Committee introduces new anti-poverty strategy

More than 100 people descended on city hall in Ottawa Thursday to learn more about a new strategy designed to help reduce the cycle of poverty in Canada’s capital city.

The authors of the City of Ottawa’s new poverty reduction strategy introduced the new plan Thursday. The plan is made up of 16 recommendations, and is the result of a joint effort between city staff and community groups.

The proposals include expanding and simplifying the application process for the Ontario Disability Support Program, improving access to recreation for low-income people and better integration of immigrants into the city’s workforce.

The committee is also recommending a mandatory "living wage" for anyone hired by a contractor that does business with the city. The recommended wage is expected to be around $13 an hour.

Everald Robley, a single parent who works for a private company that cleans city hall, said he’s struggling to make ends meet.

"Right now, I make $9.75 an hour, and I work full time. If it isn’t on sale, I can’t afford it," Robley said. "Right now I am facing eviction from my apartment because I can’t afford it."

Alex Cullen, the councillor for Bay Ward, said city employees earn a living wage, but he said some cleaners and cafeteria staff work for contractors that pay closer to minimum wage.  

"What we’d be looking at is making sure that contractors aren’t exploiting people who are living in poverty, making sure that they pay an adequate wage so that they can at least meet the poverty line," Cullen said.