Kids come first in poverty war, minister says

from The Toronto Star

Forum makes case to her that non-white groups are most economically afflicted in Ontario society

Tanya Talaga
Social Justice Reporter

Ontario's anti-poverty strategy will first focus on improving the lives of impoverished children, the leader of the province's drive to reduce poverty told a conference staged by the Colour of Poverty Campaign.

"You can't have a strategy that starts everywhere," said Deb Matthews, Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services.

The consultation process on how to reduce poverty will begin soon, she told the Toronto assembly. The minister said the province plans to launch a website seeking thoughts on reducing poverty.

Matthews also acknowledged the importance of the experiences of racially diverse community groups when devising a strategy. In Ontario, 47 per cent of children within newcomer families live in poverty.

"We need to really look at the diversity of poverty. It is not as simple as raising social assistance rates."

Matthews cautions there won't be enough money to fund all anti-poverty suggestions. "We have to be strategic."

A coalition of groups have come together to form the Colour of Poverty Campaign and are stressing that non-white people bear the brunt of poverty in Ontario and a one-size-fits-all anti-poverty strategy simply won't work.

The group has been lobbying the Liberal government to recognize that "colour" plays a major role in who happens to be poor.

People from ethno-racial minority groups are more likely to live below the low-income measurement line, to have poorer health, lower education levels and fewer job opportunities than people from Caucasian or European backgrounds, the group says.

"There is an opportunity here because we are talking about the issue," said Angela Robertson, executive director of Sistering, a support group for low-income women. "It's time to hold our decision makers to their commitments."

In the opening panel discussion, Karl Flecker, of the Canadian Labour Congress, pointed out that 65 per cent of people of colour occupy the lowest five occupational categories in the labour market – primarily low-paid service sector jobs with few benefits.

Canada is in danger of creating an "economic apartheid" as the gap between rich and poor increases, said Grace-Edward Galabuzi, a Ryerson professor in politics and public administration.

The colour of poverty is often missing when discussing these issues, he said. "Race matters. Gender matters. Disability matters."