If you are having a hard time making ends meet, Ontario’s poverty critic wants to hear from you.

Beaches-East York NDP MPP Michael Prue is in Thornhill Wednesday for a town hall-style meeting on ways to end poverty. The stop at the Thornhill Community Centre is one in a series of discussions the veteran politician has been holding across the province.

“The Liberals held a series of 11 meetings and they were by invitation only. I was denied entry to five of them,” said Mr. Prue. “We decided to hold our own and we’re inviting the poor, those who work for minimum wage or are on Ontario Works, for example.”

One of the Ontario government’s re-election promises was to develop a poverty reduction strategy by the end of this year. Its public consultations in communities across Ontario, including Markham, were widely criticized because they were by invitation only and were attended largely by members of groups who work with the disadvantaged.

“We want to hear from the poor what they think will best help them,” Mr. Prue said.

A report on the key recommendations gleaned from the town halls will go to Queen’s Park before the government returns in September, Mr. Prue added.

United Way of York Region CEO Daniele Zanotti said any event that gives a voice to the disadvantaged should be celebrated.

“Last year, United Way committed to roar for the sorrow and strength that lies on the other side of silence,” he said.

Mr. Zanotti attended one of the Liberals’ poverty sessions, led by Children, Youth and Families Minister Deb Matthews, who is also heading the government’s poverty reduction strategy.

“Representatives from our own Poverty Action Coalition in York Region were there. It was a packed room,” Mr. Zanotti said.

But he said make no mistake about it, of all the places to be poor, York Region is a tough spot.

The 2001 census reported that about 75,000 people live in poverty in York Region. The most recent data show a substantial increase of 55 per cent, or about 125,000 people in 2006. The town hall discussion on reducing poverty in your community takes place July 23 at the Thornhill Community Centre, Fireside Room, 7765 Bayview Ave., at John Street, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call Laurie Orrett at 416-325-1303.