Community consultations have been taking place across Ontario on the provincial government’s next five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy.
ISAC has prepared a Toolkit for Community Legal Clinics to use to prepare for and participate in – or host – a community consultation. You can download the toolkit below.
English: Poverty Reduction Strategy - Consultation Toolkit For Clinics - 2013
Français: Poverty Reduction Strategy - Consultation Toolkit For Clinics - 2013 - French
As well, here are links to some important key messages for community and legal clinic use during the consultations.
Five Priorities for the next Poverty Reduction Strategy
- From the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, five priorities that government needs to ensure are part of the next strategy: http://25in5.ca/five-priorities-for-ontarios-next-poverty-reduction-strategy/
Social Assistance
- Key messages on social assistance from the Toolkit: Poverty Reduction Strategy - Key Messages - 2013
Transit and Poverty
- Making Transit a Priority: http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/reports/making-transit-a-priority/
Migrant Workers and Undocumented Communities
- 12 recommendations to end migrant and undocumented worker poverty in Ontario: http://www.migrantworkersalliance.org/12-recommendations-to-end-migrant-and-undocumented-worker-poverty-in-ontario/
Injured workers and poverty
- Injured workers falling deeper into poverty / John Bonnar (rabble.ca) Dec. 18, 2010: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2012/12/injured-workers-falling-deeper-poverty
- 2010 Poverty Survey fact sheet: http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Documents/PovertySurvey2010_2011_Summary.pdf
- Loss of Earnings: WSIB Cuts to Injured Workers (IAVGO-2013) doc: http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Documents/WSIB_Cuts_to_Injured_Workers.pdf
- Real facts about injured workers benefits: http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Documents/WorkersCompensationNewsMay4_2012.pdf
ODSP Reform
- 5 short plain language papers on the main recommendations of the Commission which would drastically change ODSP: http://www.odspaction.ca/resource/key-issues-odsp-reform
- A simple analysis of the growth in ODSP caseloads: http://www.odspaction.ca/resource/why-are-so-many-people-odsp
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 28 – Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy must meet Canada’s commitment under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 28). In 2008 Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article 28 states that Canada recognizes that people with disabilities have a right to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. Canada has committed to taking appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the progressive realization of these rights to the maximum of Canada’s available resources. Under article 28 Canada has also committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to social protection programs, poverty reduction programs, public housing programs, retirement benefits, and assistance with disability-related expenses including training and respite care. The provincial government must ensure that Ontario’s poverty reduction strategy meets Canada’s commitments under the CRPD. More information on CRPD: http://www.un.org/disabilities/index.asp. Full text of CRPD: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=259
Raise the Minimum Wage
- Key messages for the campaign can be found at the following link: http://raisetheminimumwage.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/MinWage-Backgrounder.pdf
- and information on the campaign can be found here: http://raisetheminimumwage.ca/