Today’s budget took crucial steps to bring Ontario closer to the goal of reducing poverty by 25% by 2013. But the budget needed to go further to help low-income individuals and families get by in current tough economic times, said the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction.

“This budget has moved the bar forward on housing, tax credits, and child benefits in ways that will make a tangible difference in the lives of many Ontarians. But there are still significant gaps that must continue to be addressed in the year ahead,” said Pat Capponi, Facilitator of Voices From the Street.

The 25 in 5 Network identified five critical areas for government action, released in its Blueprint for Economic Stimulus and Poverty Reduction in February. The budget delivered on the Ontario Child Benefit, made significant progress on affordable housing, fell short on social assistance, missed the mark entirely on early learning and child care, and went halfway on labour standards.

“Increasing the Ontario Child Benefit to $92 a month as of this July will help protect low income families during an economic downturn and is crucial to the goal of reducing child and family poverty by 25% by 2013,” said Sarah Blackstock, of the Income Security Advocacy Centre. “We are eager, however, to ensure government meets its commitment that each child on social assistance will be better off by at least $50 a month at full OCB implementation.”

“Matching federal infrastructure dollars to build more affordable housing and repair existing social housing units is smart economic stimulus and an investment to keep tens of thousands of Ontarians out of the cold in this recession and beyond,” said Michael Shapcott of the Wellesley Institute.

“A two percent social assistance hike falls far short of what’s needed. Communities across Ontario will continue to call for a Healthy Food Supplement of $100 a month to help adults on welfare who are struggling,” said Peter Clutterbuck, of the Social Planning Network of Ontario. “We can expect more Ontarians to experience hardship and food bank lines and homelessness to grow.”

“With no new funding for early learning and child care in this Budget, thousands of families could have their subsidies cut starting in September. Many parents who rely on child care to stay employed, get retrained and keep their head above water could face an economic crisis. The situation is urgent and we cannot afford to wait for action,” said Jacquie Maund, Ontario Coordinator of Campaign 2000.

The 25 in 5 Network was also looking for the Budget to kickstart the development of a new Ontario Housing Benefit, but no details were forthcoming. Ontario only went halfway on its commitment to hiring new employment standards officers to ensure more workers will have their wages and basic rights protected through this downturn, and 25 in 5 called for immediate action on the other half. In addition, 25 in 5 continues to call for the establishment of a provincial Equity and Anti-Racism Directorate.

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is a multi-sectoral coalition of more than 350 provincial and Toronto-based organizations and thousands of individuals working to eliminate poverty in Ontario.

Read the 25 in 5 Budget Backgrounder in Word format

Government Release: Ontario Budget Creates Jobs for Families Today and Builds Economy for Tomorrow

A budget that resolves to stave off the worst of a recession while protecting the most vulnerable will make an immediate difference in the lives of all Ontarians – and will safe-guard the health of the province’s economy for years to come.

Now is the time to tell our elected representatives at Queen’s Park that poverty reduction must be a priority for Ontario’s upcoming budget.

The 25 in5 Network has identified five immediate spending priorities – along with a series of other initiatives, outlined in the 25 in 5 Blueprint:

1. A $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement to help all adults on social assistance access healthier food;
2. An increase to the Ontario Child Benefit to $92 a month in 2009 budget and $125 a month in 2010 budget to protect Ontarians during the economic downturn;
3. Building 7,500 new affordable child care spaces, crucial to supporting parents who need to work and retrain for the demands of a changing economy;
4. Leveraging federal infrastructure dollars to build more affordable housing;
5. A Housing Benefit to help low-income renters meet the rising cost of housing.

By making these investments in the upcoming budget, the province can stimulate the economy while making significant progress on the government’s promise to reduce child poverty by 25% in the next 5 years.

Send a message to Finance Minister Dwight Duncan and Premier McGuinty. Tell them that making good on the province’s commitment to invest in poverty reduction is key to addressing the economic challenges facing Ontario today. Let your voice be heard.

Email the Finance Minister at dduncan.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org and the Premier at dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org. Also email your local Member of Provincial Parliament – find out their contact information by looking here.