Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest - January 2020

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