The Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada.
Key highlights include increased federal benefits for families and seniors, the Royal Assent of Bill C-97 ensuring a long-term federal commitment to reduce poverty, a series of policy updates aimed at supporting those living in poverty in British Columbia, and Alberta businesses standing up for youth workers by not cutting the youth minimum wage.
National Policy Updates:
- The Poverty Reduction Act is now entrenched into law, ensuring a long-term federal commitment to reduce poverty
- The Canada Child Benefit will be raised on July 20 to keep up with the cost of living
- The Government of Canada is leading the development of a 2030 Agenda National Strategy
- Old Age Security increased as of July 1
Updates by Province and Territory:
Alberta:
- Alberta has the lowest corporate taxes in Canada after the Job Creation Tax Cut Act received royal assent and became law
- A coalition of businesses in Alberta have pledged not to cut youth employees’ pay after UCP government changed minimum wage for youth to $13/hr
British Columbia:
- A series of policy updates will remove barriers for people struggling with poverty
Manitoba:
- 10-year agreement between Manitoba and the federal government will invest almost $450.8 million to prioritize affordable housing under the National Housing Strategy
New Brunswick:
- A milestone moment: there are now 30,183 licensed child care spaces in New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Linkages program applications to employ young people between the ages of 18-30 due July 26
- Income threshold for child care subsidy increased to $35,000 as of July 1
Nova Scotia:
- Youth unemployment rate at 9.8 per cent, the lowest since 1976
- Accessible Transportation Assistance Program provides funding for community transportation
Northwest Territories:
- Northern Pathways to Housing Complex Opens in Behchokǫ̀
Nunavut:
- The Department of Family Services is working to establish and develop a long term and stable damp shelter program for clients and city residents who have no place to go in the winter
Ontario:
- Todd Smith shares his priorities as the new Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
Prince Edward Island:
- Islanders with lived experience and those who work day-to-day with Islanders experiencing poverty are encouraged to apply to the province’s poverty reduction council
Québec:
- The province has introduced an additional $6.4 million and more flexibility for the integration of children with disabilities into subsidized child care for 2019-2020
Saskatchewan:
- Saskatchewan set an all-time record for employment in June at 592,900 jobs
- Province announces new housing units for families with disabilities in Sasktoon and Regina
Yukon Territory:
- Yukon will receive approximately $45 million over six years to invest in Yukon’s workers
The Latest Policy Resources and Perspectives:
- AFN and CCPA: New report shows First Nations Children are the Most Impoverished in Canada
- Maytree Opinion: Prioritizing fundamental human rights can help us find the clarity we need for good public policy
- CCPA: Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) program is failing to support low-wage and precariously-employed workers
- MMIWG: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has been released
- The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness: New website launched for the Homelessness Learning Hub
