Nearly 200 Ontario organizations call for a stronger poverty reduction strategy
Nearly 200 organizations representing non-profits and municipalities across Ontario signed a letter urging Premier Doug Ford to deliver a poverty reduction strategy that reflects the province’s worsening poverty and aligns with Ontario’s human rights obligations.
The letter warns that poverty in Ontario has reached levels unseen in years, affecting people who were once financially secure. A staggering 1.9 million Ontarians were living below the poverty line in 2023. The number of children in poverty has more than doubled since 2020. It further highlights the growing strain on communities – encampments in public spaces, food banks at capacity, and more households unable to meet basic needs – which demonstrates that our existing social safety net is not working.
“Ontarians are honest, hard-working people, and those experiencing poverty are no different,” the letter states. “But hard work no longer guarantees a roof over one’s head and three meals a day. It is possible to reverse this trend.”
The signatories stress that addressing poverty requires a whole-of-government approach. Non-profits and municipalities are ready to work with the province to build solutions that reflect Ontario’s diversity.
The letter calls on the government to design a strategy that:
- Acknowledges the systemic causes of poverty and plans to address them.
- Provides coordinated, dignified, and adequate support, primarily through income security.
- Sets measurable goals, including reducing poverty by 50% by 2030.
- Embeds lived experience in decision-making, ensuring anti-poverty initiatives are informed by the people who are directly affected.
“Poverty is a policy choice,” the letter reads. “Addressing poverty is not ideological. It is practical. When people have a stable base, they are better equipped to work, contribute, build a family and a community, and plan for the future.”
Access the full letter with a list of signatories.