Sudbury anti-poverty activists criticize McGuinty government

Edited by David Stein

	Dalton James Patrick McGuinty.

The McGuinty government has not addressed the poverty and hunger of hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario who must try to survive on welfare and disability payments or low-paying jobs. The massive loss in real income for the poor that has taken place over the last ten years continues to worsen and those directly affected by poverty are unable to adequately feed their children, eat well or find affordable housing.

By breaking their original election promise to index welfare income to the rate of inflation, the Liberals have created a situation where the poor are becoming poorer under their government than they were in the days of Mike Harris. The poor in Ontario don’t need more studies or distant long-term poverty reduction targets we need major anti-poverty action now!

There is a crying need to hold those in power accountable. Ontario Works and disability rates have lost 40% of their real value, the minimum wage is still at sub poverty levels, and the lack of decent housing across the province is a shame and a disgrace. When large numbers of people living in poverty started to use the Special Dietary Supplement to get more funding for nutrition and on health grounds the McGuinty government and Rick Bartolucci who is a cabinet minister in that government slashed the program making it more difficult for people living in poverty to get funds from this program.

The Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty (SCAP) calls upon this government and whoever will follow to make a living income available to all. Social assistance rates must be increased by at least 40% and the stagnant minimum wage brought above poverty level. Along with poor communities in Toronto who will be challenging Queen’s Park on September 26th to increase social assistance rates, raise the minimum wage and build affordable/social housing, we must fight for a decent future from those who would leave us in poverty.

"Only a mass movement of people organizing in the streets, and in our communities and workplaces can put an end to poverty," further elaborates SCAP.

The McGuinty government has recently pledged to fight poverty; but actions will speak louder than just rhetoric.

Get involved with the SCAP, LINK

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