Calling it Ontario’s “canary in a coal mine”, Ontario’s NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said a report on Hamilton poverty contains warnings that the McGuinty government must heed.

The Incomes and Poverty in Hamilton report was issued jointly in Hamilton today by the Social Planning and Research Council and the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton. Horwath is concerned about the reported increase in poverty among children under 6, to 26.4 per cent from 25.2 per cent between 2000 and 2005.

“With Ontario’s sorry record of massive job losses and economic decline, child poverty rates will continue to climb unless the McGuinty government takes meaningful action on providing supports like affordable child care and ensuring that the minimum wage is a living wage,” said Horwath.

New Democrats have long led the call for major investments to provide parents with affordable, licensed child care options, which are particularly crucial to immigrant families and single parents.

“By supporting parents in their work life, we give children a fighting chance to escape poverty and all of its negative consequences,” Horwath added.

“This study shows that the McGuinty government’s poverty strategy is long on rhetoric, but short on real action to address the root causes of poverty. That has to change if we are really to succeed as a province.”