[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: Poverty Watch Ontario

[Terrie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Poverty Watch Ontario <webmaster at povertywatchontario.ca>
Date: 2009/5/25
Subject: Poverty Watch Ontario
To: mocharebyl at gmail.com


   Poverty Watch Ontario <http://povertywatchontario.ca>
------------------------------

Poverty Reduction Becomes Law in Ontario: Amended Bill 152 Gets All-Party
Support<http://povertywatchontario.ca/2009/05/06/poverty-reduction-becomes-law-in-ontario-amended-bill-152-gets-all-party-support/>

Posted: 06 May 2009 01:56 PM PDT

Toronto, May 6, 2009 – Ontario has taken a historic step forward on poverty
reduction with the all-party approval of Bill 152, the Poverty Reduction
Act, said the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction.

The legislation 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.

“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,” said Greg deGroot-Maggetti, of the Mennonite Central
Committee. “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.”

Amendments were made to the original Bill after the Legislature’s Standing
Committee on Social Policy heard suggestions over two days of public
hearings from two dozen community representatives, and received over 40
written submissions.

“The Committee was wise enough to listen to the expertise of the articulate,
impassioned community activists who offered excellent advice to strengthen
the Bill,” said Sarah Blackstock, policy analyst with the Income Security
Advocacy Centre. “We take this as a good signal for future consultative
processes as we move collectively toward ensuring all Ontarians have the
decent standard of living to which they are entitled.”

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.

The 25 in 5 Network expressed disappointment that the Bill does not include:
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.

- 30 -

For more information, contact Sarah Blackstock at 416-768-5825.
[image: Share/Save/Bookmark]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?&linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpovertywatchontario.ca%2F2009%2F05%2F06%2Fpoverty-reduction-becomes-law-in-ontario-amended-bill-152-gets-all-party-support%2F&linkname=Poverty%20Reduction%20Becomes%20Law%20in%20Ontario%3A%20Amended%20Bill%20152%20Gets%20All-Party%20Support>
   You are subscribed to email updates from Poverty Watch
Ontario<http://povertywatchontario.ca>
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe
now<http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=POHjmFMo2hlKnVAS3b85yw27Ggg>
.Email delivery powered by Google  Inbox too full? [image:
(feed)]<http://feeds2.feedburner.com/PovertyWatchOntario>
Subscribe <http://feeds2.feedburner.com/PovertyWatchOntario> to the feed
version of Poverty Watch Ontario in a feed reader.  If you prefer to
unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: Poverty Watch Ontario, c/o Google, 20
W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610



-- 
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/20090525/948859ea/attachment.htm>