A Blueprint for Economic Stimulus and Poverty Reduction in Ontario – the result of consultations in 30 Ontario communities – lays out a plan that could reduce the number of poor Ontarians by 197,420 (15 per cent) and reduce the number of poor children in Ontario by 62,000 (19 per cent) within the next three years. The plan, developed by the 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction (of which the Wellesley Institute is a founding member) was released today at a media event at Queen’s Park (Ontario’s Legislature).
“Our blueprint focuses on key investments during the next two years in social infrastructure and public programs that do double duty of stimulating the economy at a time when we need it most and reducing poverty when the need is highest,” says blueprint co-author and OFL economist Sheila Block.