The carefully crafted detailed community plans, the robust discussions about poverty reduction, the emotional, personal stories, and the small successes by the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction is far from enough to help people living in poverty, say some social activists.

"We should not be focusing on more services and programs," said Dundas resident Peter Hutton. "But focusing on better distribution of income and get people into jobs."

Mr. Hutton's sharp comments were an underlining theme to this week's 'Community Conversation' on poverty reduction facilitated by the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction at the Convention Centre.

The two-and-a-half hour session attended by about 150 people, was held to provide a few ideas to the provincial government's cabinet committee on poverty reduction chaired by Ontario Child and Youth Minister Deb Matthews. A final provincial poverty reduction strategy document is expected to be released to the public this fall.

Tatum Wilson, senior policy advisor to the Poverty Reduction Strategy chair Ms. Matthews defended how the provincial government has attempted to listen to the Ontario people on how to reduce poverty.

There have been about 14 community meetings attended by Ms. Matthews, including one in Hamilton, he said, while about 40 MPPs have held their own poverty reduction sessions across the province attracting about 700 people.

"We have really tried to open up the process," said Mr. Wilson. "The minister can't speak to 13 million people."

But Mr. Hutton implied the provincial government wasn't really listening to people who are living in poverty.

"Consultation is not collaboration," he said. "There has to be some give and take."

There is a growing frustration from social activists and people living below the poverty line that not enough is being done to reduce poverty.

Paul Johnson, executive director of Wesley Urban Ministries, and a member of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and the moderator for the evening, cautioned the group not to target any criticisms towards a single person or group.

Hamilton's poverty rate in Ontario is about 18 per cent or about 96,000 people. Among immigrant groups, the poverty rate is closer to 50 per cent, while among the aboriginal population the poverty rate is even higher.

A Hamilton single mother, Ursula Samuels, of the recently created Ontario Child Benefit committee, lashed out at the roundtable members and the provincial initiative for their lack of action.

"I'm not happy," she said.

She told the group how a recent school class trip had to be cancelled because most of the children couldn't afford to pay the fee.

"I hear a lot of talk (about reducing poverty)," she said. "I haven't seen the action. Hamilton is saying it wants to create the best place to raise a child. I don't really see it yet."

Ms. Samuel's caustic comments, applauded by Hamilton Mountain Liberal MPP Sophia Aggelonitis, who was one of three local MPPs attending the session.

"You're right Ursula. "Much more needs to be done. This is a problem and we are going to address it."

The participants at the session, including Joe-Anne Priel, Emergency and Community Services general manager for the city, Judith Bishop, chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Richard Koroscil, president and chief executive officer of TradePort, Hamilton Centre NDP MP David Christopherson, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MPP Wayne Marston, and Chris Phillips, of the city's affordable housing department, presented a number of ideas on how to reduce poverty.

They included improving education opportunities for children, removing the systemic barriers of poverty; the province providing a livable wage, reinstituting the back to school and winter allowances; and providing more support for immigrants.

Liberal MPPs have trumpeted their government's action on poverty issues such as increasing the minimum wage to $10.25 per hour over the next two years, although activists have argued the minimum wage should be higher, at least $12 per hour, boosting funding for nutrition programs. The government will also implement the Ontario Child Benefit by 2011, which is expected to provide families about $1,100 per child per year.

Hamilton Centre NDP MPP Andrea Horwath echoed the frustrating comments she heard from residents, arguing reducing poverty is about "real people" and eliminating the barriers that have been constructed to prevent them from achieving prosperity.

"We have rules that don't make sense," she said. "The message is government stop being so rigid."

Public submissions to the provincial government on poverty reduction will continue to be accepted by officials, said Mr. Wilson. He said there has been speculation among the public there was a deadline for the submissions, but he refuted the idea.

"There is no deadline," he said.

The government has received about 500 submissions so far, he said.