Ontario: Social Services

Ontario Common Front Dept: The statistics in the Falling Behind report, released Wednesday, are not new. What is new is that the study zeroes in on Ontario and compares it to the nine other provinces, according to The Star. But today Ontario also has the fastest-growing gap between rich and poor, the lowest funding for social services and programs, the worst record of investing in affordable housing, the fewest hospital beds per capita and the highest university fees. And on income disparity and child poverty, only British Columbia does worse and we re 10th out of 10. Ontario has dropped to last place in Canada in supporting its most vulnerable citizens, according to a new report by the Ontario Common Front, a coalition of community groups, immigrant organizations, unions, First Nations and students. As the richest, most populous province Ontario ought to be a leader. It has a thriving financial sector, a highly educated workforce, the highest concentration of millionaires and the strongest tradition of caring for the poor and disabled. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.