Poverty Awareness in York Region

Recently, this past January 15 on the years first snow storm a PACC member confided to me as he was moving during an eviction from Regional Housing - said to me in broken English, “Tommy, the lady (at housing) looked at me and she told me, “I will destroy you”, - this for having the audacity to stand up for his family when he fought being evicted. And this (housing/ workfare) was supposed to be his safety net, and this country his sanctuary. He suffered health problems too. Luckily he has had our friends with the Homelessness Alliance and others helping with the “transition” to being homeless. Last I spoke, his son was having troubles sleeping at the shelter. Their story is systematic of what I hear from marginalized residents throughout the system across all boundaries. Our book captures some of those stories, and I feel these are stories (and issues) you need to hear before setting off again in any direction affecting marginalized people.

You have an opportunity to change the very existence of people’s lives here today and in the future, by agreeing to go ahead and make significant changes. We’d also like you to commit either yourselves or a senior person, to participate in an across the region “square- table” with multi governmental levels participating and others (aid organizations, community groups, church reps etc) in order to assist making some real fine tuning changes affecting poverty. We’d like this to be an annual event and suggest Oct 17 International Day for The Eradication of Poverty as the declared day to hold such an event on (or an agreed upon date during the week of). We feel this idea mirrors your own mandate and policies on creating more partnerships and acting in unison with the community. We have many verbal commitments to this “square-table” idea already, but yours today would certainly add persuasive measure to ensure others join in.

We’d also like to know from the honourable Minister, Deputy Minister and Senior advisors what specific direction(s) you are heading in as a ministry, so that we can move with you in our goal setting up for our “square-table” and beyond. That way we can further work collaboratively, collectively, towards a common end.

So in conclusion, I implore your administration to take a stand today. Accept responsibility for mistakes of past governments and move forward by bringing marginalized income levels to realistic livable levels – by creating your own legacy; one of real change, one that raises spirits and hopes of a future not wrought with grief, worry, hunger, and ultimately the destruction of people’s beings. I promise you it will be remembered by all residents in a positive light come elections day, not that that should be a reason to do so.

As Lily Bow once declared in a letter to the editor printed in the 1960’s in the fight for medicaid for the poor during Bob Nixon’s drive to power - ‘I am asking you to visit your Liberal Committee rooms and study all their ideas and platforms. For a better deal for you, me, and our families, vote liberal on election day. Help me and others like me get these things while I’m still living, and in doing so help yourself and others. Remember, Canada is the greatest country in the world, no other can match it. Lets keep it that way and lets improve Ontario. Only your vote can do it” It worked for them then - and will work for you today!

We hope that you can continue this honoured liberal tradition of championing the underprivileged by agreeing to our proposals and proposed commitments asked of here today.

Thank-you
Tom Pearson
Poverty Action for Change Coalition (PACC) Chair