The new Wynne government and the Opposition parties have returned to the Ontario Legislature and the Throne Speech has been read.
The next significant milestone will be the 2013 provincial budget.
This year’s budget may be an opportunity for positive change for people receiving social assistance in Ontario and other Ontarians living on low incomes.
The Premier has already said that she intends to increase the amount of money that people receiving social assistance can keep when they work – the Opposition parties have said they support this move and it was included in the Throne Speech.
But there are other critical investments that should also be made, including improving the adequacy of social assistance incomes.
The email below is from our partners at the 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction – they’ve launched an online pre-budget campaign to urge all of Ontario’s political parties to make important investments to support people living on low incomes.
Click the link to find out more about what investments are being recommended. Forward this information to your friends and colleagues.
And take action! Sign the e-action today!
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25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
February 20, 2013
Take action on Budget 2013!
Urge our political leaders to allow low-income Ontarians to Earn More, Keep More and have benefits Restored!
Ontario is facing an historic opportunity to invest in poverty reduction efforts in the 2013 provincial budget.
The 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction is urging all Ontario’s political parties to make minority government work for low-income Ontarians – by allowing people to earn more from employment, keep more assets and child support payments while simultaneously restoring the benefits that have been frozen or eliminated over time.
All political parties have made social assistance reform and poverty reduction efforts a priority in this year’s budget. Reducing and eliminating poverty requires government to remove the barriers that trap people in poverty in our province.
You can show your support by sending an e-postcard to Ontario’s political leaders, and by visiting 25in5’s information pages to learn more.
Find out more about the 25in5 recommendations for budget 2013.
Read the letter sent to Party leaders.
Sign the 25in5 e-action today!
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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, Voices From the Street, among others. This 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.