THUNDER BAY – City manager Norm Gale will back to city council regarding several recommendations made by the Thunder Bay Poverty Reduction Strategy.
The requests included the continuation of support of the organization to the tune of $35,000 a year from city coffers.
The group also asked the city advocate on their behalf that the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board reinstate financial support to the Poverty Reduction Strategy. Additionally the TBPRS would like council to push for Walk a Mile curriculum to included in all city schools for students in grades 8 to 12 and the city’s intergovernmental affairs committees continue to advocate for provincial and federal funding and to ask Ottawa to create a national poverty reduction strategy.
“I believe this is a really serious issue and I think we all do,” said Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds in asking for a report or a memo from Gale on the matter.
“I think this is something that is really devastating our community.”
In 2018 the city will take part in the basic income project, which guarantees a participants a minimum salary, about $16,000 annually for a single person and $24,000 per couple.
Other commitments suggested in a 40-page report presented to council include the creation and regular updating of a living-wage calculation specific to Thunder Bay, which the Poverty Reduction Strategy has estimated at $15.80 per hour in Thunder Bay, which is higher than the $15-an-hour wage promised by the province.
The province will increase Ontario’s minimum wage to $14-an-hour on Jan. 1, 2018, adding $1 to that figure the following year.
The Poverty Reduction Strategy is also asking the city to support the creation of grassroots neighbourhood groups and continue dialogue and to build relationships with Indigenous partners.
