The Province is listening to rural communities on how to deal with poverty.
About 50 were in attendance at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine yesterday at one of several poverty consultation meetings being held across Ontario.
The meetings were suggested by the Community Consultation Committee and Huron Bruce Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell organized one for her riding.
Also in attendance was the Minister for Children and Youth Services Deb Matthews who says she wanted to hear what the problems are from citizens in rural areas but also wanted to hear solutions.
Matthews says people living in poverty in rural areas are different than those in urban locations.
She says she is hearing from people talk about how they are having trouble paying for such things as utilities, housing, and transportation.
Matthews notes that poor people who live near Bruce Power face a unique set of challenges.
She says those who work there are well paid but those who don’t tend to struggle.
Matthews says she is hearing from participants that there is so much money being spent on administrating rules.
She says that doesn’t help people get out of poverty and wants to find ways to better coordinate and streamline the programs so more money gets to the people and less on administration.
She adds they haven’t been able to do a good job in giving them the tools to get on with their lives.
Matthews says the information gathered at these meetings will be used to develop a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy that will be delivered to Premier Dalton McGuinty by the end of the year.
