and support a thriving economy. To ensure that work is a path out of poverty, Ontario must:
Increase the minimum wage Update and rigorously enforce Employment Standards for all workers Provide more accessible and effective training, workforce development and job placement programs.
Invest in Strong Public Programs and Services Effective public programs and services that appropriately address the needs of Ontario’s vulnerable populations are critical to improving our quality of life. Many of these programs address the social determinants of health such as education, and safe housing. Ontario needs to invest in programs and services that build healthy communities where everyone thrives. This means: Building more affordable housing; Establishing a new Housing Benefit for low-income households to help meet high rent costs. This could be flowed through the Property Tax Credit components of the Trillium Benefit; Ensuring access to affordable, high-quality, non-profit childcare for families; Offering affordable public transit options for low income people in urban areas, and appropriate transportation solutions for people in rural and remote communities with low incomes; Sustained investments in community services, including expanded mental health and addictions programs, and services for marginalized youth; Extending dental care to low-income adults and creating a prescription drug benefit program. Oral Health Programs – Detailed Recommendations There are no public oral health programs in Ontario for low income adults who do not receive social assistance. Public Health Ontario reports that 1 in every 5 Ontarians does not visit a dentist because they cannot afford the cost.[3] Many people with decaying, broken and abscessed teeth have no choice but to visit hospital emergency rooms. In 2011 there were almost 57,000 visits to Ontario hospital emergency rooms for dental problems according to data from MOHLTC IntelliHEALTH Ontario. In 2010 the Ontario government took an important step forward when it introduced the Healthy Smiles Ontario program which offers preventive and early treatment dental care for low income children under 18. Twenty-six Community Health Centres (CHC) are now offering oral health services as a result of this program, but a number of these centres are experiencing operating shortfalls as they were not provided operational funding by their public health units. Two of the CHC dental suites have had to close. Many CHCs and public health units report they have to turn 5