GUELPH – In response to the 2013 Ontario Budget, the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination is encouraged by the government’s plan for increasing prosperity and building a fair society. In particular, the Poverty Task Force is pleased to see the government’s acknowledgement of and response to the recommendations from the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. This includes attempts to address the depth of poverty experienced by social assistance recipients by increasing rates, particularly for single adults on Ontario Works without children, and changing rules on earning exemptions and asset limits.

While the 2013 Ontario Budget is a step in the right direction, more substantial investments in people and the programs that support them are required.  The Poverty Task Force will continue to advocate for higher social assistance rates, the Ontario Housing Benefit, and better access to prescription drug and dental benefits for Ontario Works recipients.

Based on feedback collected through a series of public consultations and discussions with key stakeholders as part of the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination has called for government action to address six priorities. The table on page 2 outlines the six priorities identified in Guelph-Wellington and if and how the 2013 Ontario Budget responded to them.

Read the full report: Release – Poverty Task Force Response to 2013 Ontario Budget 

The Guelph-Wellington Furniture & Household Goods Access Guide was developed by the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination to provide low-income families and individuals information about no- and low-cost options for household goods and furniture in our community.

The document can be downloaded here: Furniture & Household Goods Access Guide

This new report, completed by the Research Shop in partnership with the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, contributes to a growing body of information on emergency food services in Guelph-Wellington.

The report provides a snapshot of demographic characteristics of 210 people who live in households that access emergency food services in our community.The following is a sample of the results:

• 40% were single adults
• 48% reported paying regular market rent
• 58% have an average household income of less than $1000
• 80% indicated that they have an ongoing need for emergency food due to insufficient income.

The report also explores the barriers that community members face when trying to access emergency food in our community, including stigma, consistency and transparency of eligibility criteria, accessibility, and food quality.

The full report is available here: Using Emergency Food Services in Guelph-Wellington.

(L-R) Leanne Brire, Robert Barret, Tamara Johnston, Barb McPhee, Lee Maidlow, Tina Brophey, Martha Inglis (missing: Judy Noonan)

Eight community members with lived experience in poverty were selected to participate in a 6-week public speaking, social justice and advocacy-training program. Graduates of the program will have the opportunity to speak publicly (i.e. board meetings, community events, etc.) in order to put a human face to poverty.

The training started April 17th and will wrap up in mid-May. If you’re interested in booking a speaker from Advance Your Voice, please contact randalin@gwpovery.ca.

This second report in a four-part series by Citizens for Public Justice looks at income and inequality trends in Canada. While many are doing better than they were in the 2008–09 recession, the gap between the richest and the poorest Canadians is growing at an alarming rate.

“Income, Wealth, and Inequality” was released on April 15, 2012, the day before the first of three days of study on inequality by the House Finance Committee. The report is comprised of seven two-page fact sheets, covering a range of topics from income trends, to the impact of inequality, to the growing concentration of wealth.

Download the full report and fact sheets here: Citizens for Public Justice