Ottawa City Council votes to adopt poverty reduction strategy

On February 10, Ottawa City Council voted to adopt a municipal poverty reduction strategy. The plan, entitled Poverty affects us all: A community approach to poverty reduction, was presented to Council by the Community and Protective Services Committee which approved the plan in January.

Poverty affects us all was developed by a steering committee that included representatives from the City of Ottawa, the business sector, advocacy groups and the education system. The vision for the plan is that everyone in Ottawa should be able to live in health and dignity.

This is reflected in the 16 recommendations which are divided into three main categories: a system to benefit people in need, building a community of inclusion and belonging, and breaking down myths about poverty and promoting poverty reduction. Some of the recommendations include expanding support for people with disabilities (1), increasing investments in homeless prevention (9), and public education about poverty (12).

However, the acceptance of the entire plan was a contentious issue for several councillors. Most were in agreement with about 90 percent of the plan. The controversy came from two recommendations in particular, 14 and 15.

Recommendation 14 calls for the research and development of policy options for the adoption of a living wage in Ottawa, which addresses concerns that minimum wages are inadequate compared to costs of living, including housing and other necessities. Recommendation 15 calls for exploring the investment of excess provincial funds for social assistance into poverty reduction.

The main concern was about jurisdiction between provincial and municipal governments. Councillor Gord Hunter led this debate claiming that no further research was needed because these issues, especially wage regulation, are the province’s responsibility. If such a policy was adopted the city would have to cover the costs of increased wages. These concerns were echoed by several other councillors.

But many other councillors spoke passionately about the importance of these recommendations. Councillor Diane Holmes first clarified the recommendations. Neither are calling for immediate implementation of a living wage or directed social spending. Instead both call for research and the development of policy options. Is it responsible to throw these ideas out without even looking into the possibilities?

Councillor George Bédard, the City Council representative on the plan’s steering committee, spoke about jurisdiction. The plan does not suggest Ottawa change the laws concerning provincial minimum wages. “We’re not talking about minimum wages,” the councillor said, “We’re talking about are our wages.”

Finally, Councillor Clive Doucet spoke adamantly about the need for everyone in Ottawa to be able to live in dignity. He claimed these recommendations were the two that called for the most sacrifice on the city’s part. But also they were the two that could really have an impact on poverty.

Councillor Doucet maintained that sometimes it is necessary to cross jurisdictional lines and set standards in municipalities that go above and beyond provincial regulations. Ottawa’s anti-smoking law is a prime example. Ottawa was one of the first cities in Ontario to enact a law against smoking in public places, and a few months later, the province did the same. Ottawa once again has the opportunity to set the standard and be a role model for positive change.

The bulk of the poverty reduction strategy passed easily. Recommendations 14 and 15 passed as well with a vote of 14 to 7 and 13 to 8 respectively (Mayor Larry O’Brien voting against both). When policy options for a living wage and further social investments are introduced later this year, it will likely be an uphill battle for advocates, but the adoption of the plan is another step toward poverty reduction for the City of Ottawa.