Councillors and observers unanimous: Provincial decision to download key health benefits is wrong!

Backgrounder: What are discretionary health benefits?

May 16, 2012:  Andrew Dreschel\’s column in the Hamilton Spectator

May 16, 2012: Spectator Editorial: City steps up to do province\’s job

From May 15th, Hamilton Spectator:  City Decries provincial benefits cuts

Bill Kelly’s opinion: More Political Games, and Guess Who Pays

 

 

How are we doing in making Hamilton the Best Place to Raise a Child?

The Hamiltonian blog asked a number of community leaders, including Mayor Bratina and City Councillors their thoughts on progress towards the City’s aspiration.  www.thehamiltonian.net

200 attend Poor No More film and panel discussion in Dundas

 

 

 

A policy plan to hide poverty, inequality?

Read Stephanie Baker Collin’s excellent op-ed in the Hamilton Spectator Ottawa is shutting down public debate on issues it doesn\’t care about

Ontario is ducking obligations to poor

Read Roundtable member Pat Reid’s timely response to cap health benefits for most vulnerable members of our community:

Pat Reid\’s response to provincial budget

 

Governor General David Johnston visits Hamilton

Follow Governor General David Johnston’s visit to Hamilton LIVE Live coverage of Governor General\’s visit to Hamilton – April 18, 2012

 

“Don’t balance the budget on the backs of the poor!”

April 17, 2012, Hamilton Spectator Editorial, Howard Elliott: Any Budget Compromise must include lifting welfare freeze!

April 16, 2012, Hamilton Spectator Editorial, Rick Hughes: We Must Provide necessary social services

April 10th, 2012, Hamilton Spectator: \”Discretionary\” health benefits such as eyeglasses, dentures, baby supplies – even funerals – now at risk as province downloads costs to municipalities

April 9th, 2012, RAISE THE HAMMER: Balancing the books on the backs of the poor, by Ryan McGreal

April 9th, 2012, CTV Newsnet  Armine Yalnizyan on the growing gap of inequality in Canada

April 4th, 2012, Hamilton Spectator:  Food Banks face Baby Food Crisis – Food Share and Poverty Roundtable denounce provincial budget

April 3rd, 2012: CHCH News: \”Provincial Budget\’s Hunger Games\”

Press Release APRIL 3, 2012 – Povincial Budget “Critical shortage of baby formula at area food banks spurs Hamilton Community to Action, but will the 2012 provincial budget deepen the crisis?”

Ontario’s social assistance system is failing this province’s most vulnerable citizens. Rates are too low, rules are too complex and opportunities to move off the system into well-paying jobs are few and far between. Individuals with disabilities do not have the supports they need to help them live healthier.

Poverty Roundtable responds to provincial budget measures that freeze welfare rates, delay Ontario Child Benefits – Read Tom Cooper’s column in the Hamilton Spectator

Deirdre Pike and Tom Cooper talk welfare freeze on AM 900 CHML’s Bill Kelly show  2012 budget discussion Bill Kelly

 

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario has released Discussion Paper 2: Approaches for Reform and What We Heard: A Summary of Discussion on Social Assistance.

Click here to read the Hamilton Poverty Roundtable’s response

Visit the Social Assistance Page for more information

Organizations in Hamilton Respond to the Social Assistance Discussion Paper:

• 25in5 HOPE’s Response
• Campaign for Adequate Welfare’s Response
• Community Legal Clinic’s Response
• Interval House’s Response
• Social Action Committee’s Response
• Yvonne Maracle’s Response

Hamilton, Ontario has a history of pulling together.

Hamilton has a history of pulling together. The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction was formed in 2005 to tackle the City’s unacceptable levels of poverty.

Roundtable members come from across Hamilton and include leaders from the business and non-profit sectors, from government, education and faith communities as well as individuals who experience poverty daily. Our goal: to reduce and eliminate poverty through the aspiration of Making Hamilton the Best Place to Raise a Child. The Roundtable doesn’t offer programs or direct services; our role is to build understanding about the need to invest in poverty reduction to create a healthier, inclusive and more prosperous Hamilton. We work locally, provincially and nationally on policy and systems-level change to achieve long-term solutions to poverty.