Grassroots movements and municipalities

This week, ACORN Ottawa (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) launched their 2010 Platform for the upcoming municipal election. I joined ACORN members and supporters as they gathered at the Dorothy O’Connell Monument to Anti-poverty Activism at Ottawa City Hall and announced their policy priorities for the election. With the election coming up on October 25, 2010 supporters hope to get the message out to candidates across the city – poverty matters. A few candidates were there, speaking with participants and offering their support.

ACORN’s first priority is income, as it directly impacts all of the other priorities. Within this area, ACORN’s biggest demand is a living wage for all city employees. Ontario’s minimum wage increased to $10.25 per hour at the end of March 2010. However, based on the Low Income Cut-offs which Statistics Canada uses annually to measure income compared to costs of living for specific areas, $13.50 per hour with full time hours is the estimated wage needed to be able to afford housing, food and other necessities in Ottawa.

Ottawa’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (passed by City Council earlier this year) includes a plan to investigate options for developing a living wage. ACORN is calling on the city to investigate the options, and establish a plan for implementing a living wage.

Other priorities in the area of income include more assistance to newcomers and immigrants, especially faster credential recognition, and that resources left over from provincial uploading (approximately $18 million) be invested in services and social programs.

Access to housing is also a top priority of ACORN. According to the Ottawa Alliance to End Homelessness, the city needs to increase the number of affordable units by 1000 every year to meet Ottawa’s housing needs. Not only is affordable housing hard to find, but often low-income housing units have structural problems or pest infestations. Housing is very much tied to income in that income determines where people can afford to live.

Community services are also a major issue for ACORN. Public transit fares have increased over 7% in the past year alone. When people depend on public transit to get to work, increases like this can really add to the costs of living. ACORN is also concerned about access to childcare, or lack thereof, especially since it can prevent people from working full time hours. Access to environmentally efficient services and homes is also important because it can help people save money on essential costs of living. Finally, it is important that recreation activities be more open to everyone, promoting social inclusion and participation, despite levels of income.

Finally, to close the rally, ACORN emphasized the importance of civic engagement in the upcoming election and the shaping of local policies. They want to show all municipal candidates that poverty is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed at all levels of government. Every vote and every voice counts.