Green Party commits to "Make Poverty History"

Dennis's picture
Submitted by Dennis on April 26, 2011 - 12:35pm
Dennis Howlett is the National Co-ordinator for Make Poverty History Canada.

 

The Green Party Platform commits to “Make Poverty History” and specifically calls for Canada to meet its commitments and push other nations to meet theirs in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Their “Vision Green” document provides more details including a commitment to:

  • Prioritize the restructuring of ODA delivery while making responsible and consistent increases that will achieve the target of 0.7% of GDP within a decade.
  • Revamp CIDA to focus more on developing community-based green economies, on poverty alleviation and programs to combat and adapt to climate change, especially strengthening its Partnership Branch for the delivery of ODA.
  • Fulfill our commitments for the provision of HIV/AIDS retroviral drugs to Africa.

The Green Party Platform does not address domestic poverty in much detail but it includes a budget that has increased investments in affordable housing, a national pharmacare plan, a municipal youth employment program, First Nations education, safe drinking water and improved housing program, and an early childhood education program.  The Green budget would also eliminate taxes for those living in poverty with an income of less than $20,000 a year.

Finally, while they are not specifically stated in this year’s platform document, the Greens’ policy commitments as outlined in their Vision Green document include a Guaranteed Livable Income for all Canadians and a 25% increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement for all seniors.