Economic road bumps no excuse to slow down on poverty reduction

A coalition of over 100 organizations across Ontario are urging Premier Dalton McGuinty to follow through on his promise to actively and comprehensively address poverty in this province.

“The threat of an economic downturn makes leadership on poverty reduction more important than ever,” said 25 in 5 spokesperson Jacquie Maund, of Ontario Campaign 2000. “And it’s a signal that we can’t afford to delay implementation of a plan.”

Responding to Premier McGuinty’s comments today in which he suggested economic conditions may delay the implementation of a provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy, the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction said investing in poverty reduction now is smart economic policy, and decisive action is especially necessary in an ailing economy.

“We know public investments can provide a critical booster shot to stimulate economic activity in hard times,” said Maund. “That’s why we’re calling for a significant down-payment on poverty reduction in the 2009 budget, with larger investments phased-in over the five year life of the plan.”

25 in 5 says Ontario families are looking for political leadership on poverty, as a report released by Poverty Watch Ontario last week clearly demonstrated.

“As the Premier himself has said, we need all hands on deck. If we are going to ride out this slowdown and remain competitive we need everyone at their best – we must support Ontario families through job losses, reductions in hours of work, and other financial stresses,” said Janet Gasparini, Chair of the Social Planning Network of Ontario. “We can pay now or we can pay later with increased health care, criminal justice, and social services costs.”

The 25 in 5 Network advocates a bold, multi-year plan focused on three areas of action: ensuring sustaining employment, so that people who work don’t live in poverty; reforming social assistance, so that people who can’t work get the support they need; and providing for strong community supports, to give opportunity and inclusion to all.

“The time to act is now, and we expect the Premier to introduce the government’s plan, including clear targets and timelines to deliver measurable results, by December of this year,” said Gasparini. “That’s political leadership, and we hope Premier McGuinty lives up to his promise.”

For more information see www.25in5.ca.

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Media Contact: Jacquie Maund at 416-595-9230 x 241
Janet Gasparini at 705-675-3894 or cell 705-929-0288

“Too many Ontarians who have been shut out need this opportunity to be heard, and we expect the Province to make low-income voices a priority in their consultations. But we will know that government really means business when we see the voices of those living in poverty front and center in these discussions,” said Pat Capponi of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction and a low-income advocate with Voices from the Street.

“We need this government to articulate a plan that sees every Minister and every MPP working harder than ever to bring Ontarians together for a real plan for poverty reduction”

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is calling on the Ontario government to commit to reducing poverty by 25 per cent in the next five years. It issued an open letter to all MPPs earlier this week calling for a bold public consultation process that leads to real, tangible change in tackling poverty. 25 in 5 expects that the process will include:

• A focus on solutions that address all Ontarians living in poverty, not only children
• Meetings that are open and accessible to the public, and include those groups, communities and individuals who are most marginalized
• Consultation that is properly funded and resourced
• Consultations are recorded and those reports are made public in a timely manner

“We need this government to articulate a plan that sees every Minister and every MPP working harder than ever to bring Ontarians together for a real plan for poverty reduction,” said Peter Clutterbuck of the Social Planning Network of Ontario and a partner of the 25 in 5 Network.

“This government has been given the benefit of the doubt so far. Now communities across this province are mobilized, ready, and eager to have their say. Now it’s government’s turn to make an open process a reality” said Andalee Adamali of 25 in 5 and the Council of Agencies Serving South Agencies. “We will be watching and tracking the consultation process closely.”

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction will bring to the consultations a three-pronged action plan to combat poverty that requires significant new action. The plan focuses on ensuring that jobs pay living wages, achieving liveable incomes for every Ontarian, and strategies to expand access to affordable housing, early learning and child care, public education and other community programs that help people connect.

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is a province-wide Ontario coalition of over 100 organizations and individuals calling for a 25 per cent reduction in poverty in five years.

For more information, and to view 25 in 5’s Principles for Consultation: www.25in5.ca

Advocates are calling on the Ontario government to move beyond closed sessions and ensure an open, inclusive and solutions-oriented process as the province begins consultations for its Poverty Reduction Strategy.

“Too many Ontarians who have been shut out need this opportunity to be heard, and we expect the Province to make low-income voices a priority in their consultations. But we will know that government really means business when we see the voices of those living in poverty front and center in these discussions,” said Pat Capponi of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction and a low-income advocate with Voices from the Street.

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is calling on the Ontario government to commit to reducing poverty by 25 per cent in the next five years. It issued an open letter to all MPPs earlier this week calling for a bold public consultation process that leads to real, tangible change in tackling poverty. 25 in 5 expects that the process will include:

• A focus on solutions that address all Ontarians living in poverty, not only children
• Meetings that are open and accessible to the public, and include those groups, communities and individuals who are most marginalized
• Consultation that is properly funded and resourced
• Consultations are recorded and those reports are made public in a timely manner

“We need this government to articulate a plan that sees every Minister and every MPP working harder than ever to bring Ontarians together for a real plan for poverty reduction,” said Peter Clutterbuck of the Social Planning Network of Ontario and a partner of the 25 in 5 Network.

“This government has been given the benefit of the doubt so far. Now communities across this province are mobilized, ready, and eager to have their say. Now it’s government’s turn to make an open process a reality” said Andalee Adamali of 25 in 5 and the Council of Agencies Serving South Agencies. “We will be watching and tracking the consultation process closely.”

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction will bring to the consultations a three pronged action plan to combat poverty that requires significant new action. The plan focuses on ensuring that jobs pay living wages, achieving liveable incomes for every Ontarian, and strategies to expand access to affordable housing, early learning and child care, public education and other community programs that help people connect.

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is a province-wide Ontario coalition of over 100 organizations and individuals calling for a 25 per cent reduction in poverty in five years. For more information, and to view 25 in 5’s Principles for Consultation visit www.25in5.ca.

Media contact

Alissa Von Bargen, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
416-351-0095 x214
cell: 647-230-9164
e-mail: avonbargen@cspc.toronto.on.ca