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• 1 in 8 children in Ontario - 345,000 - live in poverty when income is measured after taxes.
Before income taxes, 1 in every 6 children lives in poverty.
A job is not a guaranteed pathway out of
poverty. 70% of all low-income children live in
families
with at least one parent working, part-
time or full-time.
Having to rely on social assistance is a
guarantee of poverty. Rates are lower now
than at any time since 1967.
67% of children
on social assistance are in female lone-parent
families.
Poor families are in deep poverty. The
average two-parent low-income family lives
$10,000 below the poverty line.
Poverty rates for children in Aboriginal,
racialized, new immigrant and lone mother-
led families are at least double
the average rate.
Concern about persistently high rates of child and family poverty in Ontario despite years of economic growth
translated into some positive steps forward in 2007. The provincial budget included a focus on child poverty and introduced
a new Ontario Child Benefit for low-income families. The minimum wage has increased to $8.75 and will reach $10.25/hour by
2010. The re-elected provincial government has committed to develop a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Ontario with targets
and measures, and appointed a lead minister and Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction.
In preparation for public consultations on poverty reduction, this report provides the most recent information
on child and family poverty in Ontario, followed by Campaign 2000 recommendations for an effective Ontario Poverty Reduction
Strategy. This should be a long-term plan coordinated across government ministries, with key indicators monitored annually
to track progress and ensure accountability. Federal and municipal governments have a role to play, along with business and
labour stakeholders.
We repeat our call for a strategy that sets a minimum target of 25% reduction in the child poverty rate over
the next five years, and a minimum 50% reduction over ten years to put Ontario solidly on the path to poverty eradication.
One cornerstone of this strategy must be to assure every adult working full-time, year-round a living standard above poverty.
Campaign 2000 thanks Family Service Association of Toronto, our host agency, supported by United Way of Toronto
Ontario Campaign 20(10 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty, 21107 March. 2008
More information in the following links:
Regularization Not Criminalization
Its time to put the words together: Poverty. Reduction. Plan. We cant afford not to.
Countdown to a Poverty Reduction Plan A 25 in 5 Forum - April 14 - AT FULL CAPACITY
Ontario wary of '25-in-5' poverty plan
THE ROAD A HEAD:PRIORITY REDUCTION IN ONTARIO
A POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN FOR ONTARIO:
Poverty Strategy
Disability means Possibility Disabled Handicapped Challenged Person
Re: Re: Disability Characteristics and Political Correctness
In My Language
Richard Herrin ( Story )
Richard Herrin's Love Story
SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT???
DURHAM REGION-PICKERING ACORN CHAPER
Ontario has the power to rein in the predatory payday lending industry. Ontario ACORN has laid out
a plan that would force the industry into the financial mainstream by enforcing a 60% interest rate cap, licensing of lenders
by a government body with the power to revoke, suspend and deny license's and banning rollover loans. ?? and a lower rate
for people on social assistance??
Ontario is the only Province in Canada where municipalities are responsible for social housing, and
its time for Ontario to take back its traditional responsibility and upload the cost of social housing. Further they should
allocate an additional $1.9 billion for affordable housing (as called for in the Ontario Alternative Budget 2007) to address
the repairs backlog ad begin construction of new social housing units.
Ontario should introduce full Rent Control with an end to the practice of vacancy de controls. Implement
minimum fines for landlords (Currently there are maximum fines of $25,000 for individual landlords and $100,000 for corporations).
And eliminate fees for tenants taking action against their landlord at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Ontario should implement legislation making it mandatory tor landlords to obtain a license, and maintain
it in good standing to be able to continue renting. Further, the establishment of a Rent Escrow Account,
for situations where there are serious code violations and the landlord is refusing to comply with the
residential tenancies act. This program can grant tenants a temporary rent reduction, tied to licensing violations, and allow
tenants to place the rent owed into an escrow account until repairs are made.
Across Ontario, parents are forced to stay out of the workforce or to spend huge portions of their income
on childcare. Child care must be affordable, as in Quebec where parents pay a flat rate of $7 a day for quality public child
care. Childcare can not be for profit, spaces that are created must be publicly run or controlled by non-profit corporations.
The wages, working conditions and benefits of Early Childhood Educators everywhere must match those that currently offered
to staff in publicly run, unionized environments. There must be more frequent, random inspections by MLS and the Health departments
to ensure compliance with the Nursery Act.
Temp agency represent a major shift in the nature of work in Ontario, with workers making 40% less than
permanent workers, and are often treated like second class workers. Temp agencies should be required to acquire a license
from a Provincial government body to be able to operate.
The minimum wage should be permanently pegged to inflation.
In 1995, the Conservatives cut Ontario Works by almost 22 per cent and disability benefits (Ontario
Disability Support Program) were frozen in 1993. Many families spend most of their assistance benefits just to cover their
rent and this is driving people into abject poverty. To brsg the rates back up to pre 1995 levels adjusted for inflation would
require a 40% increase.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
email: gcuthbert@rogers.com
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