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Now is the time to end poverty in Canada
Millions of Canadians aspire to a life free from poverty – the hungry, the homeless and the disenfranchised; the working poor, the unemployed and the socially assisted; the Aboriginal, the immigrant and the person of colour; the person with disability, the parent and the pensioner.
In support of these aspirations, CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY and CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC JUSTICE are mobilizing the multi-year, multi-partner, non-partisan campaign, Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada. CWP’s Rob Rainer, and CPJ’s Karri Munn-Venn are at the Canadian Social Forum in Calgary this week to announce the beginning of this exciting new initiative.
Building on the tremendous work that has been done to address poverty in communities across Canada, and spurred on by the momentum that has been building at the provincial level, Dignity for All envisions a poverty-free and more socially secure and cohesive Canada by 2020. The conviction behind this campaign is that Canadians must respect and defend the right of every person to live with dignity and free from poverty.
Everyone has a role to play in building a poverty-free and more socially secure Canada – governments at all levels, businesses of all sizes and types, community and other civil society organizations, and individuals. The federal government, with its particular policymaking, legislative, taxation and redistributive powers, has an especially critical role.
Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada is therefore aimed primarily to achieve federal action. The campaign has three goals:
- A comprehensive, integrated federal plan for poverty elimination. Linked to and in support of current and future provincial and territorial poverty action plans, a federal plan for poverty elimination will provide a pan-Canadian blueprint for reducing and eventually eliminating poverty. The plan will inspire other efforts to combat poverty and to promote a fair and just society. It will require transparency and accountability by the federal government, with inclusion of robust indicators of low income, material deprivation and social exclusion. And it will be comprehensive in its approach, with measures concerning several critical areas, including income security, employment insurance, early childhood development, education and training, and social supports.
- A federal Act to eliminate poverty, promote social inclusion and strengthen social security. Inspired by similar legislation in other jurisdictions, this Act will ensure an ongoing federal role and responsibility for social development, while demonstrating a lasting federal commitment for action and for accountability to citizens for results.
- Sufficient federal revenue to invest in social security. In order to fulfill its role and responsibility to ensure social security, generally, and to combat poverty, specifically, the federal government must have sufficient revenue, or “fiscal capacity.” The Dignity for All Campaign will promote public understanding of the link between the taxes Canadians pay and the supports and services we benefit from as a result. The campaign will also advance policy proposals for sufficient and fair taxation.
CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY and CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC JUSTICE believe that the best way to move towards federal action on poverty, equality and social security is for many partners to work together, mobilizing the support and engagement of organizations, communities of interest and individuals across the country. We are building a network of support for Dignity for All with the involvement of faith, social justice, labour, and human rights organizations representing hundreds of thousands of people from across Canada. We want everyone to be a part of it. We welcome individuals, local community groups, and provincial and national organizations to join us in working together to create change.
This week at the Canadian Social Forum, we are asking everyone to pledge their support to the campaign. To say, “I believe in dignity for all.” Click on the “I support” button above and be a part of Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada.
Because NOW is the time to end poverty in Canada!
Comments
I am an individual who lives under the poverty line. I have been on ODSP since 1988 and haven't received a reasonable raise since 1991. I am very fortunate to be living in a subsidized apartment because if I wasn't I'd be living on the street. My monthly income is 699.00, which includes a 62.00 special diet supplement. The most ODSP allots us for rent, as a single person, is 500.00 at the most to pay for rent and utilities. Where, in this day and age, is anyone supposed to find an apartment for that much. Even bachelor apartments run over 550 to 600 a month. That's just an example of rent hikes. I guess we could live in a shabby roach old roach infested room in some dirty rooming house or hotel room but where's the dignity in that??? There are more and more people out on the streets because they have to decide whether they're going to pay the rent of spend their money on groceries. As a single person, we're allotted 600.00 for basic needs. Has the federal government seen how much it costs for food today?? A loaf of bread is close to 4.00, milk almost 6.00, a 10 lb bag of potatoes almost 6.00. How many people do we figure have committed suicide because they can't handle just getting by from month to month. I know of a few. These are just examples. If I kept going, I'd be here for a week explaining what it's like to thrive from month to month, with nothing else to look forward to but a check at the end of each month. I definitely would love to see the day that justice done and people never having to worry about how they're going to pay the rent again or how they're going to be able to afford a decent healthy meal that includes fresh veggies, milk and protein.
Hi Pamela - Thank you for', 'Hi Pamela - Thank you for sharing your story and for highlighting some of the many challenges that poverty presents. As you say, we need to see justice so that everyone can live a life of dignity. It is my sincere hope that through the Dignity for All campaign we will do just that. Warm regards, Karri.
I am a student and single', 'I am a student and single mother. I understand the struggles that too many people face. I am trying to help myself and others by supporting such programs and organizations as this one. The best thing I find that I have done during financial struggles is to stay connected with other people. Keep talking, discussing, and listening. Other people need to hear such stories so we can better decide how to help eachother. We are all valued people.
This a nice video of the', 'This a nice video of the mission collective 14th of may 2009, in Quebec to deposit the petitions at the national assembly.(very encouraging) \r\n\r\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScOE8T3yqfg&feature=channel_page
I support a national poverty reduction strategy that recognizes that basic needs and dignity are important human rights. Our current income support programs need a drastic overhaul that accounts for the true costs of living and is indexed to inflation. I am a woman of colour living on ODSP. I am grateful to have subsidized housing and it makes a big difference, but that being said, I am still forced to line up at multiple food banks each month to ensure that my children eat. The food available their often lacks the nutritional support that we need to live healthy lives. This causes illness and my children have difficulty concentrating on their school work. I encourage everyone to speak out on this issue. We are all in this together as the middle class continues to shrink and the baby boomer population continues to age rapidly.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to make share your thoughts and experiences!
The video of depositing the cards at the Assembly in Quebec City is great.
I hope to continue to see messages regarding different activities that individuals are participating in accross the country - this is a great way to encourage our friends, to generate ideas and facilitate important conversations.
While I have great sympathy for someone who is disabled, it is not moral to use this as a claim against the mind, work and life of another person. There can be no such thing as a right to force another individual to do anything, no matter what needs you may have in life. Income, housing and a given lifestyle are not rights since this would force others to provide them. If government would stop punishing the productive people so much they could choose to assist any individual or group to the degree they choose. Charity is wonderful so long as it is voluntary and not achieved by coercion.
I think it is time to move away from subsidized housing, and into using other alternatives to help raise people's incomes. Subsidized housing keeps people in poverty, because once a person is placed in a rent-geared-to-income situation, their whole life is complicated and the place they live in is not their own. They can lose their apartment any time, have their rent increased dramatically anytime, be forced to move elsewhere at a whim, and be treated differently than others if you live in a mixed income complex. I know, because I experienced this, which is why I HAD to get out.
People not only have a right to have their needs met, but have a right to have hope for the future -- to escape poverty altogether. People have the right to make the same choices as others do without differential consequences, such as the choice to get married. People on disability that get married usually lose their cheques and their new spouses are expected to support them 100%, which only puts strain on the relationship. Where does this happen to other people? Never!
People need to get together, find all the picky rules that keep them living in poverty and raise money and challenge each and every one of them legally. It is about time that people living in poverty get treated with respect in this country. Unfortunately, we are off the political radar. What are YOU doing to keep our issues ON the radar? Let's get moving, folks.
I recently approached the system for social assistance and found out that I am earning too much to qualify eventhough I don't earn enough to pay rent. I am working fulltime but only minimum wage, with tw sons. One is working and trying to contribute financially to tthe costs but the other has applied without success and is returning to school in the fall. I am educated with two years of college and five years of university and they still want us to acquire experience in our related field while attending university. Need I even mention the fact that they want the degree before they will hire you. This is madness!! My age (mid-forties) is also against me, but my sons can't get anything because they are young and lacking education. WHAT DO THEY WANT?!!!!
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