New Democrats Introduce Bold Poverty Elimination Strategy with Federal Mandate

OTTAWA— On Thursday of this week, Tony Martin is introducing legislation providing for strong federal leadership to deliver a comprehensive poverty elimination strategy in partnership with provinces and other key stakeholders, fulfilling a 2008 election commitment.

“Poverty elimination is an exercise in nation building, a responsibility we must not abdicate,” New Democrat Poverty critic Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie) said after introducing his bill, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada. “Three provinces already have laws, six have started their own poverty reduction strategies and this legislation would send a clear message to Canadians that the elimination of poverty is a priority for Ottawa.”

Representatives from anti-poverty organizations have applauded the bill.

“This Act would anchor federal action on poverty to Canada's international human rights commitments,” said Rob Rainer, Executive Director of Canada Without Poverty and the CWP Advocacy Network.

Chandra Pasma, a policy analyst with Citizens for Public Justice echoed approval for the New Democrat initiative. “This is an important piece of legislation that will help to promote dignity for all Canadians.”

The poverty elimination strategy includes:

• core priorities of income security, housing and social inclusion;
• a strong human rights framework;
• picking a poverty measurement, as no official definition has impeded action;
• gender-based analysis, different urban and rural responses and dealing with specific factors that put some at greater risk, like aboriginal status, child rearing and single parenthood, low wage, immigration or refugee status, low education, and prolonged illness and disability.
• eadership by the entire government with health and income security ministers taking the lead;
• an independent Poverty Elimination Commissioner to monitor and hold the government accountable, and a stronger, renewed National Council of Welfare to be called the National Council on Poverty and Social Inclusion.

Martin noted that at least 3.4 million people, one in ten, live in poverty.