Ontario Election 2011

Toronto, Sept. 26: Ontario Campaign 2000 released a political commitment grid which evaluates the commitments of each of Ontario's four major political parties on helping people living on low income. The grid, posted below, shows that even though most parties have mentioned or discussed their poverty reduction strategies, the political anti-poverty dialogue remains limited, with some parties failing to make extensive commitments on anti-poverty work.

The grid is accompanied by and informs a Call to Action letter from the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction. To find out where each party stands on issues of poverty and other related areas, click on the links below:
 Media Release on Sept. 27, 2011
 Political platform grid (brief version)
 Political platform grid (long version)
 Call to Action on Poverty in Ontario
 List of endorsers for Call to Action on Poverty in Ontario

Last Saturday, Oct. 1, the June Callwood Campaign Against Child Poverty, a non-partisan multi-faith coalition, published an ad in the Toronto Star, reminding Ontario voters about the high child poverty rate and urging them to keep the well-being of children in mind during the provincial election.  Feel free to download these public ads and and share them with your friends and networks.

Confronting Poverty

Laurel Rothman, Social Reform Director at FST and National Coordinator for Campaign 2000 joins Steve Paikin on The Agenda to discuss Poverty Reduction strategies put forward by Ontario’s political parties. Watch the video

Pathways to Affordable Housing

Come and find out about the proposed Housing Benefit as a pathway to Affordable Housing at an Election 2011 All Party Public Forum taking place on September 15 2011 from 7 to 9pm at The Hub @ Victoria Park. The event will feature an expert policy panel and local political candidates. Click on the link below for more information on the event. Check out our Housing Benefit page for more information on the proposed benefit.

Bringing in Women's Voices from the Margins is a one-year Ontario Campaign 2000 and ISAC Project developed with funding from Ontario Trillium Foundation. The project will explore and identify strategies to increase the engagement of low-income women in public discussions on economic security issues so that their interests are better reflected in government policies and programs that impact them and their children.

2010 Report Card on Child & Family Poverty in Ontario

Read full report in English:
Poverty Reduction: Key to Economic Recovery for Ontario Families
English, November 2010 [pdf, 8pp, 235KB]

and in French:
Rapport 2010 sur la pauvreté des enfants et des familles en Ontario - Réduction de la pauvreté : une mesure essentielle pour la relance économique des familles ontariennes
French, November 2010 [pdf, 8pp, 295KB]

2011 Pre-Budget Consultations

The Minister of Finance is hosting pre-budget consultations with individuals, organizations, associations and other stakeholders across the province to hear views regarding what the government can do to help families, create jobs and improve services for people.

Read Ontario C2000 pre-budget submission

Send your ideas to submissions@ontario.ca

Poverty Reduction for Ontario

What Actions Can You Take?

Good Jobs for All
Ontario Campaign 2000 partners are actively involved in the Good Jobs for All Coalition’s initiatives, and are in full support of its Declaration on Good Jobs.
For more informatio go to Good Jobs for All website

2009 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Ontario (Nov. 24, 2009)

Click to read the full report in pdf:
From Promise to Reality – Recession Proofing Ontario Families

2008 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Ontario (Nov. 21, 2008)

Click to read the full report in pdf: Now more than ever…Ontario needs a strong poverty reduction strategy

Ending Poverty Project

The Ending Poverty Project was initiated by ISAC and Ontario Campaign 2000 to work with low-income people in 10 communities to share ideas for what's needed to end poverty in Ontario and to build broad public support for tackling poverty both locally and across the province. The project was funded by the Metcalf Foundation.

For more detail on this project please visit: www.incomesecurity.org/campaigns/EndingPovertyProject.htm