jillumbach Advocacy, Media, Research

Lessons from Ontario’s campaign to cut child poverty

Published Wed Jul 03 2013

By Greg deGroot-Maggetti, Margaret Hancock and Heather McGregor

Child poverty in Ontario has dropped for a third consecutive year. According to the latest figures just released by Statistics Canada, Ontario’s child poverty rate of 13.8 per cent in 2011 was down from 15.2 per cent three years earlier.

While the reductions in child poverty in Ontario appear to be trending behind the government’s five-year target for a 25-per-cent reduction by 2013, the fact that poverty has fallen at the same time as a major economic downturn speaks volumes about the return on investment so far of the province’s poverty reduction strategy.

As Ontario sets out to consult regarding its next five-year anti-poverty strategy, the past strategy provides five important lessons.

The first is that setting targets matters.

What gets measured gets counted. In 2008, a broad consensus emerged that successfully reducing and eliminating poverty had to start with a multi-year plan based on a clear target. Ontario’s commitment to reducing child and family poverty by 25 per cent in five years was precedent-setting. It has been critical in keeping poverty reduction on the policy radar through hard economic times. Legislated requirements have ensured public accountability for progress.

As a next step, Ontario should ramp up action to ensure that the initial 25-per-cent reduction is achieved. Looking forward, the next strategy should seek a further 25-per-cent reduction in poverty by 2018. This time, the target should include all Ontarians, including children.

The second lesson is that public engagement matters.

Ontario’s engagement with all sectors of society in the development of its first poverty reduction plan seeded growing recognition that investing in people today is good for all of us in the long-term.

It leads to a healthier population and safer communities that reduce healthcare and social services costs down the road. It drives a resilient, productive workforce where all hands are on deck to move Ontario forward. And it means we create a fair society that we are all proud of, where everybody belongs and has an opportunity to contribute.

Community consultations highlighted the specific needs of populations that are at heightened risk such as immigrants, women, single mothers, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and racialized groups – and these specific needs were recognized in the Strategy.

As it looks ahead, Ontario should consult widely again and be particularly attentive to hearing from those with lived experience of poverty.

Third, there are no silver bullets when it comes to complex issues such as poverty.

Taking a long view to a complex issue allows for a planned approach to action. Ensuring that work pays, building strong income security programs, and creating a strong social infrastructure of affordable housing and quality child care are all essential elements of an anti-poverty package. These are not quick, simple steps. But a clear multi-year schedule of policy and investments over the next five years can ensure we get to our destination.

Fourth, good social policy makes all the difference.

The ultimate measure of success of Ontario’s plan is whether it is progressing towards its target. Ontario’s three-year decline in child and family poverty could only have happened because the province chose to invest in programs that could move the needle.

Substantial investments in the new Ontario Child Benefit, coupled with targeted tax credits, successive increases in the minimum wage, employment standards reforms and early learning investments have been the strategy’s strong points. Building on this success should include an adult conversation about growing Ontario’s revenue base to provide fiscal capacity to act. We should remember that breaking the poverty cycle for thousands of Ontarians is the best return on investment the province can make.

Lastly, when it comes to investments, you only get out of it as much as you put in.

Based on data for the first three years of the strategy, Ontario is moving too slowly to achieve the target of a 25-per-cent reduction in child poverty within five years. But three consecutive years of reduction in child and family poverty is an encouraging, hard-won trend, especially in a slow economic recovery. By contrast, poverty rates for working age adults in Ontario continued to climb because there has not been a concerted effort to address poverty among all Ontarians.

The most important lesson of all is that building dignity and opportunity for all cannot stop at words and aspirations.

What Ontario chooses to do with its next poverty reduction strategy will be a measure of its continued commitment to fairness and prosperity for all. Now is the time to build on success and to close the gaps between words and actions, to be bold in our intention, target and action, and to make a real difference for all Ontarians.

 Greg deGroot-Maggetti is co-chair of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction;Margaret Hancock is Executive Director of Family Service Toronto; and Heather McGregor is CEO of YWCA Toronto.

jillumbach Advocacy, Media, Partner Activities, Resources, Video

Grey Bruce: Poverty Outside the City

In December 2012, TVO participated in an international, cross-media series called “Why Poverty?” that tried to ask why, in the 21st century, poverty remains such a problem all around the world.

One of the spots is entitled “Grey Bruce: Poverty Outside the City.”  The Agenda spoke to three people, two involved in charities -the United Way of Grey Bruce  and the Adult Learning Centre –  one person who has struggled on low income, about the challenges faced by the less fortunate in Grey and Bruce counties.

http://theagenda.tvo.org/blog/agenda-blogs/grey-bruce-poverty-outside-city

While the spot is specifically focused on Grey and Bruce counties, it serves as a window to the kinds of particular circumstances both those in need and the charities that try to help them encounter in a large, far-flung rural community.

The video was a new experience for The Agenda, since they conducted all the interviews via webcam and used still digital images to complement the interview clips. While The Agenda team acknowledged the video quality was not the best, they felt it was a way to profile people that they might not have otherwise been able to showcase given time and budget constraints.

If you’re interested, you can watch and read all The Agenda’s “Why Poverty?” content in one spot.

jillumbach General Information, Media

5 Canadian Premiers Stepping Up to the Local Food Plate

17 Jun 2013

The political will to get more local food onto the public plates – is gearing up. No less than five Canadian Premiers have made solid commitments to furthering the local food movement. Three Premiers have specifically  said they want to see more  publicly funded institutions purchasing local foods and one Premier has set a target of 50% local on every plate!

New Brunswick’s  Premier David Alward  wants New Brunswickers to buy into local – especially blueberries . Here are a couple of  snippets from the NB throne speech (delivered November 27, 2012).

“In response to industry’s desire to expand blueberry production in Northeast New Brunswick, your government has put increased emphasis on identifying suitable land and infrastructure required to further develop this crop.”

“Your government has committed to promoting local community food products to residents, visitors and businesses as part of its strategy to grow the Value-Added Food sector. Your government will build on this effort with initiatives to promote the benefits of healthy food choices.”

Manitoba’s Premier, Greg Selinger  specifically wants students, patients, seniors and others in receiving care in publicly funded institutions to enjoy local foods.  The MB throne speech (delivered April 16, 2013) articulated:

“Our government will support a new local sustainable food initiative to increase purchasing from local agricultural producers, promoting community economic development by creating linkages with local farmers to bring more fresh healthy foods into public institutions and facilities”

Nova Scotia’s  Premier Darrell Dexter  has made a commitment to a a “Buy local” campaign .  Here are two key points in the NS throne speech (delivered May 26, 2013):

“Buy Local” has broad support from Nova Scotians, who know their farmers and fishers produce the best and safest food in the world. Buying locally produced food means Nova Scotians are getting fresher, healthier food and practicing environmental responsibility, and it makes good economic sense, too.

My government will increase Buy Local efforts through an expanded Select Nova Scotia marketing and awareness campaign. These efforts will help educate Nova Scotians about where our food comes from while supporting farm growth, farmers’ markets, locally harvested fish, and direct marketing initiatives.

Ontario’s Premier, Kathleen Wynne  has not only appointed herself as the Minister of Agriculture – elevating the status agriculture in that province to a level it so richly deserves –  but she is also pressing forward with a comprehensive food act – the Ontario Local Food Act (bill 36).  The purposes of the Bill are:

1)  To foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems throughout Ontario

2)  To increase awareness of local food in Ontario, including the diversity of local food

3)  To encourage the development of new markets for local food [Source: Local Food Act]

The Bill includes the establishment of local food goals and targets in consultation with stakeholders, ongoing work with public sector organizations to meet the goals and targets, regular reporting on efforts to support local food, and the establishment of “Celebrate Ontario Local Food Week” and other awareness activities.

And a whole new level of provincial government support for local foods was achieved when Quebec’s Premier, Pauline Marois  declared Quebec’s food sovereignty and promised her government would aim to ensure 50% of the food on Quebec plates would be from nearby farms, rivers and lakes.

“Whether it is at the grocery store, at the restaurant or in Quebec homes, Quebec foods will be raised to the level of jewels of our economy and emblems of our identity,” Marois said in her rural riding of Charlevoix-Côte-de-Beaupré. (Source:  The National Post, May 16, 2013).

Bottom line?  ”The future for Farm to Cafeteria in this country is so bright – I need sunglasses”, says Joanne Bays, National Manager Farm to Cafeteria Canada

jillumbach Advocacy, Media

PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSING CALL FOR SUSTAINABLE FEDERAL FUNDING PARTNERSHIP

TORONTO, Ontario – June 25, 2013 – Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Housing today met to discuss the need for long-term, sustainable affordable and social housing.

“We are encouraged by the federal government’s recent proposal to extend funding for new affordable housing,” said Robert C. McLeod, Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Chair of the 2013 meeting of Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Housing. “But together we also need to protect the homes of the more than 600,000 families in social housing.”

The Ministers agreed that the current complement of social and affordable housing in Canada is among the most important social infrastructure in our communities. Significant decreases in federal social housing funding will create increasing challenges to meet the housing needs of Canadians.

As the host of the Ministers’ meeting, Linda Jeffrey, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing noted that “the time to act is now. A long-term federal funding commitment for housing is critical to address the unmet housing needs of Canadians today and for future generations.”

Provincial and Territorial Ministers came together in Toronto to share information and build on common ground with respect to affordable and social housing issues. They noted that any affordable housing agreements need to be flexible and respect provincial and territorial jurisdictions, for example the training of apprentices. They also had an opportunity to discuss engagement with stakeholders and plans for a future meeting with their federal counterpart.

“We recognize the importance of affordable and social housing, and believe that all levels of government need to work together to meet diverse regional housing needs and priorities,” said Minister McLeod. “My colleagues and I invite Minister Finley, the federal Minister Responsible for Housing to a meeting in Yellowknife in order to work together to address the housing needs of Canadians.”

Although it shares the concerns of the other provincial and territorial governments about the substantive needs in housing, Québec intends to make its own representations to the federal government regarding housing at the appropriate time.

Ministers also noted that:

  • Safe, adequate and affordable housing is a basic need of Canadians, including persons with disabilities, and the ability to secure such housing is a determinant for most economic and social challenges.
  • Housing is critically important to the economy. Housing starts are a leading economic indicator because housing creates jobs, both direct and indirect. Affordable housing is a key component. In the three years from 2010-2012 combined provincial/territorial and federal spending added over $3 billion per year to the economy and created or sustained 35,000 jobs.
  • The aging population is putting increasing pressure on affordable and appropriate housing for seniors and limiting their ability to remain in their homes.
  • Poverty, which includes a large group of people whose housing needs are not met, costs Canada’s health care systems $7.6 billion annually.
  • A recent Mental Health Commission of Canada study found that increasing the supply of affordable housing will reduce pressure on health care, emergency services and the justice systems. Every dollar spent on housing reduces spending in other shelter, health and justice services by $1.54.
  • Children who are adequately housed perform better in school. Children in stable housing are four times less likely to drop out of school.