PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET
 announces a provincial challenge

August 28, 2010

SUMMER VISITS BRING CONCESSIONS FROM MPP’S…

Put Food in the Budget brings the case to the constituencies

This summer community representatives from the Put Food in the Budget campaign visited more than forty MPP’s across Ontario and asked them to complete the Do-the-math survey. The MPP’s who completed the survey said that a single person needs a minimum income of $1340 per month. Almost all of them said social assistance is inadequate.

During the visits, the Liberal MPP’s gave different reasons for not supporting the Campaign’s request for an immediate increase, because of the recession; because they wanted to wait for the results of the Social Assistance Review, or because they feel there is not pubic support.

Minister Meilleur said to one delegation that ‘she would love to give people an extra $100 per month but it’s not on the public radar’.

Now, the campaign wants to encourage a PROVINCIAL CHALLENGE to demonstrate that there is public and province-wide support for an immediate increase in social assistance as a first step towards health and dignity for people receiving social assistance.  The Challenge also seeks to raise awareness of the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.  The Social Assistance Review process will take 12-18 months and will not likely complete its work or its recommendations by the next election.  The Challenge is intended to underline the immediacy of the needs of the poor, particular around food and adequacy of income and to improve the lives of those on social assistance now.  The challenge is a call for solidarity with people in Ontario who experience persistent stigmatization and discrimination.

Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson of Toronto has committed to be part of the Provincial Challenge Team.  Leaders of labour, faith, health and arts organizations are also being invited and we will confirm with you their names as they confirm their participation.

Though still in the early stages of planning, the following outlines the Challenge:

•    Orientation – There will be an orientation session for people who have accepted the ‘Challenge’ where they will meet with a group of leaders of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign whose income is based on social assistance. The purpose of this meeting is to orient the ‘Challenge’ participants to the full experience of social assistance and to create a context for their Challenge experience. This Orientation will be in early September – date to be arranged.
 
•    Press conference – There will be a press conference on Monday October 4 at Queen’s Park to announce the Challenge and introduce the provincial Challenge team.

•    Challenge – October 4 – 8, provincial Challenge team will take the Challenge and report through website and media interviews their experience.

•    Provincial ‘Town Hall’ meeting – Monday October 18th (evening) will be a Town Hall meeting in Toronto where the provincial Challenge team will report on their experience. We will invite people from around Ontario to join us for the Town Hall meeting and to stay for the following day for a strategy session on moving forward. This meeting is tied to closely co-incide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Read more here: 

•    Strategy Day – Tuesday October 19th representatives from communities around Ontario will meet to develop strategy to continue pressure on the McGuinty government to implement the Healthy Food Supplement. The KW and area planning group is invited to attend this event.

Go to Put Food in the Budget web site here:

To involve your local community please be in touch with Mike Balkwill at ISAC here.