“Government programs are a trap that keep people poor, no matter how hard they work,” said Jim McDowell, Labour Council delegate from CAW 1285.

“Though the Ontario government has held so-called consultations about poverty across the province, the consultation in Brampton was by invitation only and was held during the day, when workers can’t go. Our poverty forum is open to everybody, and we hope people will share stories and experiences about living on little.”

The meeting begins at 6.30 p.m. on Monday at Four Corners Library, 65 Queen Street East in Brampton.
Admission is free.

The public forum is an opportunity for people living on Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or those with jobs that don’t pay enough to raise a family, organizers say.  

Monday’s forum will be an alternative to similar meetings held by the provincial government in communities across Ontario.

Ontario’s Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction aims to develop a poverty reduction strategy with measures, indicators and “reasonable” targets by the end of 2008.

The committee will review how best to organize the current system of supports to ensure effective investment and more efficient administration.

Organizers of Monday’s event say information and suggestions for improvement will be sent to Deb Matthews, Chair of Ontario’s Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction.