25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
Who said it? Mike Creek, of Voices from the Street – and co-chair of the 25 in 5 Network – at hearings of the federal Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities into the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada.
The federal Standing Committee recently released a report that recommends a number of measures for federal government action into poverty reduction in Canada.See the story in the Toronto Star here.
The Standing Committee’s report can be found here.
You’re Invited! - 25 in 5 Community Briefing: Year Two of Government’s Progress on Poverty Reduction
The clock is ticking on the provincial government’s five-year commitment to poverty reduction. We’re at the end of year two, and the halfway point is nearly here.
On Monday, November 29th, the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction will release “Building A Resilient Ontario: From Poverty Reduction to Economic Opportunity,” a second annual report tracking the progress of the Ontario government in meeting its poverty reduction commitments.
You are invited to join members of the Network and partners for a community briefing and 2011 provincial budget and election strategy discussion on:
Monday, November 29th
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Church of the Holy Trinity
10 Trinity Square, Toronto
Please note that the South entrance to the church is wheelchair accessible and there are accessible facilities on the main floor. Light refreshments will be served.
If you are attending, please RSVP to Mary Micallef at (416) 351-0095 x 251 or email mmicallef@socialplanningtoronto.org.
Please circulate this invitation throughout your networks.
See 25 in 5’s year one report, “Making Good on the Promise”, here.
Ontario Campaign 2000: 2010 Report Card
Ontario’s child poverty rate is on the rise with more than 1 in every 6 children growing up in a low income household.
In a report released November 24, Ontario Campaign 2000 provides this and other statistics on child and family poverty in Ontario and recommendations for government action.
“The recession and the tattered state of our social safety net programs like EI and social assistance have made Ontario’s poverty problem worse. The Ontario government showed bold leadership in 2008 by developing a poverty reduction strategy. But we need the Province to move faster to fix social assistance and raise rates, make housing more affordable, and support a Good Jobs Strategy. And we need the federal government to step up to the plate as an active partner in Ontario’s poverty reduction plan,” said Jacquie Maund, Coordinator of Ontario Campaign 2000.
Poverty Reduction: Key to Economic Recovery for Ontario Families credits the Ontario government for making smart investments in programs that support Ontario families, despite the tight fiscal situation. But the poorest people – those depending on social assistance – are struggling on welfare benefits which are as low now as they were in 1967 in terms of purchasing power.
To download a copy of this report, or the 2010 National Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada (in English and French), please visit www.campaign2000.ca.
Ontario Campaign 2000, a 25 in 5 Network partner, is non partisan coalition of 67 organizations across Ontario committed to ending child and family poverty in Canada.
“Zero Dollar Linda”: New Report from Metcalf
The Metcalf Foundation has released a new paper by Innovation Fellow, John Stapleton entitled, “Zero Dollar Linda” A Meditation on Malcolm Gladwell's “Million Dollar Murray,” the Linda Chamberlain Rule, and the Auditor General of Ontario.
This new report explores the weaknesses in the design of North American social welfare institutions through the stories of two individuals. It shows what can happen to people when they receive the Ontario Disability Support Program, live in subsidized housing, and try to be as self-reliant as possible.
In the end, government policy-making uses tough, counterproductive rules that make it almost impossible to gain greater independence, and gives little discretion to those who administer the system. The paper explores how the Auditor General has done little to address this unbending system and chooses instead to fan the flames of a public perception that Ontario’s social assistance system is riddled with fraud.
We hope that this paper will contribute to the creation of smart public policy and programs that support every person to reach their full potential in Ontario.
Metcalf will be hosting a discussion with John Stapleton, Catherine Porter, Linda Chamberlain and Pat Capponi on December 2nd, 2010 about the issues raised in this paper.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
1:30 to 3:30 pm
St. Christopher House – Community Hall
248 Ossington Avenue (Dundas at Ossington)
Registration is free, but space is limited. Attendees must pre-register with Heather Dunford at the Metcalf Foundation (416.926.0366 ext. 33 or hdunford@metcalffoundation.com) before November 30, 2010.
Click here to download the “Zero Dollar Linda” report from the Metcalf website.
See Catherine Porter’s Toronto Star story about Linda Chamberlain and John Stapleton’s report here.
ISARC Social Audit: Poverty Persists
On December 2, the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) will release its 2010 Social Audit, entitled “Persistent Poverty: Voices from the Margins”.
In 2010 hundreds of volunteers fanned out across Ontario to hear from poor people in a rich province reeling from global meltdown. These conversations reveal savage inequalities – burgeoning food banks, endless affordable housing lineups, and severe social stigma – and leave us wondering why we continue to allow our most vulnerable neighbours to languish at the bottom of the heap.
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
6:30PM to 8:30PM
Church of the Holy Trinity
10 Trinity Square, Toronto
(Wheelchair accessible)
The event is co-sponsored by Between the Lines Publications and ISARC.
Housing as a Human Right: Community and Legal Action to End Homelessness
On May 26, with the participation of housing advocates, 4 people who have experienced homelessness launched a historic legal challenge against the governments of Canada and Ontario for violating their human rights and the rights of people who are unable to obtain safe, accessible affordable housing.
On October 19, people rallied in cities across Canada in support of Bill C-304, requiring Canada to develop a national housing strategy. The final vote on Bill C-304 is expected soon..
On December 10 participate in International Human Rights Dayand hear about how low-income people and their allies are claiming the right to housing. Claim your rights too!
10am - 12pm
155 Dalhousie Street
(5 minute walk east of Dundas Subway - behind the gas station at Dundas & Church)
The forum is free.To register to attend or to endorse this event email: dirksy@lao.on.ca. Snacks and TTC tokens will be provided.
Organized by Right to Housing social action committee, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, and the Dream Team.
Save the Census Campaign Update
Tens of thousands of Canadians and hundreds of organizations rallied this past summer and early fall to “Save the Census” from the federal Conservative government’s decision to scrap the mandatory long form census.
The fight has not been won – but it’s not over yet. A note can still be added to the National Household Survey indicating that completing it is mandatory. This change could be made right up until days before the Census is conducted.
You can help in three key ways:
The Save the Census Campaign is working to ensure that the Census is an issue in the November 29 federal by-elections.
A radio ad will be played in one of the by-election ridings starting November 22. In another by-election riding, a flyer is going to 15,000 households encouraging them to “Vote for Your Right to be Counted”. These and other campaign resources are at www.savethecensus.ca.
Find out more at www.savethecensus.ca, www.datalibre.ca, and www.ccsd.ca.
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 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
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to sign up for this e-Bulletin.
The 25 in 5 Network runs exclusively on volunteer contributions from our partners. Any financial contribution that you or your organization is able to provide to the Network would be most appreciated. To make a financial contribution to 25 in 5, please contact John Campey at jcampey@socialplanningtoronto.org.
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