Post by Max on Oct 10, 2007 17:58:37 GMT -3
Janet Gasparini is a millionaire, so does anyone really believe that a millionaire who live in a mortgage free home on Lake Ramsay could truly relate to what a homeless person experiences?
Posted By Laura Stradiotto
While the number of people living in poverty has decreased in Greater Sudbury, the depth of poverty has worsened, say experts.
At a time when Sudbury's unemployment rate is at its lowest, the number of working poor is on the rise.
Experts say raising the minimum wage immediately from $8 to $10 an hour would help to get working poor families out of poverty.
A report released this week by the Sudbury Community Foundation reveals that in 2005, 14,250 families lived below the poverty level, a seven per cent decrease from 2000.
Despite the decrease in poverty, it seems more Sudburians are turning to food banks to get their daily nutrition.
In March 2006, the number of residents who visited a food bank increased to 13,454 people. This means that 8.3 per cent of the Sudbury population go to food banks - three times higher than the Ontario average.
Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury, said one-third of children who live in poverty in Ontario come from families in which one parent works full time all year round.
Labour market trends point to an increase in retail and call centre jobs, which traditionally pay minimum wage.
During the same period in Sudbury, there was a loss of higher-wage jobs in the manufacturing industry, said Gasparini.
"You got people working full time, full year, but they're not making enough money to keep them out of poverty," she said.
What has changed in last decade is the way mainstream media and some political parties look at Ontario's poor, said Gary Kinsman, social activist and a Laurentian University professor.
Even though the government has a more humane face, the basic features of that 'Harris War on the Poor' are still in place. People have not recovered from that massive attack on social assistance."
The Liberals did implement some recommendations made by the inquest jury who probed the death of Kimberly Rogers, such as the lifetime ban for welfare fraud. But Kinsman said the central recommendation - to raise social assistance rates - has not been addressed.
According to the City of Greater Sudbury Employment Services, between June 2006 and June 2007, an average of 2,887 people received social assistance and 5,115 received disability support.
The NDP plan would raise social assistance rates to reflect the actual cost of accommodations and a healthy food basket - in other words, what it costs to feed a family a nutritious meal. That means rates would vary from community to community.
The Conservatives want to increase social assistance by $750 million over four years.
The Liberals raised social assistance rates by seven per cent over three consecutive years, but have no firm plans to restore rates to what they were 10 years ago.
"I'll be working towards reduced poverty, reduced homelessness, the ability of everyone to get ahead," said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci. "I think our platform clearly spells out that no one has to be left behind. We have to advocate for those less fortunate."
The Liberals plan to raise minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010, but political rivals argue that's too little, too late.
"If you bring minimum wage to $10 an hour, 33 per cent of those families won't be below the poverty line anymore," said France Gelinas, NDP candidate in Nickel Belt.
As the executive director of the centre sante communautaire in Sudbury, Gelinas knows what poverty looks like.
"If you're poor in Sudbury, things are really tough," she said.
The Green Party wants to bring minimum wage up to the poverty cut off rate and then index it to inflation.
"Right now, every single day, people who make minimum wage have less earning power due to inflation," said Sudbury Green candidate Dave Sylvestre.
"We also have to do that with social assistance."
Nickel Belt Tory candidate Renee Germain says minimum wage shouldn't be a political issue.
"It has to do with the economy - there are factors involved that are far beyond what politicians can do," she said.
The Conservatives want to consult with employees, business owners and experts before raising minimum wage.
Germain and the Tories argue that immediately raising the wage will have a negative impact on business and the economy.
Germain works at a restaurant in the evening and gets paid minimum wage.
"I've often talked to the owners," said Germain. "They can't afford to give more than what they're giving. And every time minimum wage goes up, they're trying to rework their staff and they're raising the price of food."
Affordable housing is almost impossible to find in the city now with a one per cent rental vacancy rate. France Gelinas said many of the centre sante's clients are sent to shelters, hotels, rooming houses or sent to live with relatives.
Even if people on Ontario Works put their whole cheque towards rent, they can't find a place, said Gelinas.
According to a poverty report released by the Social Planning Council in September, there are 1,400 people waiting for geared-to-income housing in Greater Sudbury.
The Conservatives are promising to invest $1 billion to repair and construct social housing and the Liberals are committing to develop a long-term strategy for affordable housing.
The NDP is proposing to make 10,000 more new rent supplements available and build 7,000 affordable housing units a year in Ontario.
lstradiotto@thesudburystar.com
Party promises
How the parties say they will address poverty:
Liberals
Increase minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010;
create a poverty reduction strategy around the Ontario Child Benefit.
work with partners to develop indicators and targets to measure and address child poverty;
create long-term strategy for affordable housing;
support dental services for low-income Ontarians;
partner with financial institutions to help families save for home and kids education;
create a new homeowners grant for seniors having trouble paying their property taxes, so that they can stay in their homes.
Conservatives
invest $1 billion to repair and construct social housing;
increase social assistance by $750 million over four years;
set realistic minimum wage after consultation process;
phase out health tax for low-income earners.
NDP
immediately increase minimum wage to $10;
increase social assistance rates;
eliminate health tax;
end clawback to National Child Benefit Supplement;
provide children without dental coverage with service;
make 10,000 more new rent supplements available;
build 7,000 affordable housing units a year in Ontario.
Green
bring minimum wage up to poverty level and then index it to inflation;
party supports bringing minimum wage to $10.25 by June 2008;
increase social assistance, pensions and disability to reflect inflation rate;
stop clawback of National Child Benefit Supplement.
Posted By Laura Stradiotto
While the number of people living in poverty has decreased in Greater Sudbury, the depth of poverty has worsened, say experts.
At a time when Sudbury's unemployment rate is at its lowest, the number of working poor is on the rise.
Experts say raising the minimum wage immediately from $8 to $10 an hour would help to get working poor families out of poverty.
A report released this week by the Sudbury Community Foundation reveals that in 2005, 14,250 families lived below the poverty level, a seven per cent decrease from 2000.
Despite the decrease in poverty, it seems more Sudburians are turning to food banks to get their daily nutrition.
In March 2006, the number of residents who visited a food bank increased to 13,454 people. This means that 8.3 per cent of the Sudbury population go to food banks - three times higher than the Ontario average.
Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury, said one-third of children who live in poverty in Ontario come from families in which one parent works full time all year round.
Labour market trends point to an increase in retail and call centre jobs, which traditionally pay minimum wage.
During the same period in Sudbury, there was a loss of higher-wage jobs in the manufacturing industry, said Gasparini.
"You got people working full time, full year, but they're not making enough money to keep them out of poverty," she said.
What has changed in last decade is the way mainstream media and some political parties look at Ontario's poor, said Gary Kinsman, social activist and a Laurentian University professor.
Even though the government has a more humane face, the basic features of that 'Harris War on the Poor' are still in place. People have not recovered from that massive attack on social assistance."
The Liberals did implement some recommendations made by the inquest jury who probed the death of Kimberly Rogers, such as the lifetime ban for welfare fraud. But Kinsman said the central recommendation - to raise social assistance rates - has not been addressed.
According to the City of Greater Sudbury Employment Services, between June 2006 and June 2007, an average of 2,887 people received social assistance and 5,115 received disability support.
The NDP plan would raise social assistance rates to reflect the actual cost of accommodations and a healthy food basket - in other words, what it costs to feed a family a nutritious meal. That means rates would vary from community to community.
The Conservatives want to increase social assistance by $750 million over four years.
The Liberals raised social assistance rates by seven per cent over three consecutive years, but have no firm plans to restore rates to what they were 10 years ago.
"I'll be working towards reduced poverty, reduced homelessness, the ability of everyone to get ahead," said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci. "I think our platform clearly spells out that no one has to be left behind. We have to advocate for those less fortunate."
The Liberals plan to raise minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010, but political rivals argue that's too little, too late.
"If you bring minimum wage to $10 an hour, 33 per cent of those families won't be below the poverty line anymore," said France Gelinas, NDP candidate in Nickel Belt.
As the executive director of the centre sante communautaire in Sudbury, Gelinas knows what poverty looks like.
"If you're poor in Sudbury, things are really tough," she said.
The Green Party wants to bring minimum wage up to the poverty cut off rate and then index it to inflation.
"Right now, every single day, people who make minimum wage have less earning power due to inflation," said Sudbury Green candidate Dave Sylvestre.
"We also have to do that with social assistance."
Nickel Belt Tory candidate Renee Germain says minimum wage shouldn't be a political issue.
"It has to do with the economy - there are factors involved that are far beyond what politicians can do," she said.
The Conservatives want to consult with employees, business owners and experts before raising minimum wage.
Germain and the Tories argue that immediately raising the wage will have a negative impact on business and the economy.
Germain works at a restaurant in the evening and gets paid minimum wage.
"I've often talked to the owners," said Germain. "They can't afford to give more than what they're giving. And every time minimum wage goes up, they're trying to rework their staff and they're raising the price of food."
Affordable housing is almost impossible to find in the city now with a one per cent rental vacancy rate. France Gelinas said many of the centre sante's clients are sent to shelters, hotels, rooming houses or sent to live with relatives.
Even if people on Ontario Works put their whole cheque towards rent, they can't find a place, said Gelinas.
According to a poverty report released by the Social Planning Council in September, there are 1,400 people waiting for geared-to-income housing in Greater Sudbury.
The Conservatives are promising to invest $1 billion to repair and construct social housing and the Liberals are committing to develop a long-term strategy for affordable housing.
The NDP is proposing to make 10,000 more new rent supplements available and build 7,000 affordable housing units a year in Ontario.
lstradiotto@thesudburystar.com
Party promises
How the parties say they will address poverty:
Liberals
Increase minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010;
create a poverty reduction strategy around the Ontario Child Benefit.
work with partners to develop indicators and targets to measure and address child poverty;
create long-term strategy for affordable housing;
support dental services for low-income Ontarians;
partner with financial institutions to help families save for home and kids education;
create a new homeowners grant for seniors having trouble paying their property taxes, so that they can stay in their homes.
Conservatives
invest $1 billion to repair and construct social housing;
increase social assistance by $750 million over four years;
set realistic minimum wage after consultation process;
phase out health tax for low-income earners.
NDP
immediately increase minimum wage to $10;
increase social assistance rates;
eliminate health tax;
end clawback to National Child Benefit Supplement;
provide children without dental coverage with service;
make 10,000 more new rent supplements available;
build 7,000 affordable housing units a year in Ontario.
Green
bring minimum wage up to poverty level and then index it to inflation;
party supports bringing minimum wage to $10.25 by June 2008;
increase social assistance, pensions and disability to reflect inflation rate;
stop clawback of National Child Benefit Supplement.