The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCRPS-08-174 - Safe & Healthy Cmty Adv Comm Rec - 25 in 5: Network for Poverty Reductionl Ks~~R - . Corporate Services Report To: Councillor G. Lorentz, Chair, and Members of the Community Services Committee Date of Meeting: October 20, 2008 Submitted By: Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee Prepared By: L. Palubeski / L Korabo Wards) Involved: n/a Date of Report: October 14, 2008 Report No.: CRPS-08-174 Subject: REFERRAL OF SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - 25 IN 5: NETWORK FOR POVERTY REDUCTION RECOMMENDATION: WHEREAS the Government of Ontario, in its November 2007 Throne Speech, committed to developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Ontario; and, WHEREAS the 25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction, representing over 100 provincial associations and people committed to action on eliminating poverty, has launched a campaign to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years, and has developed a Declaration which outlines the actions required to achieve this, based on sustained employment, livable incomes and strong supportive communities; and, WHEREAS the 25-in-5 Network is seeking endorsements from municipal councils for its declaration, and has already received support from such cities as Cambridge, Ottawa, London and Toronto; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener endorse the 25-in-5 Network's Declaration. BACKGROUND: The Province of Ontario's 2007 Throne Speech committed to a Poverty Reduction Strategy with targets and measures to ensure `opportunity that is accessible to all'. In response to the Province's announcement, the 25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction has put forward an action plan to reduce Ontario poverty levels by 25% in 5 years and by 50% before 2018. The Network calls on the Province to work with all orders of government and all sectors of the public to create opportunities and remove barriers to provide supports to allow all Ontarians to live with dignity. The proposal calls for the following three priorities to be addressed by the Province: 1. Sustaining employment - to assure a living standard above poverty for any adult who works full time throughout the year; fair pay and stable working conditions for all Ontarians; 2. Livable incomes -dignity for all Ontarians, including those unable to work. 3. Strong and supportive communities -affordable housing, early learning and child care, public education and community programs that help people connect. REPORT: At its October 7, 2008 meeting and at the request of Mayor C. Zehr, staff provided information on the '25-in-5' Network's proposal to the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee. The Committee was unanimous in its endorsement of this proposal and requested an opportunity to appear as a delegation at the October 20, 2008 Community Services Committee meeting to support their recommendation being put forward for consideration. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Nil. COMMUNICATIONS: If endorsed by Council, correspondence will be forwarded to the Hon. Deborah Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services as well as to the 25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction. L. Palubeski Manager, Program & Resource Services L. Korabo Committee Administrator Poverty Reduction. It starts with a plan. The Government of Ontario is committed to a Poverty Reduction Strategy with targets and measures to ensure "opportunity that is accessible to all." Throne Speech, November 2001 We are asking our government for a plan to reduce Ontario poverty levels by 25% in 5 years and by 50°/a before 2015. We call this the `25-in-5' campaign. Poverty reduction makes social and economic sense. We believe in an inclusive Ontario, where everyone can develop their talents and contribute to thriving communities. We want a province with a vibrant economy and shared prosperity. Serious action on poverty reduction is possible. The U.K. has reduced poverty by nearly 25% in the past 5 years. Quebec, as well as Newfoundland & Labrador, both have ambitious plans to tackle poverty,l~'s Qntario's ~~rr~. For Ontario, it starts with a plan. A plan that brings hope and shared prosperity for all Qntarians. in urban r~e~g~bour~ooa~s; ~r~ rural commur~~~~es; among Aboriginal ~eo~~es; wi~hir~ rac~a~~zea~ ana~ newcomer comm~r~~ties; among s~ng~e female ~aren~s; ana~ persons w~~~ a~~sab~li~~es. We call on leadership from the Province, working with all orders of government. Working with all sectors and especially with people living on low incomes, we can create opportunities, remove barriers and provide supports so that all Qntarians can live with dignity. Ontario's poverty reduction plan should address three priorities: 1. Sustaining employment means assuring a living standard above poverty for any adult who works full time throughout the year. It means fair pay and stable working conditions for all Qntarians. 2. Livable incomes mean dignity for all Qntarians -including those unable to work. 3. Strong and supportive communities mean affordable housing, early learning and child care, public education and community programs that help people connect. 25 in 5: Network for.'I Poverty Reduction government should outline its concrete multi- investing in these 3 priorities: staining employment Full time work should lift Ontarians out of poverty. hts must be protected in the workplace. All Ontarians should have coverage for mental, drug and vision care. How to get there? • Poverty-proof the minimum wage for full time earners. • Update and enforce employment standards for all workers. • Create strong employment and pay equity programs. • Expand access to dental, drug, and vision coverage. • Make training and education real, meaningful and easy to access. • Call on Ottawa to enrich the Working Income Tax Benefit. ;~~vable incomes All Ontarians deserve good living standards. Parents deserve resources they need to raise their children in safety and love -free of the fear hand stigma of poverty. Our financial institutions and services should help safeguard our living standards, not prey on the most vulnerable. How to get there? • Close the gap between life on social assistance and moving out of poverty. • Make it easier for people with disabilities to get access to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). • Enrich the Ontario Child Benefit. Remove rules that claw benefits back from people on social assistance. • Tighten the regulation of payday lending and other financial services. • Call on Ottawa to expand coverage of Employment Insurance (EI) and enrich the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Strong and supportive communities Ontario should be a province of inclusion and opportunity -for all. How to get there? • Make housing easier to afford. Build it to suit to people's needs. Keep it in good repair. • Make early learning and child care both universal and affordable. • Build a public education system that focuses on equitable outcomes. • Fund vibrant community-based programs that connect and enrich us. • Support public and community transit. Improve access. Make it affordable. 25 in 5: Network for.'I Poverty Reduction be a part of the 25-in-5 solution: TALK ABOUT IT Talk to your friends and family about these priorities and plans. Are there other actions that would help make things better where you are? E-mail your views to us at 25in5@cpsc.toronto.on.ca. SIGN UP for the government's poverty reduction consultation process. Log on to www.25in5.ca and follow the links to tell Minister Matthews that you want to be part of the discussion or write to: Hon. Deborah Matthews, Minister for Ontario's Poverty Reduction Plan Ministry of Children and Youth Services 14th Floor, 56 Wellesley St. W. Toronto ON M5S 2S3 Tel :416-212-2218 TTY 1-800-381-5559 dmatthews.mpp@liberal.ola.org Make sure to copy us at 25in5@cpsc.toronto.on.ca so that we can keep track of the number of requests. The more people who take part in these consultations, the better! URGE the government to set the goal of at least 25% reduction in poverty in 5 years and at least 50% reduction by 201 S. Share this with Minister Matthews at the address above. E-mail your thoughts to Premier McCuinty at dmcguinty.mpp@liberal.ola.org or call his office at 416-325-1941 or TTY 416-325-7702. SEND the 25-in-5 declaration to your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). Better yet, get a group in your community to meet with your MPP. Tell your MPP that you support 25-in-5 and that you expect the government's Poverty Reduction Strategy to be comprehensive and bold. Tell them you expect the consultation process to be inclusive and focused on solutions. You can get your MPP's contact information from www.ontla.on.ca. SPREAD THE WORD Build support in your community for poverty reduction. Talk to your city councillor, Chamber of Commerce, union, faith group, school board, public health department and any other groups you can think of. Hold a meeting in your neighbourhood and pass out the 25-in-5 declaration. Start a poverty reduction working group in your community. And, please tell us how you are using this information to get a discussion going. GET INVOLVED in poverty reduction activities already underway in your area. Visit www.25in5.ca or find us on www.facebook.com to link up. 25 in 5: Network for.'I Poverty Reduction