Forcing future government to form an anti-poverty plan

Here is a look into politics in the province of Ontario and how it relates to poverty.

The government of Ontario promised to cut poverty by 25 percent in the next five years. The current leaders wants to force future governments to also have an anti-poverty plan in place.

From the Toronto Sun writer Jonathan Jenkins receives quotes from Premier Dalton McGuinty and some reaction from the opposition.

But Premier Dalton McGuinty says the law won't include guarantees or penalties for missing the target.

"We'll certainly be held to account on our progress or lack thereof when it comes to meeting our targets," McGuinty said. "We stand by that and we'll work as hard as we can to achieve that."

The government has promised to cut child poverty by 25% in five years and the new law will require any future government to lay out its own plan for further improvements.

"The legislation itself does not require a government to adopt our 25 in five target," McGuinty said. "What it does mandate is that every government have in place a poverty strategy.

"It hardens up our collective commitment to address poverty."
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Critics said the strategy itself is an empty promise and the only firm commitment is to force future governments to make even more similarly empty promises.

"It's another fluffy McGuinty bill that will ultimately deliver nothing," Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak said.