A disturbing phenomenon — the new poor — is emerging in our communities, York Region representatives at Wednesday’s provincial Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition forum heard. The term for a growing demographic is becoming increasingly and alarmingly mainstream, Poverty Action for Change Coalition chairperson Tom Pearson said. “Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are becoming the new poor,” said Mr. Pearson, who was part of an 11-person York contingent at the University of Toronto information sharing conference.