Poverty the theme of pre-budget consultation

from 900 CHML

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - Poverty has been a central theme, after the province's 2007 pre-budget consultations stopped in Hamilton on Monday.

Politicians representing all three of Ontario's major parties have heard requests from the local Campaign For Adequate Welfare for an increase to the minimum wage and an end to the policy of clawing back of money from social service recipients.

Poverty activists have also told the provincial politicians to be "as generous to us as you are to yourselves", a reference to the 25% pay increase that M-P-P's voted themselves before Christmas.

Catharine Fife of Ontario's Child Care Action Network has also asked that 600 million dollars be pumped into reactivating the Best Start program.

She insists that child care is an economic issue since parents who can't find quality, affordable child care have fewer options in regards to their education and career.