In 2007, during the provincial election campaign, the Liberal Party committed to developing a poverty reduction strategy for Ontario. Once elected, a cabinet committee was struck, chaired by the Hon. Deb Matthews, who is also the Minister of Children and Youth Services and Women’s Issues.
In the fall of 2007 and the winter of 2008 the Poverty Reduction Committee began its work, with the stated first focus of reviewing definitions and indicators of poverty. Prior Ontario initiatives such as the Ontario Child Benefit and raising minimum wage are considered to be down-payments on their poverty reduction strategy.
In March 2007, the government made a few key funding announcements to move things forward. These announcements were:
» $135 million over three years in a dental care plan for low-income families
» The Student Nutrition Program was doubled with a three-year $32-million investment to expand existing services
» $100 million in 2008 to assist with repairs to about 4,000 affordable housing units
The committee remains committed to their goal of releasing a strategy with measures, indicators and targets by the end of 2008.
What’s new?
The committee recently unveiled a new website at
www.growingstronger.ca. On this site you can:
» Find out who the cabinet committee members are
» Read a message and the journal of the Chair and download a document describing the committee’s vision
» Review a collection of research addressing with poverty reduction
» Add your input into the poverty reduction strategy
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