NDP MPP Michael Prue called for the McGuinty Liberals to heed the message of the Social Justice Coalition of Peterborough and take action to alleviate poverty in Ontario.

In its testimony to the Finance Committee, which is sitting in Belleville today, the Social Justice Coalition of Peterborough suggested that poverty is an ongoing problem in Ontario. The coalition also revealed that twenty percent of Peterborough’s children are victims of poverty, a full 6% higher than the provincial average, their families subsisting on incomes far below the low-income cut-off or LICO.

“It’s unconscionable that poverty, especially child poverty, remains such a huge problem in one of the richest jurisdictions in the world,” said Michael Prue, NDP MPP for Beaches- East York and finance committee member. “Poverty is a problem in every community we visit. What’s most disturbing is the increasing rate of working poor. Clearly many Ontarians who work hard and play by the rules are falling through the cracks.”

In order to fight this disturbing trend, the Social Justice Coalition urged the McGuinty Liberals to honour its broken promise and end the clawback of the national child benefit for recipients of social assistance. The coalition also strongly supports a $10 minimum wage.

“The NDP will continue to fight for a living wage for working families and an end to the clawback. These two measures are essential to improving the lives of millions of Ontarians,” said Prue.