Following Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition’s (ISARC ‘s) publication of Persistent Poverty: Voices from the Margins, and based on the findings of the social audits in 26 locations across Ontario, Canada, ISARC is “particularly concerned that the latest Ontario budget offered so little to those on social assistance – $5.92 per month, as Carol Goar has acknowledged – and at the same time refused to respond to repeated requests by the faith communities for the $100 food allowance” (a.k.a Healthy Food Supplement).
Please join Poverty Free Ontario (PFO) and Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition in the following “Let’s Vote For a Poverty Free Ontario” movement:
“Many struggle on low incomes and are economically insecure.
The 2006 Census showed that of the 11.9 million Ontarians living in private households, 11.1% (approximately 1.3 million men, women and children) had an after-tax income at or below the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) established by Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada, 2008c).
The provincial election that will take place on October 6, 2011 is an opportunity for each of us to exercise our responsibility as Ontario citizens.
For the upcoming provincial election, ISARC’s “Faith To End Poverty Campaign” is partnering with Poverty Free Ontario (PFO) in more than 20 communities across the province to make sure that the issue of poverty is not neglected.
Candidates for office will start getting their names, pictures and campaign literature in front of Ontario voters starting in earnest in September.
That’s the time when we think voters should get the message out about poverty using conventional election signage and messaging.
We are requesting the support of all faith groups in an election “sign blitz” on September 13, 2011 with the message shown below:
August 19, 2011: Please note that Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition’s (ISARC ‘s) new date for the election sign blitz is September 15, 2011.
“Let’s Vote for a Poverty Free Ontario”.
This non-partisan message asks candidates from all political parties to make poverty elimination a priority concern in their election campaigns.
The signs would be displayed on the local properties of participating faith communities.
Each locality would choose a site for a press conference on September 13, 2011.
Faith institutions in communities such as Cornwall, Kingston, Belleville, Sudbury, Parry Sound, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Peel, Windsor and many others are preparing to participate.
Poverty Free Ontario and ISARC are looking into the production and distribution of the signs.
Please let us know the number of faith communities that are participating in your area.
We ask that you join this province-wide, cross-community initiative to send a message about ending poverty in Ontario to candidates running for provincial office in your community.
Contact us at info@isarc.ca for more information.”
Contact Info:
Rev. Brice Balmer
Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition
P.O. Box 25067 – SDM
Kitchener, ON N2A 4A5
(519) 884-0710 x 3927
bbalmer@wlu.ca
or
info@isarc.ca
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