FST Social Reform

Marking 20 years since Promise to End Child Poverty in Canada: Keeping Parliament's Feet to the Fire

Campaign 2000 hosted a press conference in September, 2008. From left to right: Marvyn Novick, co-founder, Campaign 2000; Liyu Guo (in back), Program Assistant; Grace-Edward Galabuzi, Ryerson University; Geraldine King, National Association of Friendship Centres; Laurel Rothman, Director, Social Reform, FST

On November 24, 2009, it will be 20 years – a generation! – since the unanimous House of Commons resolution to end child and family poverty in Canada by the year 2000.

Join the cross-Canada Campaign 2000 network as we commemorate this historical declaration with events from coast to coast to coast, providing an opportunity for Campaign 2000 and our partners to focus public and political attention to this unmet promise.

With 760,000 children and their families still living in poverty – almost 1 out of every 9 in Canada – there remains much more work to be done to ensure that all levels of government take leadership with the private sector and the community sector to play a role in poverty reduction. We know from made-in-Canada examples that poverty reduction is possible. Political leaders in Quebec, Newfoundland & Labrador and now Ontario are committed to poverty reductions plans with targets and timetables. The government of Canada needs to develop its own poverty reduction strategy in cooperation with the provinces. For more information on child and family poverty since 1989, see Campaign 2000’s annual report cards, available online at www.campaign2000.ca. Check this and the FST website regularly for updates, events, and plans for this auspicious 20 year commemoration.

Important Gains in Ontario toward Poverty Reduction

Social Reform staff, students and volunteers at Queen's Park, March 18, 2009

In a watershed moment in late March of this year, the Ontario government put forward a budget with provisions to help low income families, as first steps towards fulfilling a promise of Poverty Reduction. This long-awaited budget included measures which will have a positive impact for people living in poverty: an increase to the Ontario Child Benefit to a maximum of $92 per month, investments of $600 million over 2 years in construction and retrofit of affordable housing and new sales and property tax credits for low income people.

Then in May, Ontario took a historic step forward on poverty reduction with the all-party approval of Bill 152, the Poverty Reduction Act, which 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.

"This legislation gives the people of Ontario a powerful tool to hold both current and future governments’ feet to the fire when it comes to reducing poverty." said Greg deGroot-Maggetti, of the Mennonite Central Committee, one of the dozens of community representatives who made submissions to the public hearings to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Campaign 2000 will push for an investment of $285 million in capital and operating funds which would save 22,000 subsidized child care spaces and create 7,500 new affordable spaces for Ontario families. "As the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy moves into implementation phase Campaign 2000 will continue to call for funding for child care, reform of social assistance, and a Good Jobs Strategy with an increased minimum wage of $11/ hour by 2011 and an updated Employment Standards Act to cover precarious workers," says Jacquie Maund, Coordinator of Ontario Campaign 2000.

FST spearheads Campaign 2000, a cross-Canada movement of more than 120 organizations working to end child and family poverty in Canada. The Ontario Campaign 2000 coalition includes 66 partners across the province.

What you can do:

Child Care
• Send a message to your mpp via www.waitingforchildcare.ca
• Or email the Premier directly: dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Employment Insurance
• Expand EI coverage: www.goodjobsforall.ca

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• Get ready for a local housing consultation to be held by your MPP
late spring.
• Check www.safeandaffordable.com for updates.

Sign up for Campaign 2000 e-bulletin
www.campaign2000.ca

Social Assistance
• See www.incomesecurity.org for updates on social assistance review.
• Check www.povertywatchontario.ca for details of "Put Food in the Budget"
campaign & to sign online petition.

Sign onto Make Poverty History
www.makepovertyhistory.ca

Join the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction and get weekly updates at www.25in5.ca