An important consultation is happening right now on the way that Canada measures poverty. The federal government has said that it will make the Market Basket Measure (MBM) Canada’s official poverty line, and will use the MBM to measure its progress on meeting its poverty reduction goals. But if the MBM isn’t set up properly …
Poverty Reduction Strategy
Federal government releases national Poverty Reduction Strategy
On Tuesday, August 21, the federal government released Canada’s first-ever national Poverty Reduction Strategy. Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (CPRS), entitled Opportunity for All, sets targets and timelines for reducing poverty, puts in place a new National Advisory Council on Poverty, and establishes an official national poverty line. The CPRS also commits to public reporting on …
Federal Budget 2018: Income Security Highlights
The federal Liberal government introduced its third budget last Tuesday, February 27. The Budget and all associated documents are available at this link: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2018/docs/nrc/2018-02-27-en.html Here are a few highlights on income security and related issues. This list is not exhaustive – some helpful resources are included at the end of this email that can provide …
Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy: ISAC’s Submission and Have Your Say
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 …
Ontario Budget 2017: ISAC response and analysis
More than 930,000 Ontarians continue to wait for incomes that give health and dignity: Other announcements bring much-needed change Ontario’s 2017 Budget does very little to address the deep poverty experienced by people relying on support from Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), particularly those without other sources of income. The …
The 2017 Federal Budget and Income Security
The federal Budget announced on March 22 does very little to address the poverty and income inequality that Canadians are experiencing right now. The Budget did announce important investments over time in key areas like housing and childcare as well as modest changes to Employment Insurance and federal labour law. There are also targeted investments …
Cap-and-Trade: Protecting low-income communities
The provincial government’s Climate Change Action Plan and new cap-and-trade program aim to reduce greenhouses gases, address the impacts of climate change, and move Ontario to a lower-carbon economy. But it could also have unwanted impacts on low-income households and communities. While strong action from government on climate change is critically important, low-income Ontarians could …
Election 2015: Party Positions On Key Issues
If you’re not one of the 3.6 million Canadians who voted in the advance polls, you may still be wondering who to vote for. We’ve compiled a list of quick facts on key issues as well as information on where the parties stand, compiled by other groups and organizations, to help you make up your …
Tackling social assistance poverty
A test of success for Ontario’s second five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy The provincial government unveiled its second five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy earlier today, called ‘Realizing Our Potential’. ISAC commends government for continuing to focus on reducing and eliminating poverty in Ontario. We cannot have a fair and a just province when 1.5 million Ontarians continue …
Submission on Poverty Reduction
ISAC has made a written submission on Ontario’s next poverty reduction strategy, which is expected to be made public later this year or early next. We focused on issues of income security and social assistance reform, the need for government to take an equity approach to reducing poverty, and the importance of moving away from …
