NDP Poverty critic Michael Prue is outraged the McGuinty Liberals refused to allow members of the public into their so-called public consultations on poverty, which are being held in private.

“I can’t believe that on the first day of these so-called public consultations, not only have the McGuinty Liberals refused members of the public access into the meetings, they were throwing them out. The government’s behaviour is appalling and shameful!” stated Prue.

Prue, who tried unsuccessfully to get into today’s first consultation in Peterborough, witnessed members of the public, including former Peterborough MPP Jenny Carter, being thrown out by security at the consultation venue.

“The McGuinty government pays lip service to poverty and doesn’t want to hear from those who are struggling. This government’s so-called poverty consultations are not only about shortchanging the most vulnerable, they’re about muzzling them too,” said Prue.

“Dalton McGuinty refuses to immediately end the clawback of the national child benefit, won’t commit to an immediate minimum wage increase that will lift hard working Ontarians out of poverty, and leaves those waiting for affordable housing languishing on a wait-list.”