Eric Hoskins: Increase Minimum Wage to Tackle Working Poverty

“A healthy economy leaves no one behind”

Dr. Eric Hoskins, MPP for St. Paul’s and Ontario Liberal leadership candidate, launched his policy platform on Monday, December 17 with a luncheon talk at the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto. In his speech titled “A Prescription for a Healthy Economy,” he asserted that “a healthy economy leaves no one behind.” (see http://ericforleader.ca/ for his full address).

Dr. Hoskins laid out a five point program in his prescription:

1. Transforming the health care system to get “better care for less money”.
2. Mandating a new Metrolinx regional authority to develop and implement a 20 year transportation infrastructure plan based on The Big Move.
3. Job creation focusing on targeted programs for youth employment and integration of skilled newcomers into the economy.
4. Rural and northern economic development (Respect for Rural Ontario) through measures such as access to hi-speed internet and gas revenue funded infrastructure development.
5. Tackling poverty through implementation of the key recommendations of the recent Social Assistance Review Commissioners Report, fully implementing the increases to the Ontario Child Benefit and increasing the minimum wage so that a full-time worker would earn enough to escape poverty.

Dr. Hoskins expressed support for the “key recommendations” of the Social Assistance Review Commissioners’ report recommendations, although not specific in terms of the $100/month rate increase. He did indicate that he supported integration of the OW and ODSP caseloads for a “one-stop shopping” approach and the Pathways to Employment model for helping people on social assistance move into employment, which remain subjects of much community debate.

It is notable, however, that Dr. Hoskins made a specific commitment to raising the minimum wage so that no full-year, full-time earner would live below the poverty line, clearly recognizing the imperative of ending working poverty in a healthy economy that leaves no one behind.

Dr. Hoskins did not refer in his talk to the impending cuts and changes to the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit program, which threatens the health and well-being so many social assistance recipients across the province.

The inclusion of tackling poverty in his policy platform raises it to a prominence that has waned since the 2008 poverty reduction strategy. There is room for Dr. Hoskins to even further develop his anti-poverty platform. But, the question is where is the rest of the Liberal leadership field on ending deep and working poverty in Ontario with clear and specific measures?

Eric Hoskins: increase minimum wage to tackle working pvoerty

 “A healthy economy leaves no one behind”

Dr. Eric Hoskins, MPP for St. Paul’s and Ontario Liberal leadership candidate, launched his policy platform on Monday, December 17 with a luncheon talk at the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto. In his speech titled “A Prescription for a Healthy Economy”, he asserted that “a healthy economy leaves no one behind.” (see http://ericforleader.ca/  for his full address).

Dr. Hoskins laid out a five point program in his prescription:

1.      Transforming the health care system to get “better care for less money”.

2.      Mandating a new Metrolinx regional authority to develop and implement a 20 year transportation infrastructure plan based on The Big Move.

3.      Job creation focusing on targeted programs for youth employment and integration of skilled newcomers into the economy.

4.      Rural and northern economic development (Respect for Rural Ontario) through measures such as access to hi-speed internet and gas revenue funded infrastructure development.

5.      Tackling poverty through implementation of the key recommendations of the recent Social Assistance Review Commissioners Report, fully implementing the increases to the Ontario Child Benefit and increasing the minimum wage so that a full-time worker would earn enough to escape poverty.

Dr. Hoskins expressed support for the “key recommendations” of the Social Assistance Review Commissioners’ report recommendations, although not specific in terms of the $100/month rate increase.  He did indicate that he supported integration of the OW and ODSP caseloads for a “one-stop shopping” approach and the Pathways to Employment model for helping people on social assistance move into employment, which remain subjects of much community debate. 

It is notable, however, that Dr. Hoskins made a specific commitment to raising the minimum wage so that no full-year, full-time earner would live below the poverty line, clearly recognizing the imperative of ending working poverty in a healthy economy that leaves no one behind.

Dr. Hoskins did not refer in his talk to the impending cuts and changes to the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit program, which threatens the health and well-being so many social assistance recipients across the province. 

The inclusion of tackling poverty in his policy platform raises it to a prominence that has waned since the 2008 poverty reduction strategy.  There is room for Dr. Hoskins to even further develop his anti-poverty platform.  But, the question is where is the rest of the Liberal leadership field on ending deep and working poverty in Ontario with clear and specific measures?