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Ontario Liberals Not Doing a Thing to Break the Poverty Cycle

Children living in poverty received a lump of coal from Deb Matthews in the form of her plan to reduced child poverty 25%. The Liberals proposal was released early in December and they called it Breaking the Cycle. Matthews is the Minister of Children and Youth Services and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction.

Within a week the National Council of Welfare (NCW) responded calling for Cross-Canada action, needed as the economy worsens. They are "an arm's length advisory body to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development on matters of concern to low-income Canadians."

“A comprehensive, pan-Canadian strategy to solve poverty is needed”, John Rook, Chair of the Council said. “It should have targets and timelines, a plan of action, accountability and measurable indicators.” Many partners must be involved. Canada is not unique. “For any nation to solve poverty or foster prosperity there must be government action, political will and a real recognition of the human face of poverty.”

Social assistance rates in Ontario were cut by 21.6% by the then Conservative Government led by Mike Harris in 1995.

The NCW's report was written during the second term of the McGuinty Liberals. More than thirteen years have passed and the Harris-cuts have never been restored. Things have not improved for the poor despite Deb Matthews, an anti-poverty committee, website and words.

What exactly is the goal? It is not the eradication of poverty for everyone. According to the highlights of the report, "We’ll reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over the next 5 years. Ontario can’t do this alone – meeting our goal depends on having a willing partner in the federal government and a growing economy."

Growing economy in Ontario? Strange that the Economist predicts that in 2009 Ontario will be a have-not province and require transfer payments but Matthews overlooks what any consumer whose bought food or gas this past year can tell her. Ontario does not have a growing economy. Her boss Dalton McGuinty has been complaining about Ontario's economic woes to anyone who will listen. Guess his cabinet isn't interested in what the Premier has to say. Or did Matthews prepare her report knowing full well it was rubbish when she wrote it?

Federal government to help that would be the one that is currently prorogued? Even when it returns from its extra-long Christmas vacation the Federal Government has a lot of problems and bailing out Matthews from her own promises isn't high on the list. The economy is in a downward spiral. The big-three issues will have an impact on Canada. Higher food prices are a problem. Did Matthews prepare this report knowing full well when she failed to do a thing to reduce poverty (all poverty not just child poverty) she could just blame it on the Feds and the economy. Matthews may be anti-any-help-to-the-poor but preparing herself with 2 separate entities to blame when she goes down in flames - she's a Liberal all right.