Pay the rent or feed the kids?

Yes, it's an oft-repeated line, and one that Mel Hurtig used a few years back for a book about the burgeoning issue of poverty in Canada. Still, that was the sentiment in the air yesterday at a news conference in Ottawa in which Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced his government would invest $5 million into rent banks.

Unbeknownst to me, the program has been around since 2004. Folks can apply once every two years for a grant to cover up to two months rent. But as I learned yesterday - no doubt much to the chagrin of the poor AND single people in the province - families normally get funding priority.

On an unrelated note, those keeping close watch of The Citizen will notice the story appeared in the A section. Today, A11, tomorrow... well, we'll both have to stay tuned, won't we.