Mississauga Musings

Hey, Mississauga.

This week I met a most remarkable person --Edna Toth. She's very much an advocate for those who need advocacy the most --The Poor, The Unconnected.

I've decided to dedicate this weekend's Blog to Ms. Toth's commentary Poverty tells its own sad stories that appears elsewhere in our online MIssissauga News.

It's not a stretch to conclude that the issues surrounding Poverty receive just token responses from our governments. From my own investigations into municipal governance, there's already preliminary evidence that programmes "addressing" Poverty in Peel might also be "token".

Inspired by Ms. Toth, please be advised that The MIssissauga Muse is now a member of the Peel Poverty Action Group. I believe that this will fit in nicely with the (quiet) role that I'm already playing on the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Education/Policy Working Group.

And now, from Edna Toth.

Poverty tells its own sad stories

May 20, 2008 11:28 PM - This is a request for all cash-poor people in Peel Region to tell their stories.

Poverty is widespread throughout Canada, and it could be the fault of “The System” — a trap that snaps shut on human beings.

We want to hear about that trap. Is it happening to you? How do you feel about it? What has to change to get you out of it? Email your story and ideas to ppagactiongroup@gmail.com. Your information and ideas might be published, but your identity will not be revealed without your consent.

This is what it’s all about. Poverty affects everyone, even those who have paid work and think of themselves as well off. As one cash-poor Peel person pointed out recently: “Almost everybody is only two pay cheques away from being poor.”
Poverty can be demeaning and diminishing. People who are cash-poor have children to look after, old folks to care for, and individual ambitions and hopes to achieve, just the same as their wealthier counterparts.

Here are some of the concerns we've heard from cash-poor residents in Peel:

• On government allowances: “You can’t eat and pay the rent on disability support.”

• On marriage breakdown: “When poverty comes in the door, love goes out the window.”

• “I daren’t go to the doctor. I might have to go through the whole disability qualification again. I could lose my disability allowance while they make up their minds.”

• “I am sometimes tempted to quit my job, which I love passionately, to go on welfare just for the drug benefit card that will give me access to emergency dental care, which I desperately need.”

But, not all tales of poverty are sad. In a time-limited pilot project in Brampton, free bus passes are being given to cash-poor people. Said one recipient: “I don’t have to beg for a free ride. I feel human again.”

Poverty is not invisible and all levels of governments are aware that cash-poor people need a chance to build better lives for themselves and their families. Here are some of their initiatives:

• Canada’s Parliament put a committee to work April 10 to produce a reduce-poverty plan for the nation.

• Ontario’s government is organizing meetings across the province en route to reducing the depradations of poverty.

• Peel Region, in concert with United Way and Peel Poverty Action Group, is preparing a Peel-centred plan to persuade government officials in Ontario our region has special problems that require special consideration.

Groups are forming to enable the voices of cash-poor people to be heard by governments, among them:

• The Colour of Poverty is a national organization that held workshops in Mississauga and Brampton recently. Statistically, people of visible minorities are three times more likely to live in poverty than others.

• Campaign 2000 is an organization dedicated to reducing child and family poverty across Canada. Campaign 2000 leaders have already talked with many organizations in Peel

• Peel Poverty Action Group (PPAG) and its affiliates, are meeting with every MPP serving the region. PPAG wants support for a poverty reduction strategy that includes further increases to the minimum wage, raising social assistance rates to the real cost of living, better dental benefits for those in need, child care and affordable housing, plus affordable higher education.

These are the ideas being discussed and facilitated. Your story might just help force some solutions closer to reality.

Edna Toth is a Mississauga resident and chair of Peel Poverty Action Group.

Signed,
The (Trust, Quality, Excellence) Mississauga Muse