NDP Poverty Critic Michael Prue today condemned the McGuinty government for using the excuse of a difficult economy to stall on its commitment to take strong action to reduce poverty in Ontario.

“With tens of thousands of Ontario families facing uncertain economic futures, now is exactly the wrong time to be stalling and postponing one of Dalton McGuinty’s key campaign promises. Addressing poverty is not a luxury that should be abandoned during hard economic times. In fact, investments in housing, income supports and job creation are even more crucial during economic downturns like the one Ontario is experiencing,” said Prue.

Prue called McGuinty’s musing that his government’s poverty agenda may have to wait unacceptable.

“Ontarians have shown remarkable patience and faith that the McGuinty government would live up to its promise. It now appears that this government is prepared to turn its back to the nearly 1.5 million Ontarians living in poverty and the many more who are just one pay cheque away from poverty,” added Prue.

He dismissed government claims that there aren’t the revenues to push ahead with a poverty plan, saying that the NDP has outlined a fair and economically-sensible strategy to fund significant reductions in poverty through small income tax increase on high-income earners, fair corporate taxes and the closing of tax loopholes.

“It is not only ironic, but pathetic that the McGuinty government says it lacks the funds to address poverty on the same day that it announces a $1-billion salary increase for doctors,” said Prue. “Surely Dalton McGuinty knows that poverty is a main cause of illness, and that ignoring it will only further burden a health care system that is already stretched thin.”