WATCH: Mayor Tory announced plans to fund a newly developed poverty strategy Thursday.
TORONTO – John Tory announced plans to invest $2.2 million in child nutrition, job training and at-risk youth programs around Toronto.
Tory made the announcement at a press conference Thursday morning flanked by Joe Mihevc and Pam McConnell whom he tasked with developing the poverty reduction strategy.
The items go to the budget committee on Friday and focus on five priorities: affordable housing, access to good transportation, access to city services, food security and jobs.
“Is it right to have such a prosperous city in which we have 1 in 4 children living in poverty and going to bed hungry,” McConnell said. “And is it right that 1 in 5 adults are living in poverty and is it right that our children, our young people, that 20 per cent of them do not have jobs.”
“It really helps us to imagine where we need to go with our strategy.”
A more fulsome strategy will be submitted to the executive committee in June, Tory said, and could cost nearly $24.5 million. Tory pointed out that number also includes his previously announced TTC fare relief for kids.
The initial funding, which will be officially presented to the budget committee on Friday, will expand student nutrition programs in 27 schools, launch a pilot program to help single parents on Ontario Works to get a job, expanding the Connect2youth employment and training program, launch a pilot program to give seniors a way of getting to appointments, and expanding youth hubs at the city’s libraries.
Follow a twitter recap of the announcement below:
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