Increased income polarization disturbs community harmony: Adams
Friday November 29, 2002 Michelle Strutzenberger
The good news is that the number of Canadian children in poverty has fallen slightly since 1996, according to a just-released report by the group Campaign 2000.

The not so good news is that the income gap between rich and poor continues to grow, according to another study, just released by the Canadian Council on Social Development.

The latter study reports that between 1984 and 1989, the wealth of the nation's poorest 20 percent of couples with children decreased by 51 per cent.

In that same time, the wealth of the wealthiest 20 per cent of couples with children increased by 43 per cent.

A study of the distribution of incomes in Peterborough by the Peterborough Social Planning Council reflects this national trend towards a growing income gap.

"A less cohesive community is more likely to experience violence," says Frances Adams of the Peterborough Social Planning Council. "If there are great disparities between people, resentment increases, lack of understanding increases."

"Obviously, people who are poor are not necessarily going to be more violent," she adds. "But many of them would not feel as integrated in the community. They feel they have less to give and perhaps less reason to give... When I talk about giving, I'm thinking in terms of community building."

The increasing polarization in income results from a number of factors, according to Frances. One is that levels of social assistance haven't risen in over seven years. Further, minimum wage levels have remained stagnant since 1995. Also, the eligibility for Employment Insurance was tightened. "So that a lot of people who would formerly be able to access EI, which they've paid into, are no longer eligible." Finally, tax cuts have primarily benefited those in the top income brackets.

One of the priorities of the Peterborough Social Planning Council is economic/income security. It has been advocating for this vis-a-vis both provincial and federal governments.

While the community has been very supportive in addressing the growing need for emergency services such as shelter, food and help with energy costs, the best solution to the poverty question lies in economic and income security, according to the Social Planning Council.

"I think most if not all of us would agree that the best approach would be to ensure that people have an income that allows them to live their lives in dignity," she says. "For many families who have to use emergency, obviously, it's a blow to their dignity. And it causes incredible stress on families between spouses and between parents and children. Poor families move a lot more in search of affordable housing. Their children tend to be changing schools a lot more frequently. So it affects their achievement and their sense of security and belonging."

Recently the Council had a small success in its advocacy efforts when it persuaded the Peterborough municipality to divvy up their 20 per cent portion of the National Child Benefit supplement clawed back by the provincial government, among Peterborough families on Ontario Works. "It was not enough to make a huge difference, but it was the right thing to do," says Frances.

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