Ed Strengthening Community Linkages On Poverty Reduction In Ontario E6

November 2009

Progress made; major challenges ahead...
In 2008 / 2009, the 25 in 5 Network played a central role in keeping the spotlight on poverty in Ontario's political agenda
From the start, the Network set out to:
build a broad umbrella of champions;
engage decision makers to achieve change; and
set the agenda by proposing:
idea of targets;
multi-dimensional proposals for policy focus;
organizing core constituencies to expand consultations; and
framing poverty reduction as good for economy.
Measurable progress has been made, but economic slowdown presents serious challenge to sustaining momentum

Looking back: Towards 25 in 5
Three main driving factors behind the coalition:
advocacy efforts in 2006/07 around the National Child Benefit Supplement claw back and Ontario Child Benefit;
advocates’ growing interest in international movement for “poverty reduction” and progress in other jurisdictions; and
City of Toronto commitment to support community efforts to advocate for a poverty reduction strategy in Ontario.
25 in 5 established August 2007 - founding members challenged all parties to adopt the target in their platforms
Loose steering committee structure set up with close to 30 members in regular attendance

How we work
Network has grown -> more than 560 Toronto-based and provincial organizations with local / regional networks and leadership in communities across the province
About 20 partner organizations have taken leadership roles as part of Steering Committee, supporting a province-wide campaign
Network supported by Convening Group, Communications Committee, and various action tables and work groups
Governance less about top-down, hierarchy and more about how autonomous partners can contribute to a movement in a coordinated fashion

Colour of Poverty Campaign
CASSA
Daily Bread Food Bank
Income Security Advocacy Centre
Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition/MCC
Ontario Association of Food Banks
Ontario Coalition for Social Justice
Ontario Campaign 2000
Ontario Federation of Labour
OMSSA
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
Social Planning Network of Ontario
Stop Community Food Centre
St. Christopher House
United Way Toronto
Voices from the Street
Wellesley Institute
Workers Action Centre

What we set out to achieve...
Overall goal:
A PRS that would reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in five years and 50% in ten years through progress in good jobs, strong income security programs, and solid social infrastructure
Longer-term Objectives:
Measurable and significant poverty reduction in Ontario from provincial policy and investments
Ongoing province-wide, cross-community engagement and movement building
Public support & recognition that poverty reduction is central to the social and economic health of all Ontarians

Approach to Movement Building
Encourage people with direct experience to take on leadership positions – “nothing about us without us”
Reach out to many sectors (faith, education, health, women, municipal, labour, business) for active support and endorsements
Identify community leadership across Ontario; being part of a larger province-wide movement through the cross-community approach
Secure media coverage in Toronto and communities across Ontario
Avoid common coalition pitfalls:
remain loose but focused,
respect partners’ autonomy,
assume collaboration around specific goals is mutually desirable,
encourage diversity of tactics / approaches within the umbrella

Where We’ve Been
Summer/Fall 2007 – focus on getting commitment from all parties during provincial election campaign
Jan 2008 – Initial 25in5 Forum
Attended by 250 people from across Ontario
Preliminary discussion of “What is PRS?,” principles for poverty reduction, and poverty measures
Jan/March 2008 – 25 community meetings
Held across province to test / refine the 25 in 5 Founding Declaration (policy framework for PRS)

April 14, 2008 Queen’s Park Forum
500 people attended
25 in 5 Founding Declaration released; called for PRS to address 3 priorities: sustaining employment, livable incomes, and strong supportive communities
Presentation of Declaration to Minister Matthews - culmination of months of movement building, showing geographic and sectoral breadth and a united front
Consolidated motto / model of “nothing about us without us” as an integral part of how 25 in 5 would move forward
Coverage showed media was ready to pay attention – front page Star, coverage in Globe, CBC, across province editorials, columns

25 in 5 Founding Declaration: Still the anchor

Toward a Provincial Plan
April to July 2008: 50 consultation meetings across Ontario
Network supplemented government’s official consultations
Built bridges with individual MPPs and Ministers on Cabinet Committee - 44 MPPs and thousands of Ontarians participated
Released consolidated report on community input at conclusion
October 2008: Forum at Queen’s Park - “Countdown to Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy”
Attended by over 500 people
Released “Five Tests for Success of Ontario’s PRS”:
a 25 in 5 target;
a way to measure progress;
policy specifics;
legislation and accountability; and
a down payment in the 2009 budget.

Towards a Provincial Plan (cont’d)
September 2008: face-to-face with beginning of recession
Network focus shifts to new narrative to frame PRS:
“ we cannot afford not to address poverty: crucial as economic stimulus in short term, crucial as human development strategy for Ontario's long-term prosperity”
- op-eds, cost of poverty reports, editorial meetings
November 2008: Leadership Forum to discuss poverty reduction “Blueprint”
Kick off of provincial tour to get community input on Blueprint
Visited 26 communities; more than 1000 participants

December 4, 2008: A PRS for Ontario “ There is a lot more work to do before we can say we have succeeded, but today we have built the foundation for real progress on poverty. We should celebrate this achievement. We will be focusing now on the next steps: the work that needs to be done to implement the plan announced today.” -- Pat Capponi responding to the Ontario government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

25 in 5’s Response
Network and advocates across the province greet the announcement with cautious optimism: a start, a turning of the corner... but not a done deal...
PRS is generally regarded as a good start and an important commitment.
Signals a change to way poverty is understood in Ontario; represents the end of era of blaming and demonizing the poor.
Recognition that much work to be done to fill in the gaps.
Network moves to frame investments in poverty reduction as crucial for Ontario's economic stimulus strategy: money in poor people's pockets good for local economy, investments in housing, ELCC critical as job creation.

Strategy in lead up to March 2009 Budget
Network's primary goal leading up to the budget was to link poverty reduction to economic stimulus
February 12, 2009 – “Blueprint for Economic Stimulus and Poverty Reduction in Ontario” released
simultaneous release in communities across the province
fulfilling Blueprint proposals would require investments in the order of $2 billion per year
March 20, 2009 - Government announcement
$400 million to increase OCB for low-income families
$600 million to match federal money to repair and build new affordable housing.

March 26, 2009 Budget
Positive:
Speed up OCB: to $1,100 in July 09 - new $400 million
Match federal investments in affordable housing - $600 million in provincial dollars + $600 million federal
Funds to hire new employment standard officers
2% increase in social assistance
Commitment to invest in community infrastructure
Negative:
No $100 Healthy Food Supplement
No money for child care... although $1.5 billion package for early learning introduced in October

Bill 152: Details
February 25, 2009, the provincial government introduced Bill 152: An act respecting the long term reduction of poverty:
Requires successive governments to have a plan based on the seven principles contained in the Act
Plan must have a poverty reduction target
Government must report out annually
The plan must be reviewed / renewed every 5 years, and governments must consult prior to implementing a new or renewed plan
Governments are obligated to publish annual targets, annual reports, and plans

Moving ahead: PRS Challenges
One year ago, we thought these would be our major challenges:
Extending provincial commitment to a comprehensive poverty reduction plan rather than one limited to child poverty;
Account for specific needs of populations and groups within the broader strategy;
Ensure crucial pieces don't get lost: e.g., social assistance review, low-income dental program;
Ensure new HST does not leave low income people further behind;
Risk of deferring provincial action on poverty reduction because of the absence of a strong federal partner.

PRS Challenges...
One year later, challenges are greater than anticipated...
Network challenge is to maintain provincial government commitment in the face of:
recession;
anticipated slow economic recovery;
BIG deficit at all levels of government; and
perception of mis-spending by government reducing confidence in public policy.

Tough questions to consider...
PRS agenda requires policy reform AND new investments.
Moving forward, Network must consider tough questions:
As we push our case, what is the public policy context? What will governments’ policy response be to deficit conditions?
Where is the public on the deficit? A balanced approach over a few years until economy turns around? Demands for public spending cuts? Is Ontario public ready to talk taxes?
What does this mean for us? How do we balance our push for policy reforms (e.g. use $6B currently spent on welfare more effectively, reform educational opportunity grants) with our push for more money (social assistance increases, new housing benefit, etc).

Next Steps...
Countdown to Dec 4: one-year anniversary of Poverty Reduction Strategy ( Breaking the Cycle)
Issue a report that takes stock of what’s positive, where improvement is necessary
Convene partners to discuss agenda for next provincial budget
Start organizing for next budget with awareness of need to address economic and fiscal conditions

Website
For more information, visit:
www.25in5.ca
www.povertywatchontario.ca
www.growingstronger.ca

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Ed Strengthening Community Linkages On Poverty Reduction In Ontario E6

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Ed Strengthening Community Linkages On Poverty Reduction In Ontario E6 — Presentation Transcript