NEWS December 4, 2008

Ontario’s poverty reduction strategy will reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over 5 years – lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty – by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly-funded education.

The strategy will represent an additional annual investment of over $1.4 billion at full implementation – including $300 million in new targeted initiatives:

§$1.3 billion annually for the Ontario Child Benefit – including a $230 million annual increase – means that 1.3 million children in low-income families get up to $1,310 a year.

§$70 million annually in a range of new educational and community projects, such as parenting supports for low-income families and outreach programs for vulnerable youth.

§$54 million in down-payments made in the 2008 Budget for dental care for low-income Ontarians and an expanded student nutrition program. The Budget also included $100 million in one-time funding to assist with repairs to about 4,000 affordable housing units.

The plan also includes the implementation of full-day learning for 4 and 5 year olds, with part of the initial focus on low-income neighborhoods.

The government intends to introduce legislation in spring 2009 that, if passed, would commit Ontario to annual reporting on key indicators of opportunity such as income levels, school success, health care and housing.

QUOTES

“Tackling poverty is the right thing to do for our families, and for our economy. This plan is all about investing in education and supports so that more kids can reach their full potential,” said Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction.

"In these tough economic times the increase to the Ontario Child Benefit is very significant and long-lasting for the 1.3 million children in low-income families," said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Vice-Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction. "In communities across Ontario, our strategy will ensure that more children can get out of poverty forever as well as ensure there are fewer children falling into poverty."

QUICK FACTS

§Meeting the “25 in 5” target will require provincial investments, federal investments and a growing economy.

§The full implementation of this strategy means a single parent with two children under age 13 working full time at minimum wage will have a 54 per cent higher total income than it was in 2003.