[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: Real gains made as poverty reduction becomes law
Terrie
mocharebyl at gmail.com
Wed May 6 22:23:10 EDT 2009
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction <
25_in_5_Network_for_Poverty_Redu at mail.vresp.com>
Date: 2009/5/6
Subject: Real gains made as poverty reduction becomes law
To: mocharebyl at gmail.com
*25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
**Major Legislative Gains Made at Queen’s Park This Week *
1. Quote of the Week: Bill 152 implies a significant
commitment<#12116f661b9d74d0_quotes>
2. Poverty Reduction Becomes Law in Ontario<#12116f661b9d74d0_legislation>
3. New Protections for Temp Agency Workers Are Now
Law<#12116f661b9d74d0_tempwork>
4. Action Alert! Stop the Cuts to Child Care!<#12116f661b9d74d0_childcare>
5. Ontario Coalition for Social Justice Spring Assembly
<#12116f661b9d74d0_ocsj>
------------------------------
*Quote of the week*
"We acknowledge the significance of Bill 152, the Poverty Reduction Act. We
commend the willingness of all parties to listen to – and hear – the
recommendations of the many groups from across Ontario that offered
amendments to the bill. We understand that this commitment implies that
each and every Government policy, program and decision must take into
account the effect it will have on the lives of our most vulnerable
neighbours and on the effort to eradicate poverty among us.... Ontario’s
future budgets must direct our collective wealth to the urgent task of
improving the lives of our most vulnerable neighbours so that our
communities are truly inclusive, equitable, and free of poverty."
Who said it? Resolution by the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform
Coalition, moved on April 30, 2009 at the Religious Leaders’ Forum held at
Queen’s Park.
Click here for the full text and a list of ISARC’s member faith
communities<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/c77dd8cbce>
------------------------------
*Poverty Reduction Becomes Law in Ontario – Bill Passes May 6!*
*Ontario takes a historic step forward as all parties approve Bill 152, the
Poverty Reduction Act. *
*Poverty in Ontario can no longer be ignored.
*
As a result of legislation passed today in the Legislature, current and
future provincial governments will now be required to set a poverty
reduction target and plan of action at least every five years. Among other
commitments, they will also be bound to consult regularly on poverty
reduction progress with low income people, groups at heightened risk of
poverty, and other key stakeholders.
*Community input into the legislative process had a big impact on the
effectiveness of the Bill. *
Over two days of hearings in April, the Legislature’s Standing Committee on
Social Policy heard from two dozen community representatives and received
over 40 written submissions on how to improve Bill 152.
Amendments that were advanced by community groups and accepted by the
Committee include:
- a commitment to reduce adult poverty alongside child and family
poverty;
- a recognition of the need to address discrimination and the barriers
faced by disadvantaged groups;
- a requirement that Ontarians and, in particular, low-income people, be
involved in design and implementation of poverty reduction strategies; and,
- specific timelines for annual reporting to the Legislature.
A list of key amendments is included below.
“As a result of tremendous community effort and the willingness of all
parties to listen, important amendments have been made to the Poverty
Reduction Act to give the people of Ontario a powerful tool to hold current
and future governments’ feet to the fire when it comes to reducing poverty,”
said Greg deGroot-Maggetti, of the Mennonite Central Committee.
“The Committee was wise enough to listen to the expertise of the articulate,
impassioned activists who offered excellent advice to strengthen the Bill,”
said Sarah Blackstock, policy analyst with the Income Security Advocacy
Centre. “This is a good signal for the future as we move collectively toward
ensuring the decent standard of living to which all Ontarians are
entitled.”
Suggestions that were not included in the amended Bill are: a vision for a
poverty-free Ontario; a commitment to an independent review; a commitment to
strengthening Ontario’s human rights laws and enforcement; and a requirement
that all Ontario’s laws, policies and practices be consistent with the
principles of poverty reduction outlined in the legislation.
“While the legislation falls short of envisioning a poverty-free province,
Ontario has entered the field of jurisdictions with a legislative commitment
to setting targets and timelines for poverty reduction and that is an
important step,” said Peter Clutterbuck of the Social Planning Network of
Ontario.
*Key Amendments*
- Poverty reduction strategies will be guided by a vision that reflects
Ontario’s aspiration to be a leading jurisdiction in reducing poverty.
- Recognition that adult poverty, as well as the poverty of children and
families must be tackled by poverty reduction strategies.
- A fixed date, March 31 of the following year, is established for the
annual report to be laid before the Legislative Assembly.
- Stronger language regarding the significance of discrimination on the
grounds of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin,
citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family
status or disability and the need for particular attention to be paid to the
barriers faced by these groups.
- Women are now included in the list of groups at heightened risk of
experiencing poverty.
- Stronger language to support the involvement of Ontarians, especially
people living in poverty, in the design and implementation of poverty
reduction strategies.
- Recognition of the significance of the third sector in poverty
reduction work.
- Stronger language regarding the indicators to be used to measure
poverty specifies that determinants of poverty include but are not limited
to income, education, health, housing and standard of living.
- Stronger language regarding the individuals and groups to be consulted
with by the Minister on a regular basis states: “The individuals and groups
to be consulted by the Minister must included representatives of people at
heightened risk of poverty including immigrants, women, single mothers,
people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and racialized groups.”
*Important Links*
Bill 152 as amended by the Standing Committee
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/39_Parliament/Session1/b152rep.pdf<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/cb739cb820>
The original version of Bill 152
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/39_Parliament/Session1/b152.pdf<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/0f7e518be8>
More information about the Bill
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2147&detailPage=bills_detail_related<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/90b4c3d8cb/locale=en&BillID=2147&detailPage=bills_detail_related%20>
------------------------------
*New Protections For Temp Agency Workers – Legislation Passes in the Ontario
Legislature May 5!*
*Bill 139 gives new protections for temp agency workers *
Temp agency workers and the Workers’ Action Centre (WAC) have been pushing
for years for legislative changes that will bring fairness for temp agency
workers. WAC and community allies have sent a strong message that temp
agency workers need the same rights as other workers and protection against
abuses.
*WAC’s campaign for fairness for temp agency workers has had an impact! *
The new law is a good start in improving protection for temp agency workers.
When it comes into effect in 6 months, the new legislation will:
- End fees charged to workers by temporary assignment agencies
- Reduce barriers to permanent work for temp agency workers
- Ensure public holiday pay for all temp agency workers – whether on
assignment or laid-off from assignment.
- Require agencies to give workers information about assignments and
employment standards rights.
- *Ensure temp agency workers get the same termination and severance
protections as other workers*
- Require that both the agency and client company are legally responsible
when a worker is penalized for trying to enforce their rights.
“Finally I will be entitled to the same rights to public holidays and
termination and severance that other workers get,” says Beixi Liu, WAC
member. “Ending this free ride for temp agencies is a huge victory for temp
workers.”
“Ending outrageous fees for work and reducing barriers to permanent jobs:
these changes are critical for temp workers’ day-to-day survival, especially
in the current economic situation,” says Andrea Galindo, WAC member.
Many thanks to the hundreds of community members, labour unions, immigrant
organizations and allies who organized town halls in their communities and
distributed postcards and information about Bill 139 and the changes needed
for workers. Through your support we were able to win some key amendments to
Bill 139 such as ensuring equal access to termination and severance rights.
The fight for fairness for workers must continue! Not every change we were
fighting for made it into the law. Workers need equal pay and working
conditions regardless of being a temp agency worker, on contract or working
on our own.
*Join the Workers' Action Centre as we use this important step forward to
organize for more improvements for workers! *
Stay tuned for more details on educational materials you can use in your
community on the new protections for temp workers.
*Important Links*
Bill 139 as amended by the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/39_Parliament/Session1/b139rep.pdf<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/53bc8a0b6b>
Workers’ Action Centre
http://www.workersactioncentre.org<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/6485f3cb13>
------------------------------
*Action Alert: Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care 2009 Queen’s Park
Lobby*
*Stop the Cuts to Child Care! *
Join us to "Stop the Cuts to Child Care" and build a well funded early
learning and child care system for all.
Ontario Legislature
Tuesday May 12, Committee Room 230
To confirm your attendance, send a message to andrea at childcareontario.org.
Schedule
8:00 am
Briefing for the day: no new funding in provincial budget means thousands of
spaces at risk.
8:30 am
Minister of Children and Youth Services Deb Matthews
Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne
PA, Ministry of Children and Youth Services Maria Van Bommel
9 am
NDP Leader and Critic for Children and Youth Services Andrea Horwath
9:30 am
PC Party, Invited
9:30 to 4:00 pm
Meetings with individual MPP’s at Queen’s Park.
You can openly attend from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. To stay for meetings, you must
RSVP to andrea at childcareontario.org.
*************************************************
The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care is coordinating a campaign to
“Stop the Cuts to Child Care”
We ask you to do the following:
1. Publicize
www.waitingforchildcare.ca<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/3fa2604828>
Send a message to local politicians about the trouble finding or paying
for early learning and child care. Politicians need to hear from local
parents and child care supporters who want to see a well funded system.
2. Join Us in MPP lobby: Join with early learning and child care
supporters in a meeting with your local MPP to explain how important early
learning and child care programs are for children, parents and our
community.
To get involved with any of these initiatives, please call Andrea Calver at
416-538-0628 x 4 or email andrea at childcareontario.org.
For more information, go to
www.childcareontario.org/stopthecuts<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/f3aefa950c>.
------------------------------
*OCSJ Spring Assembly*
*Jobs & Justice: From Poverty to Economic Security! *
Friday, May 8, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Ryerson University, Kerr Hall South
40 Gould St., Room 251
(one block north of Dundas St. / 2 blocks east of Yonge St.)
Saturday, May 9, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OPSEU Toronto regional office
31 Wellesley St. E.
(across from Wellesley subway station)
Friday night
Discussion with Carolyn Egan, Steelworkers’ Toronto Area Council; Avvy Go,
Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic; and Chris Schenk,
Labour Studies at McMaster University
We shall discuss how the current economic crisis affects our ability to
share society’s wealth, using the example of encouraging green jobs and
sharing Ontario’s wealth among the diversity of persons and groups across
the province.
Saturday assembly
Assembly participants will discuss:
- OCSJ plans for 2009, including organizing for change in different
locations in Ont.
- Peggy Nash, CAW, will advocate the importance of organizing at the
grass-roots.
- Workshops
------------------------------
*About the 25 in 5 eBulletins*
The 25 in 5 Network is steered by a coalition of Ontario organizations
including Campaign 2000, the Income Security Advocacy Centre, the Social
Planning Network of Ontario the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform
Coalition, The Colour of Poverty Project, the Ontario Coalition for Social
Justice, Voices From the Street, among others.
This is a bulletin from 25 in 5 to its contact list of supporters and
interested parties across the province. The Bulletin is intended to keep you
up to date on the implementation of a poverty reduction plan for Ontario and
to let you know how you, your organizations and networks can help make it
happen.
For more information visit
www.25in5.ca<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunitySocialPlann/06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/464143e979>
------------------------------
If you no longer wish to receive the 25 in 5 eBulletin, please reply to this
message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the
following link: Unsubscribe<http://cts.vresp.com/u?06e67b0deb/eb46af6dad/mlpftw>
------------------------------
25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
c/o Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
2 Carlton St., Suite 1001
Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
Read <http://www.verticalresponse.com/content/pm_policy.html> the
VerticalResponse marketing policy.
[image: Non-Profits Email Free with
VerticalResponse!]<http://www.verticalresponse.com/landing/non-profits/?np/06e67b0deb>
--
Terrie ( mocharebyl at gmail.com )
“If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a
participant.” June Callwood
Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and
renders the present inaccessible. Maya Angelou
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.web.net/lists/private/homeles_ot-l/attachments/20090506/00571da1/attachment-0001.htm>
More information about the homeles_ot-l
mailing list