Poverty Reduction Advocates Welcome Liberal Announcement

Burlington, October 1, 2007 - Community Development Halton, as a member of the Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO), welcomed Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty’s statement earlier today that, if elected, his party is committed to developing a poverty reduction strategy, with firm and measurable targets, within the first year of its term.

Over the past two weeks, Community Development Halton along with 10 other member organizations of the SPNO have held events in communities across Ontario, highlighting a strategy for poverty reduction in Ontario based on the concrete targets and timelines contained in the Campaign 2000 National Poverty Reduction Strategy Summoned to Stewardship released on September 11. The national report’s author, Professor Marvyn Novick, spoke in Burlington last week, emphasizing that the costs of poverty to the health care, education, social service and criminal justice systems far outweigh the cost of eradicating poverty itself, and that concrete targets and timelines are essential for making real progress. Professor Novick cited as an example the radical decline in child poverty rates in the United Kingdom, after then Prime Minister Tony Blair adopted measurable targets and goals in addressing the issue.

In receiving the news of the Liberal announcement, Community Development Halton’s Executive Director, Dr. Joey Edwardh, commented:

“Poverty is a concern to Ontarians in all parts of the province. It exists in Halton and adversely affects the opportunities of children, of newcomers, people with disabilities and seniors. They have much to contribute and it is time to include them. A poverty reduction strategy with specific targets and timelines is a demonstrated way of building a community for all.”

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For more information, contact:
Joey Edwardh, Ph.D.
Executive Director
(905) 632-1975
jedwardh@cdhalton.ca