ISAC recently made a submission to the federal government’s consultations on the creation of a national Poverty Reduction Strategy.
While Canada is a wealthy country, nearly 5 million of us continue to live in poverty. The federal government has a critically important role to play in reducing and eliminating poverty and income inequality nationally.
Our submission makes recommendations to improve federally-administered income support programs, like the Canada Child Benefit, the Old Age Security / Guaranteed Income Supplement system, CPP-Disability, and Employment Insurance. It highlights some of the issues around unequal access to these programs that certain groups in Canada face due to historical disadvantage and systemic inequity.
It also highlights historical deterioration of federal responsibility for provincial and territorial social assistance programs, and makes recommendations that would help ensure that the Canada Social Transfer can play a better role in reducing poverty.
- Download the Word version here: ISAC Submission – Consulting Canadians On Poverty Reduction – June 2017
- Download the PDF version here: ISAC Submission – Consulting Canadians On Poverty Reduction – June 2017 – PDF
Have your say!
The government’s consultation period has been extended to August 31.
There are many ways to provide your input, including through an online discussion forum, a survey, and emailing your thoughts, statements and written submissions.
- The federal government’s discussion paper is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/poverty-reduction/discussion-paper.html
- The consultation website is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/poverty-reduction/consultation-poverty.html
And, if you agree with our submission, send an email to povertyreduction@canada.gc.ca by August 31 saying that you endorse ISAC’s recommendations.