Now I will focus on three ideas we have that really emerged from our community.
The first concerns community benefits agreements. A community benefits agreement provides jobs and other benefits for community residents. It is a signed, legally enforceable agreement, having clear monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
Although this initiative is relatively new to Canada, we believe that CBAs have the potential to create training and employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable Canadians. The target population could be newcomers, youth, or people who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time. We encourage the government to develop a cross-government policy framework that supports the principle of community benefits. This includes removing barriers for the various departments that have a role to play in implementation.
The second idea concerns the public service providing employment pathways. The public service can play an important role in creating employment and training opportunities for Canadians facing multiple barriers or struggling to enter the labour market. Who is the target population? It is youth not in employment, education, or training—we call them NEET youth—and social assistance recipients, including those in the disability programs that John referred to.
For example, the Region of Peel recently launched its model employer pilot initiative: 14 entry-level positions were identified across the organization, and people who are in receipt of social assistance were given the opportunity to apply for an entry-level administrative position. Clients were supported through the entire process, from screening to placement, by social services workers. The placement opportunity is for six months, earning the minimum band paid to regular full-time employees, and includes a mentoring component. The rate is above the living wage for Peel region; our living wage for Peel Region is about $16.50 an hour. Participants will work with a supervisor to develop a learning plan and will continue to receive support from the social services staff throughout the placement so that we ensure success along the way.
The third and final idea concerns affordable transit. In 2012, the Peel poverty reduction committee identified transit affordability as a key barrier to social inclusion and employment. There is a role for the federal government to play in ensuring that municipalities can fund transit infrastructure and programs that are targeted to low-income individuals and families. In fact, there are many communities now, at the municipal level, in which those affordable programs are being funded.
Here is another example in our community. The Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga through its MiWay transit department launched the affordable transit pilot program, phases one and two. Results from phase one participants showed an increase in visits to employment support services, volunteer opportunities, food services, recreational spaces, and medical services.
One participant noted, “Due to this pilot, I find that I have more balance in my life. I now visit family and am able to attend church since there is no additional stress about how to get there. I also have expanded my job search area, since travelling farther from home is now more affordable.”
In closing, we want to emphasize that the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee understands that income is the root cause of poverty. A sufficient, stable income allows people not to have to choose between paying rent and buying food. However, other important interventions take advantage of what is already in place, whether it is employment and training opportunities that all levels of governments can provide through existing departments or removing silos to put citizens at the centre of our services, regardless of which level of government is delivering them. We need to think and act differently to achieve better outcomes for our most vulnerable Canadians.
Thank you.