--- title: "Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest: May 2019" description: This is the May 2019 edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada. image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Parliament-Hill-718135-edited-234996-edited.jpg --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest: May 2019 Posted on May 12, 2019 [By Kirsti Battista](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/kirsti-battista) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Parliament-Hill-718135-edited-234996-edited](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Parliament-Hill-718135-edited-234996-edited.jpg?width=362&name=Parliament-Hill-718135-edited-234996-edited.jpg)This is the May 2019 edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada. Key highlights include the release of the Federal Government’s Homelessness Strategy, release of the 2019 Federal and Ontario budgets, and new Living Wage calculations for several Canadian cities. **National Policy Updates:** - [Budget 2019](https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/docs/plan/budget-2019-en.pdf) aims to put more money in the pockets of Canadians and grow the middle class - The Federal Government launches ten-year [Reaching Home strategy](http://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2019/04/reaching-home-canadas-homelessness-strategy-launch.html) - Canada Revenue Agency launches [public consultations](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2019/04/canada-revenue-agency-launches-public-consultations-as-part-of-its-commitment-to-improve-service.html) to improve services **Updates by Province and Territory:** **Alberta:** - Alberta’s [Progress](http://enoughforall.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Albertas-progress-in-poverty-reduction-2019.pdf) in Poverty Reduction since 2015 - New Alberta Premier and [cabinet](https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=63812583439F6-F6AB-FF31-FA90C6BCF7A99D12) sworn in on April 30 **British Columbia:** - BC’s [child care investments](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/bc%E2%80%99s-child-care-investments-have-major-impact-2019-living-wage) have major impact on 2019 living wage **Manitoba:** - Manitoba is currently hosting [public and stakeholder consultations](https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=45260&posted=2019-05-09) to strengthen the non-profit sector and community development programs **New Brunswick:** - More than [2,300 people participated](https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2019.05.0310.html) in the public engagement process to renew Overcoming Poverty Together: the New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan **Newfoundland and Labrador:** - Provincial and Federal Governments Announce [$270M Housing Agreement](https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2019/exec/0417n07.aspx) - Study reveals [$18.85 an hour](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/living-wage-st-johns-newfoundland-and-labrador) is a living wage for St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador **Nova Scotia:                                                                    ** - [Expanded Energy Savings Programs ](https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20190318001)for Affordable Rentals and First Nations Homes will save tenants money, keep rents affordable, and reduce emissions **Northwest Territories:** - Indigenous Leaders and the GNWT Agree on the need for [Federal Engagement on Housing](https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/newsroom/indigenous-leaders-and-gnwt-agree-need-federal-engagement-housing) - The Government of Canada is investing [$2.7M in nine economic development projects](https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/newsroom/government-canada-supports-economic-diversification-and-job-creation-nwt) in NWT **Nunavut:** - A [new study](https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/addressing-inuit-housing-shortage-will-be-key-to-eliminating-tb-says-study/) states that alleviating the chronic housing shortage will be a key element in the elimination of TB in Inuit communities - Nunavut [turns 20 and celebrates economic success](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/fireworks-barking-nunavut-celebrates-20th-birthday-with-optimism-reservations), while facing poverty and challenges **Ontario:** - Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy [2018 Annual Report](https://www.ontario.ca/page/poverty-reduction-strategy-annual-report-2018) released on the status of poverty - Ontario revitalizing the [Rural Economic Development](https://news.ontario.ca/omafra/en/2019/05/creating-jobs-and-boosting-economic-growth-in-rural-ontario.html) program **Prince Edward Island:** - New PEI Premier and [cabinet sworn in](https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/prince-edward-island-premier-and-new-cabinet-sworn-today) on May 9 - Community Foundation of P.E.I. [taking applications](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-community-foundation-poverty-1.5085296) for poverty-reduction projects **Québec:** - [$138.8M](http://www.fil-information.gouv.qc.ca/Pages/Article.aspx?aiguillage=diffuseurs&type=1&listeDiff=349&idArticle=2705101603) will be distributed in Quebec to help regions overcome challenges against poverty and social exclusion - Quebec [minimum wage increases ](https://globalnews.ca/news/5225244/quebec-minimum-wage-12-50-hour/)to $12.50 an hour **Saskatchewan:** - Governments Of Canada and Saskatchewan sign [10-Year Housing Agreement](https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2019/april/18/10-year-housing-agreement) **Yukon Territory:** - Government of Yukon improves [job leave provisions](https://yukon.ca/en/news/government-yukon-improves-job-leave-provisions-parents-and-caregivers) for parents and caregivers - Multi-unit mixed income [affordable housing project](https://yukon.ca/en/news/mixed-income-housing-project-planned-whitehorse) will be the first of its kind in Yukon **The Latest Policy Resources and Perspectives:** - Maytree:[ Canadian Social Assistance Summaries are now available ](https://maytree.com/social-assistance-summaries/?mc_cid=323668299a&mc_eid=7e774fcc84) - Maytree: [Strengthening the National Housing Strategy Act to clearly recognize housing as a human right ](https://maytree.com/publications/strengthening-the-national-housing-strategy-act-to-clearly-recognize-housing-as-a-human-right/) - Angus Reid: [half of low-income households say the new Canada Food Guide diet is unaffordable ](http://angusreid.org/canada-food-guide-prices/) - CCPA: Responses to the 2019 [Ontario budget](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/ontario-has-options) and 2019 [Federal budget](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/federal-budget-response-2019) **Check out previous Policy Digests:** - [March 2019](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/cities-reducing-poverty-policy-digest-march-2019?hsLang=en-us) - [January 2019](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/cities-reducing-poverty-policy-digest-january-2019?hsLang=en-us) - [November 2018](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/cities-reducing-poverty-policy-digest-november-2018?hsLang=en-us) Topics: [Cities Reducing Poverty](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-reducing-poverty), [policy clearing house](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/policy-clearing-house) ![Kirsti Battista](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Administration/Team%20Headshots/Kirsti%20Battista%20Square-242694-edited.jpg) ### By [Kirsti Battista](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/kirsti-battista) Kirsti works with the VC team as the Manager of the Cities Reducing Poverty initiative. Previous to this position she was a Community Animator for the Tamarack CCI learning community and the coordinator of Tamarack's multi-day learning events such as Champions for Change, Evaluating Community Impact and the first ever Collective Impact Summit. ## Related Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/illiyeen-nelson-boat_cropped_edited.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/nelson-at-its-best-drives-successful-poverty-reduction-strategy-implementation?hsLang=en-us) #### [Nelson at its Best drives successful poverty reduction strategy implementation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/nelson-at-its-best-drives-successful-poverty-reduction-strategy-implementation?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/kelly-sikkema-kids-in-masks.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/putting-knowledge-into-action-in-a-post-covid-world?hsLang=en-us) #### [Putting Knowledge into Action in a (Post)-COVID World](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/putting-knowledge-into-action-in-a-post-covid-world?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/nathan-dumlao-family.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/rethinking-capacity-as-a-way-to-empower-those-living-with-poverty?hsLang=en-us) #### [Rethinking capacity as a way to empower those living with poverty](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/rethinking-capacity-as-a-way-to-empower-those-living-with-poverty?hsLang=en-us) [![BACK TO THE LATEST](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs/cta/cta/default/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs/cta/cta/redirect/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829?hsLang=en-us) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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