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Vision

Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy is guided by the vision of a province where every person has the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential, and contribute to and participate in a prosperous and healthy Ontario.

Core Principles

Ten key principles will guide the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy:

• Kids First: Kids are our highest priority. By helping kids living in poverty get what they need to succeed, especially at school, the cycle of poverty can be broken.
• Kids Live in Families: Families play the most important role in their child’s success. Reducing child poverty and breaking the cycle of poverty can be achieved only with the support and engagement of families.
• Community: We recognize that there is tremendous potential in each community, and that a successful strategy must capitalize on that strength. Strong, healthy communities are an integral component of a poverty reduction strategy.
• Unleashing Potential: There is incredible untapped potential in Ontario’s population. We need to put that potential to work by building supports and eliminating barriers to full participation in our economy and our society.
• Diversity: We need to respect and respond to the diversity of poverty. We know that certain people are at higher risk of poverty. They include new Ontarians, single moms, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and racialized groups.
• Respect: All people in Ontario deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
• Engagement: All Ontarians, especially people living in poverty, must be engaged in poverty reduction.
• Determination: It will take determination, time and hard work to do what needs to be done.
• Cooperation: We all have a role to play in reducing poverty. We need to work together to build strong, healthy kids, families and communities.
• Effectiveness: Scarce tax dollars must be spent in the most effective way possible. We need to support the research that will guide our investment decisions, and respond to their findings.