Advertisement

The United Way receives $375k to tackle poverty in London

London city councillors voted in favour of investing $125,000 a year to the United Way over the next three years to take action on 112 recommendations aimed at reducing poverty in London.
London city councillors voted in favour of investing $125,000 a year to the United Way over the next three years to take action on 112 recommendations aimed at reducing poverty in London. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

A decision by city council to rubber stamp a $375,000 investment into The United Way didn’t come with the same spirited debate as it did at the committee level last week.

In fact, it came with no debate at all.

“We had a full discussion on this matter at committee,” said Coun. Phil Squire, the lone vote against giving the agency $125,000 a year for three years to take action on reducing poverty in the city.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

READ MORE: City committee backs passing poverty challenges to London United Way

“I was satisfied with [the] discussion. I voted against it, and I just want to vote against it again with no expectation of persuading any of my colleagues to change their mind or anything. I do this in anticipation of maybe shortening the meeting,” he said before taking a seat again, and prompting a laugh from Mayor Matt Brown.
Story continues below advertisement

“Wow, take note everybody.”

During last week’s discussion, Squire told colleagues that funding could be better allocated to poverty initiatives such as free transit for youth — a cause he has championed.

READ MORE: London city councillor hesitant to pay United Way to implement anti-poverty recommendations

He and Coun. Mo Salih were the only two during last Tuesday’s committee meeting to vote against giving money to the United Way, which will be used to act on 112 recommendations aimed at reducing poverty, developed by the the mayor’s advisory panel on poverty.

Salih wasn’t present for Tuesday night’s full council vote, which was passed 12-1.

Sponsored content

AdChoices