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Now that the strategy has been released, ISAC will continue to be involved – primarily through work on the anticipated Social Assistance Review (see below). But we will also continue to advocate for improvements to the strategy, and continue to ensure that government meets its commitments.

. It all started back in 2008 but culminated last week when social assistance rates were frozen and the Ontario Child Benefit (OC

Betrayal

ments over the last two politically unholy

rnments over the last two politically unholy weeks. For the nearly 90,000 people in Hamilton who live below the poverty line, the betrayal has been most stinging from the provincial Liberals. It all started back in 2008 but culminated last week when social assistance rates were frozen and the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) was stalled by $100 a month. Back in 2008, Dalton McGuinty’s governmen

rnments over the last two politically unholy weeks. For the nearly 90,000 people in Hamilton who live below the poverty line, the betrayal has been most stinging from the provincial Liberals. It all started back in 2008 but culminated last week when social assistance rates were frozen and the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) was stalled by $100 a month. Back in 2008, Dalton McGuinty’s governmen

Back in 2008, Dalton McGuinty’s government, through Minister of Children and Youth Services Deb Matthews, was in conversation with Ontario poverty activists about what should be done to reduce the growing depth of poverty. Setting a target to reduce poverty by 25 per cent in five years sounded doable, and academics and planners came up with concrete actions and numbers that could make it happen

first betrayal to the unattached adults who live in poverty and have no dependent children

People in poverty and those who care about them were disappointed with the announcement but we played nice anyway. We politely applauded the government for making this commitment. We said it was a good first step

We played nice even when yet another review of the social assistance system was announced despite the fact that Matthews had completed one just a few years before

Now, just months before they were to release their final report, social assistance rates are frozen

It is clear the Ontario government has abandoned its Poverty Reduction Strategy, leaving no hope for achieving even the minimal objective of reducing child poverty by 25 per cent in 2013

There’s no more time to play nice

At a meeting of the Roundtable for Poverty Reduction’s Social Assistance Working Group last week, the usually composed director couldn’t contain his emotion as he apologized to people on OW and ODSP around the table for continuing to build up their hopes for a government response which ended in betrayal

Her continued talk about “Ontario families” ignores the reality of thousands of Ontarians who do not live in family situations

It’s time to let her know that she must remember and act on behalf of her 90,000 Hamilton sisters and brothers in poverty