Legislation
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Poverty Reduction Becomes Law in Ontario: Amended Bill 152 Gets All-Party Support
The legislation requires Ontario to set a new poverty reduction target and plan of action at least every five years, and to consult regularly on its progress with low income people, groups at heightened risk of poverty, and other key stakeholders. Poverty in Ontario can no longer be ignored.
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Update on Legislation – A Letter from Minister Matthews
As you may have heard, the bill passed 2nd reading and was sent to the Social Policy Committee to get public input on the bill. This was a great opportunity to get feedback on the proposed bill and to further engage people on this landmark piece of legislation.
Following the input of 24 deputants and 13 written submissions, I think we have a strengthened piece of legislation, and I’m grateful for the thoughtful contributions made by all those who participated.
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Real gains made as poverty reduction becomes law
There was an impressive list of two dozen groups who appeared before the Ontario Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Social Policy on April 20 and 21. There were several other groups who made written interventions. Many of those presenting endorsed the 25 in 5 Network’s recommendations and several groups brought forward additional recommendations for change. (Click here to directly link to the transcript of the presentations.)
Throughout the process, the 25 in 5 Legislative Action Table had a constructive, ongoing dialogue with officials from the Liberal government, the NDP and the Progressive Conservatives as well as with MPPs from all parties on the Standing Committee. It is our assessment that all parties did a careful job of listening to the many recommendations – of 25 in 5 and others groups – and responding with motions based on those recommendations.
But in the end our ability to push and finally achieve key amendments could not have happened without the strong, unified voice presented during the hearings. Our hats also go off to the Toronto Star for a well-aligned and perfectly timed editorial to coincide with the beginning of the Standing Committee on Social Policy hearings.
While we did not succeed in getting all the amendments that we had proposed, we did have a significant impact on key facets of the bill. At this stage, we will seek to get all-party support for the legislation to ensure this Bill will have a lasting impact for many years to come.
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Recommendations for Improving Poverty Reduction Bill
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.
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Local poverty action group slams new act
Peel Poverty Action Group officials believe the act puts unfair pressure on those living in poverty to correct the problem themselves, and not enough pressure on all levels of government to reduce poverty.
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This Province Needs a Real Poverty Reduction Act, With Goals and Accountability
CUPE Ontario has been calling on the provincial government to make poverty reduction a cornerstone of social and economic policy.
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Strengthen Poverty Bill
Political interests and governments come and go, so the anti-poverty bill – now before a legislative committee – would be a tool to hold politicians to account.
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- $45M dental-care boost protects poorest children
October 1, 2010Ontario is expanding free dental services for poor children to include preventative care such as check-ups, cleanings, X-rays and fillings, the Star has learned.
Health Minister Deb Matthews will announce Friday that the “healthy smiles” program — costing taxpayers $45 million annually — is designed to help 130,000 kids aged 17 and under.
- Big bang for full-day learning buck
August 30, 2010Ontario is missing out on a significant economic payoff by offering a scaled-down version of full-day learning this fall, says a report being released Monday. A new economic analysis of the initiative outlined by the premier’s early learning adviser last spring shows an immediate return of $2.02 for every dollar invested in operations and $1.47 for every dollar spent on new classrooms, says the report, obtained by the Star.
- Funding shortages for home services are staggering
August 27, 2010ARCH Disability Law Centre, dedicated to advancing the rights of people with disabilities, says its campaign was prompted by “an alarming and growing trend of adults with intellectual disabilities being unable to afford vital supports that would facilitate their development, independence and participation in the community. “This crisis is growing and we need your help,” ARCH says.
- Radical change for Ont. mental health urged
August 26, 2010A new report says a “radical transformation” of mental health and addiction care is needed in Ontario if people are to receive the help they need.
- Windsor area food bank use spikes, paycheques shrink, report finds
August 24, 2010One in 10 Windsor-Essex families live in poverty, causing a huge jump in demand at local food banks and lineups for social assistance, according to a new United Way report.
- 25 in 5 Supports Call for Income Security Review
- Message to Deb Matthews: Nutritional Supplement Must Address Needs
- Five Principles for a New Nutritional Supplement Program
- Premier McGuinty Responds to 25 in 5
- Open Letter to Premier McGuinty from the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
- Budget throws Ontario’s poor in limbo
- Budget 2010 Must Link “Open Ontario” to Poverty Reduction
- ISAC Update – April 2009
The April newsletter of the Income Security Advocacy Centre is online! Highlights include information on the special diet litigation, the Ending Poverty project, their revised case criteria and the impending social assistance review.
c/o CSPC-T
2 Carlton St., Suite 1001 | Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
ph. 416-351-0095 x.214 | fx. 416-351-0107
info@25in5.ca