ISARC RELIGIOUS LEADERS' FORUM ON “POVERTY-FREE ONTARIO” COMMITMENT
At the Religious Leaders' Forum sponsored by the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC), at Queen's Park at the end of April, the ISARC Religious Leaders' Forum Resolution was unanimously adopted on how to move forward, following the legislation of Bill 152, the Poverty Reduction Act.
The ISARC membership, which includes Catholic Charities, acknowledged the willingness of all parties in the Legislature to respond to the recommendations for amendments to the Bill.
Those at the ISARC gathering agreed that Bill 152 was a commitment of the Government of Ontario and all parties in the Legislature to work toward a poverty-free Ontario.
ISARC members agreed that their understanding of the poverty reduction Bill implied a commitment that "each and every Government policy, program and decision must take into account the effect it will have on the lives of our most vulnerable neighbours and on the effort to eradicate poverty among us."
Members also understood that the province's future budgets must be directed toward "the urgent task of improving the lives of our most vulnerable neighbours so that our communities are truly inclusive, equitable, and free of poverty."
The resolution called on each political party in the Legislature, and each elected legislative assembly representative, to respond to ISARC with an official, written response to this Resolution.