Poverty Awareness in York Region

The following was presented by PACC to the Provincial Community Relations and Social Services Minister( Madeleine Meilleur), Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister and senior staff. Although they agreed to get involved in a series of conferences or meetings to address poverty, we were essentially told that the Minister didn't believe that the current system and social services rates were a problem; that there may be isolated cases but overall things were fine, as when Harris made the cuts he did in the mid 90's that the rates were artificially too high previously.We, and the thousands suffering, beg to differ.


Presented April 2007 to the Minister as follows:

Good evening everyone, I’d first like to thank our esteemed and honourable hosts for having us all here today as we certainly can appreciate that you are all very busy. We are encouraged by the fact that you are taking the time to hear us and also by the fact that we have representation here from the federal level as well - from Ms. Stronach’s office, as we believe the solutions to end poverty in York Region, Ontario, and ultimately Canada, lie with cooperating, differing governmental levels; and so we see this as an opportunity to assist such a liaison and hopefully make it fruitful. As stated earlier, my name is Tom Pearson- Poverty Action for Change Coalition’s Chair. PACC is a unique grassroots community group made up of individuals, both marginalized and not, some of who are professionals working in positions that relate to poverty including the help sectors, and as well endorsing community assist organizations.

I’m here today, along with my fellow esteemed colleagues whom you’ve met, as well as fellow PACC member Linda (Roberts), whom I also might mention is the Grand-daughter of Lily Bow – a woman who gave a tremendous boost to the origins of the Liberal party, and indeed Canada, both Federally and Provincially. Lily who’s family fought in both world wars for Canada, started out involved in recruiting, send-offs, and ‘Tatoos” before turning to full time to politics, many times turning down the offer to run for MP and MPP as she preferred to create waves in her own way within the party by acting on various committees and serving as President of the Women’s Liberal Association for several years. When Lily first arrived here as a young teen from Britain in 1913 and settling in Toronto, they were aghast at the city which was a place ripe full of overwhelming poverty – the downtown was scarred with pathetic slums and squatters, and on the streets peddlers, rag collectors, and junk collectors. Poor People worked long hours in factories without holidays or breaks for $350 per year. Homeless children walked the streets looking for food and there was no minimum wage laws, no unemployment insurance, no old age pensions, no welfare, baby bonuses or medical health insurance. Linda’s grand- mother became a spirited champion of these things and remained vocal to the end at age 98 when Lily Bow died, with this being the 10th anniversary year of her death. May she rest in peace.

Lily had received personal accolades and recognition from everyone from Pierre Elliot Trudeau, to David Peterson, to former Consul General/Minister of Defense Barnett Danson and was good friends (and booster) of the late senator David Croll among many others. Without specifically meaning to she was also a pioneering champion of women’s rights paving the way for women in politics today. Feisty Lilly was known to go toe to toe with the likes of Former prime Minister the late Lester Pearson no less, which brings us to me- as you may have noted my last name is Pearson. .. Just kidding there is no connection there! ..But it would have been good.

My point is, that it was the Liberal party who were hstorically championed poor and social concerns! So it is somewhat ironic that we find ourselves here today with descendant Linda sitting here, herself a victim of downsizing from a long time held court house position and who has only been able to regain marginal unrelated part-time work since, trying to assist in convincing you that our underprivileged need more help- both financially and systematically- but it is also a boon- because as I pointed out, the liberal party is steeped in tradition of helping the disadvantaged and correcting social structural problems within government : that being said, I would like to acknowledge that you have made some positive changes and on the last budget you did increase the rates by 2% - with gradual added incentives that are supposed to eliminate the “clawback” to welfare recipient families in theory, over the next 3-5 years. The recent sustained rise in gas prices alone however has already taken care of that 2% raise for those that travel by car to work, and the recent elimination of paid school busses to high- schools for some in York Region, forcing them now to pay $65 per month for transit to keep their kids in school, eliminates it for others, and indeed increases their costs. Natural inflation will take care of the rest of this gradual fade-in leaving us right where we started at - with people in crisis. Those are just two small examples that I hope allows you to see that this immediate “ raise “, that averages maybe 18-28 dollars per family, does not even dent the problem today. Mr Mcguinty promised to eliminate the claw-back, not defer it, and I implore you to encourage him to honour his pledge immediately. I cannot stress enough how little this is doing to help even any one of the 50,00 people (using them) in York region to stop from using food banks. These increases you’ve made will not change that stat. whatsoever, in fact it will likely continue to increase under it. We encourage you to raise that income rate today to present day cost of living levels. A 20 % hike- not 2 - would have been closer to reality - to make a real marked difference- to levels like what pre-existed before the Mike Harris slash and punish era.

Also food banks used to be used in emergency situations, not as a reliance like it has become, and I believe it should be the role of every government to reduce them, not stock them. I mean no disrespect to the food-networks either, as I certainly think we currently must use them - and they do need more tools to do it efficiently- however we feel the long term goal should be not to need them- except for emergencies.

People have a right to live in dignity and that means buying their own fresh food - food they and their kids like -not what is dealt to them - like a correctional facility food line. This reliance also gives the perception to the public that food banks cover all the sustenance and nutrients they need to survive on, and this is not the case. Food bank food is not fresh meats or vegetables but cans, rice etc and also often rancid or past due - with flies/bugs commonly accompanying rations. There are no regulations of the food banks, and thus people sometimes accidentally get poisoned food, which is why recipients are made to sign waivers before accepting it. No, food banks are not a working solution to extreme poverty and having to use one is another chip out of ones esteem, each and every time.

The stories contained in our book here, Voices From The Edge, will tell you that the 2007 budget additions are not enough. Just read one story, any one, and you will know. Some of the financial information may be outdated however the stories aren’t and they are real. These families - the one’s still intact- and individuals, continue to need help today, before they drown in a vat of mental health soup. As time passes marginalized income recipients’ (especially Odsp and workfare recipients) mental health declines significantly under the present set up, further adding to the dilemma by affecting the children. Funding children’s mental health, which you addressed in the budget, to your credit, is a start, but without treating the parents you are not treating the stem source, as this is where it mostly filters from and affects the children in many adverse ways.

I have witnessed marginalized persons that are demoralized both spiritually and esteem wise - by coarse and insensitive treatment and stigma they’ve received at the hands of society from social workers, to doctors, dentists, to schools, to colleagues, to strangers and it all takes a toll. Some have a hard time even leaving their front doors since because they have transformed into depressed, low self-esteem ridden individuals- many are single parents destitute for help. They need cheer leaders not demoralizers and PACC believes the system could use an overhaul in this area. Marginalized people’s rights are routinely taken advantage of in many situations as the fear to speak out or stand up for themselves, often outweighs the possibility of being displaced from income or housing.

Increasingly individuals and families are turning to us for help we cannot possibly give, and this is why we feel strongly that a type of ‘Independent Advocacy Commission” needs to be set up, and as well we feel that specialized sensitivity training needs to be implemented immediately across the board to all staff. Improvements were made by your ministry when dealing with ODSP recipients - as they are no longer threatened as often with being displaced due to incomes being held back for various reasons (usually a missing insignificant document), however one wonders why the others cannot be given similar dignified and stress reduced treatment. Routine notices that get sent workfare recipients allowing for action within 10 days or face being cut off their income - can often get lost or delivered to the wrong address resulting in individuals losing their income - not to mention the stress caused by simply receiving a notice. Usually the discrepancy is rectified, but usually after the fact and when it’s too late to save your rent cheque from bouncing or hydro or insurance or phone, and resulting in penalties etc – some that can never be reversed. Credit ratings if you had any are now non-existent which adds a future barrier to those trying to arise from the social system. In many cases a simple phone-call and not a notice would have sufficed and avoided these unnecessary hardships. These are systems changes that can be done that do not cost money – but done just by simply rearranging procedure.

Eliminating overpayment charges to recipients across the board could also instantly put extra income back into recipients’ pockets immediately as often the “overpayments’ were the fault of the Ministry and not the individual, yet they must then take a monthly cut when it is systematically taken off their cheques – payments that act as an income reducer sometimes lasting years.

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