The Standing Committee held two days of hearings in Toronto (despite efforts to get hearings across the province) on April 20 and 21. Presenters commented on the Bill and made recommendations for how it can be improved.
To prepare for the hearings, the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction consulted with lawyers familiar with the legislative process and human rights law, and people who have worked on similar legislation in Quebec.
As a Network partner, ISAC staff presented 25 in 5′s recommendations to the Standing Committee on April 20.
Read 25 in 5′s Point by Point Recommendations for Improving Bill 152 by clicking here with the suggested changes either highlighted or crossed out.
An electronic version of the Bill is available here.
Canadians must work together to elimante poverty in Ontario. We cannot stand by a let people suffer needlessly when we are blessed with such abundant resources. Elimanting poverty is the right and just thing to do. Not in the future but now…as soon as possible!!!!