2010 Social Audit Hearing Locations ISARC is mobilizing again to provide opportunities for the most vulnerable in our society to tell their stories of living in poverty. In 2010, a Social Audit will seek to communicate the social effects of the current Ontario government’s policies and actions towards people living in poverty and our society as a whole.
Click here to see where ISARC hopes to hold these province-wide Hearings.
Contact us at info@isarc.ca if you would like to help out.
Poor Bashing: blaming the weak for society’s problems by Jamie Swift
We are living through difficult economic times, with high unemployment and low benefits for the jobless. It is still tragically easy to put the blame on the weak for society’s problems. We have enough – more than enough if you consider the holiday cornucopia on offer at the mall and at festive gatherings – to provide a decent life for all.
The recent resurgence of poor bashing comes after years of patient organizing by social justice advocates. We have managed to nudge the plight of the poor back onto the political agenda.
Given the current economic situation – with job losses mounting and food banks seeing more and more people – there is every indication the government will miss their poverty reduction target unless they redouble their efforts.
Making Good on the Promise The 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction, of which ISARC is a partner, has released its accountability report on the first year of the Government’s poverty reduction strategy.
Making Good on the Promise documents positive progress but cautions that the government risks missing its target of a 25% reduction in child and family poverty by 2013 unless further action is taken.
Social Assistance Review Ontario has appointed a panel of anti-poverty advocates to advise the government on a review of its social assistance system. This new advisory group includes many members of 25 in 5 Network and partners in anti-poverty work. The next few months will be critical as this group works to advise the minister on the terms of reference and the next steps forward to transform social assistance in Ontario.
ISARC with the 25 in 5 Network has been pushing hard for government to meet its commitment to review Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program over the past year, and has consistently identified the review as the next crucial step for poverty reduction in Ontario.
The 25 in 5 Network has identified five benchmarks for a successful social assistance review. They are:
The review must be grounded in a bold vision of economic security for all Ontarians because tinkering with Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program rules is simply not enough.
The review must be proactive and make immediate changes to unfair and counterproductive rules that deny Ontarians supports they need to get ahead.
The review must include a timely process for deep reforms because a fundamental transformation is required to overcome the silos of current programs.
Providing decent, adequate income supports must be a stated outcome of the review. People who rely on social assistance must be assured living standards of health and dignity as well as access to supports and tools, like meaningful training and education, to pursue opportunity.
People who have had to rely on these programs must have a leading role in shaping the review’s recommendations. They have much to teach all of us in the review.
Cross-Community Advocates for Healthy Food Supplement Call for Poverty-free Ontario Ninety advocates from communities north, south, east and west across Ontario, about half people living on low incomes, convened in Hamilton on Friday, December 4 to mark the first anniversary of the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Community Justice Camp - live the Change you want to see May 9 - 14, 2010 In May 2010, the Anglican Diocese of Niagara is hosting a Community Justice Camp, focused on the theme of community development. The camp will be interactive with learning through immersion experiences with local justice partners.
Click here for more information and to download a poster.
Voices of Faith: a multifaith dialogue on homelessness On November 29, 2009, the Multifaith Alliance to End Homelessness hosted a forum at the Multifaith Centre, University of Toronto.
Panelists included Imam Abdul Hai Patel, Muslim; The Right Rev. Terry Finlay, Christian; Rabbi Tina Grimberg, Jewish; Nancy Dinnigan-Prashad, Baha’i; and, Pundit Eshwar Maharaj-Doobay, Hindu. The event was moderated by Rev. Sherman Hesselgrave, pastor at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto.
How Do We Pray For Our Politicians and Government? Our diverse religious traditions have different approaches to how we pray for our politicians and government. This new series explores the question from the perspective of our various religious communities. Our latest response is from a Sikh perspective.
The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) was born out of the hope that together a coalition of faith groups could contribute to new public policies based upon greater justice and dignity for Ontarians marginalized by poverty
ISARC is mobilizing again to provide opportunities for the most vulnerable in our society to tell their stories of living in poverty. In 2010, a 
Given the current economic situation – with job losses mounting and food banks seeing more and more people – there is every indication the government will miss their poverty reduction target unless they redouble their efforts.
On November 29, 2009, the Multifaith Alliance to End Homelessness hosted a 
Our diverse religious traditions have different approaches to how we pray for our politicians and government. This new series explores the question from the perspective of our various religious communities. Our latest response is from a Sikh perspective.