Why we want to change the situation?

ØPoverty has a complex mix of institutional and individual causes

ØPoverty results affects people’s health by; reducing life expectancy, increasing infant mortality, mental/physical health, and obesity

ØPoverty and remedial consequences; Increasing crime, cost of fighting the crime, poor performance at school, and High school dropout

ØPoverty has a price tag for all Canadians because; Significant cost for government, every household in Ontario, total economic cost in Ontario, cost of health care and crime rates

ØConclusion: Federal and Ontario governments must take an integrated view of poverty and its root causes; so they would not need to invest on the poverty-alleviating programs - such as social assistance, social housing and health care.

ØThe bottom line - we can’t afford poverty.