Welcome to the January 2020 edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada.
Here are some of our policy highlights:
- National Report Card on Child and Family Poverty is released by Campaign 2000 with one in five children living in poverty; setting the stage for a poverty-free Canada
- A New Report from the Canadian Basic Income Network Canadian Basic Income Network shows a basic income of just $22,000 could virtually eliminate poverty
- Statistics Canada redefining poverty line
- Coldest Night of the Year - a national fundraising campaign to raise awareness of the realities of poverty kicks off in communities across the country
National Policy Updates:
- Statistics Canada looking to redefine poverty line which hasn’t been updated since 2008; low income rates could rise
- Basic Income Report highlights feasible policy options for Canada
- Opinion: Economic growth won't fix poverty but rather redistribution of wealth
- Canada's Food Price Report 2020 cites food price growth highlighting climate change as a major factor
- Taxpayers’ watchdog launches probe into Child Benefit rules over concerns that Canada’s most vulnerable families are adversely affected
- Middle Class Tax Cut unlikely to do much for low-income Canadians
- Campaign 2000 releases National Report Card on Child and Family Poverty demonstrating the need for continued efforts to eradicate child and family poverty
- Canada’s Finance Ministers take some steps to build an Economy that works for everyone
- Andrew Scheer resigns as Canada's conservative leader
- Coldest Night of the Year – a family friendly walk on February 22nd across communities, to increase awareness of poverty and raise money for charity
Updates by Province and Territory:
Alberta:
- Reflections on Civil Society: State of Alberta Nonprofit Sector Report for 2019
- Edmonton is expected to fare better than the national average with Canada’s new poverty rate
- Budget 2020 consultation begin: Albertans invited to share opinions and suggestions
- Policy Brief on Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs): Increasing access part of a larger financial empowerment initiative improving the financial resiliency of Albertans
- Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation launches, committing up to $1 billion in support aiming to help groups become owners of resource projects
British Columbia:
- Advocates call for Rights not Rescue approach in province’s Poverty Reduction Strategy
- Pathways to Collaboration, a series of case studies showcasing the growing number of successful economic development collaboratives between First Nations and local governments
- Province announces more support to meet the demand for Early Childhood Educators
- A series of policy changes are making it easier to access income and disability assistance
- Medical Services Plan premiums eliminated, resulting in cost savings for families
- Enhanced Fair PharmaCare is benefitting people on low income
- A combination of government initiatives have made life more affordable for BC families
- Investments in BC transit improve access to services
- BC Child Poverty Report Card is released
Manitoba:
- The province is developing a new income support program for people with disabilities, consultations are wrapping up
- The Manitoba government releases its throne speech, Make Poverty History responds
New Brunswick:
- Opinions split on how to help the more than 20% of New Brunswick children living in poverty
Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Newfoundland and Labrador workers deserve better than poverty wages
Nova Scotia:
- Report Card for 2019 shows high levels of child poverty persist
- Province funding provides expanded pharmacy services
- More training opportunities for persons with disabilities and barriers to employment
- The premier talks Nova Scotia’s challenges including child poverty and health care
Northwest Territories:
- Applications being received for Anti-Poverty Fund 2020-2021 and Anti-Poverty Advisory Committee
- Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency announces three-year funding to produce Invest Canada North
Nunavut:
- Nunavut-made Public Health Act becomes law
- Property Tax Relief for Senior citizens and disabled persons
Ontario:
- Province holding consultations on the next five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy; options for contributing include an online survey or written submission open until March 30th
- Ontario’s first special advisory on building bridges between vulnerable communities and the government is named advocate for community opportunities
- Five things to know about the next Ontario budget
- The federal and provincial governments confirm partnership to provide direct affordability support to Ontarians in housing need; the joint investment of $1.4 billion will be the first under the Canada Housing Benefit
- Feed Ontario releases its 2019 Hunger Report
Prince Edward Island:
- Child poverty on the rise in PEI: child poverty rate declines but the actual number of children living in poverty still growing due to inflation
- Report card shows little improvement in poverty
- Social Services Hub to open in Charlottetown, making it easier to access services
Québec:
- Quebec investing $119,000 in the collective for a Quebec without poverty in 2020
- $1 Trillion in funding to support innovative projects for the attraction and retention of the workforce in the central Quebec region
Saskatchewan:
- Following Their Voices improves graduation rates and credit attainment for First Nations, Metis and Inuit students
- Report shows child poverty rate in Saskatchewan to be high and working poor wages are not sufficient to sustain a family
Yukon Territory:
- New partnership between Yukon and BC governments to build food security, increase sustainable agriculture and grow opportunities in the North
- Expansion of affordable housing
The Latest Policy Resources and Perspectives:
- Maytree:
- Report on System Transformation in Ontario Works
- Five Ideas for Ontario's next Poverty Reduction Strategy
- Wellesley Institute: Who Benefits? Gaps in Medication Coverage for Ontario Workers
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative:
- Reducing Poverty to Improve Educational Outcomes
- CEO pays 227 times higher than the average worker
- Canada’s Colour Coded Income Inequality
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities: Nominations open for Sustainable Communities Awards
- Canadian Urban Sustainability Network: The Many Faces of Energy Poverty Report
