Action Against Poverty, Oped
August 3, 2010
Halifax Chronicle Herald
A recent report by Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) tells us that poverty is again on the rise in Canada. While this may not seem surprising in light of our recent economic difficulties, the report indicates that the recession is disproportionately hurting those Canadians who are already poor, or fighting to avoid poverty. The CPJ indicates that poverty and child poverty rates have each gone up 2.5% in the last 2 years. This means that there are at least 900,000 more Canadians living in poverty than there were in 2006.
The situation in Nova Scotia mirrors that of the rest of Canada. The CPJ, along with the Community Action on Homelessness (Report Card, 2010), reports a significant increase in the number of people without shelter, who are unable to afford food, are filing for bankruptcy, and turning to social assistance. The Food Banks of Canada Hunger Count 2009, released in November showed an 18% increase in food bank usage in Canada and a 20.3% increase in Nova Scotia.
Historically, poverty rates in Canada peaked in the mid to late 1990’s. This was due in part to government programs like the child tax benefit; the National Child Benefit Supplement, and the enhanced Guaranteed Income Supplement. During that period poverty was reduced from a high of 16% in 1997 to 9% in 2006. Poverty still affects far too many Canadians. While it may be true that a rising tide lifts all boats, it isn’t necessarily true that all boats are lifted equally- such is the case for Canada’s poor.
Even when poverty rates are in decline, certain populations are disproportionately affected. People with disabilities, aboriginal Canadians, and new Canadians, for example, are far more likely to live in poverty than others. Even among seniors where poverty rates have fallen most dramatically, there are areas of severe need such as single senior women.
There are many reasons to fight poverty, especially in a wealthy country like Canada. Poverty should be seen as an issue of human rights. It is also an economic issue. Poverty causes increases in health care costs, justice system expenditures and social assistance programs. And we are not coming close to maximizing the skills of many Canadians who could address the skills gap that exists across the country. Fighting poverty is an investment in improving our productivity.
The Conservative stimulus program did little to help those living in poverty who now face the triple whammy of already living in poverty prior to the recession, getting very little assistance during the recession, and will likely bear the brunt of the looming “cut backs” signaled by the Conservatives to pay off their debt.
Most Canadians know that poverty must be addressed. They include provincial premiers, municipal leaders, business organizations, social advocates, labour unions, amongst others. There are currently six provinces with provincial anti-poverty programs (Nova Scotia is among those six, but its strategy requires much greater government support). We need a national strategy to fight poverty, one led by the federal government in cooperation with the provinces.
The Conservatives government has chosen to either ignore the problem or question the data. Even worse, they silence public voices by cancelling funding to non- profit organizations fighting poverty. The recent decision to eliminate the long form census is another example of their assault on facts - politicizing the very data we need to help fight poverty.
There is more reason for concern. Last year, the United Nations Periodic Review specifically recommended that Canada develop a national strategy to eliminate poverty. This was rejected by the Conservative government, without any discernable reason.
We can do better than this.
In early August, Canada’s premiers will gather in Winnipeg. I will be joining a coalition of anti-poverty groups demanding action against poverty.
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