NDP MPP Michael Prue today released the NDP’s poverty report calling on the McGuinty government to implement a poverty reduction strategy now!

“Under the McGuinty Liberals, the gap between wealthy Ontarians and those who are less fortunate has been growing each and every day. Poor Ontarians are being forced to choose between paying the rent or feeding their kids,” said Prue.

This summer, the NDP held open and transparent poverty consultations across Ontario. The consultations drew hundreds of Ontarians who shared their thoughts on how to fight poverty. The NDP’s report, “The Time is Now: Tackling Poverty in Ontario”, summarizes the consultations. Currently, 1.5-million Ontarians live in poverty and many more are just one pay cheque away from poverty.

“As a person living with a disability, and living in poverty, I am sick and tired of the government telling poor people why nothing can be done or why the time is not right for action. Why are we always at the bottom of the government’s list?” asked Cheryl Duggan, a Toronto resident and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipient who joined Prue at a Queen’s Park press conference this morning.

“Too many people are struggling all across Ontario. Economic insecurity is an epidemic, especially now that so many good jobs have been lost. This is no time to back down and abandon all those families in need,” said Josephine Grey, Co-chair of the Ontario Coalition for Social Justice, which has chapters across Ontario.

“If the government chooses to focus on a few dollars saved in a budget, we will all pay much more in the long run to deal with the resulting damage,” added Grey.

The NDP is demanding the McGuinty government adopt the following in its anti-poverty plan:

• An increase in the minimum wage to $10.25 immediately, with a further increase to $11 by 2011 and future increases indexed to the cost of living;

• Full implementation of the Ontario Child Benefit now instead of in 2011, and the formation of an independent committee to ensure that social assistance rates are adequate to cover real the costs of food, housing, and other basic needs; and

• Construction of 7,000 new units of affordable, rent-geared-to-income housing per year for five years and the creation of 12,000 new rent supplements a year for five years.

“Ontarians have spoken and they told us that this will make a difference. It’s time Dalton McGuinty listened, instead of backtracking on his promises,” said Prue.