Social Reform – Shaping an anti-poverty agenda

TAKING STOCK 19 YEARS AFTER PROMISE TO END CHILD AND FAMILY POVERTY

FST’s Social Reform Unit continues to play a lead role in advocating solutions to end poverty as we await the Ontario government’s release of its Poverty Reduction Strategy in December of 2008. Spearheaded by FST, Campaign 2000 is the national coalition working to end child and family poverty.

This year we have seen a steady momentum in Ontario during this long struggle for provincial and federal government action addressing double-digit rates of child poverty. There’s growing awareness that ending poverty makes social and economic sense, and that serious action on poverty reduction is possible. The UK has reduced child poverty by 23%. Closer to home, Quebec has brought its child poverty rate down by 50% over the past ten years.

AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, 11.3% OF CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY – NO DIFFERENT FROM 1989 WHEN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS RESOLVED TO END CHILD POVERTY IN CANADA BY 2000.

FST and Campaign 2000 are active partners in the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, a province-wide coalition of over 450 organizations and individuals calling for a 25 per cent reduction in poverty in Ontario within five years. Seventy-five community meetings were held across Ontario between May and August of this year providing a groundswell of public input on Ontario’s anti-poverty strategy. From Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury in the north, rural communities like Owen Sound and Cornwall, and urban centres including Hamilton, Ottawa, Windsor and Toronto, thousands of people came out this summer to tell government what they want to see in Ontario’s poverty reduction plan. At a September press conference the 25 in 5 Network released an Open Letter to the Premier and all MPPs, along with a summary report highlighting key findings from these community consultations (see www.povertywatchontario.ca ).

Economic downturn means poverty reduction investments needed now

Jacquie Maund, Campaign 2000 spokesperson and Coordinator of Social Reform for FST, spoke at the press conference stating: “Our economy has been growing for over 10 years, yet Ontario’s poverty rate remains stubbornly high at 10%. With a downturn coming, it’s more important than ever for governments to invest in poverty reduction now when it can make a real difference for people facing difficult times ahead.” There was excellent media coverage indicating that poverty is finally being taken seriously as a public policy issue. While Ontario’s government works toward an anti-poverty strategy led by a new Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction and consultations, the federal government has no active plan or policy to address unacceptable country-wide poverty.

Ontario 2008 Report Card on Child & Family Poverty

Released on November 21st, on the 19th anniversary of the House of Commons resolution to end child poverty, Campaign 2000’s Ontario Report Card finds that 324,000 children still live in poverty – almost 1 in 9. At the national level, 11.3% of children live in poverty – no different from 1989 when the House of Commons resolved to end child poverty in Canada by 2000. While conventional wisdom states that all boats are lifted when the economy is buoyant, this has proven not to be reality. In fact, the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. Statistics Canada data show that the average low income family in Ontario lives on income that is $7,100/year below the poverty line. Getting a job is not always the answer – 45% of all poor children live in families where at least one parent works full time, all year. See www.campaign2000.ca to read both the 2008 Ontario and National Report Cards to understand better why families get stuck in low income, and what measures are needed to lift people out of poverty.

Public Support for Government Action on Poverty

The September ’08 Environics poll shows 81% of Ontarians believe it’s more important than ever in a recession for government to make it a priority to help poor Canadians. Even though these measures could mean higher taxes or spending cuts in other areas, the poll found the vast majority of Ontarians support raising the minimum wage, improving income supports for families with children, creating more low cost child care spaces and affordable housing, ensuring welfare rates keep pace with cost of living increases, and investing in more job and skills training. See www.growinggap.ca/node/118 for complete poll findings.

What YOU can do to add your voice

The economic downturn means government revenues are down, so we need to keep the pressure up to get funding commitments in the 2009 Ontario budget necessary for an effective poverty reduction strategy. Endorse the 25 in 5 Declaration: add your name to the growing list who support the call for a Poverty Reduction Strategy which will cut Ontario’s poverty rate by 25% within 5 years. Visit www.25in5.ca

Send a letter or email to the Premier & Finance Minister saying:

You made a promise on poverty reduction and have made good progress so far this year. The economic downturn means that NOW, more than ever, is the time to invest in a comprehensive poverty-reduction plan.

We look forward to multi-year plan and funding commitments in the ’09 budget.
Premier: dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Finance Minister: dduncan.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Send same message to your MPP: www.ontla.on.ca/home.do

Write a letter to your local newspaper explaining the best poverty reduction strategy requires swift government social investments in affordable housing, child care, education and training, income supports & jobs that pay living wages. It is false economy to slash public services.

Check out the 2008 Ontario and National Report Cards on Child Poverty by Campaign 2000, and send an e-mail message to your MP.
Visit: www.campaign2000.ca

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