Liberal Platform Supports Make Poverty History Goals

The Liberal Party Platform, released last Sunday, supports many of the Make Poverty History goals. It says, "a Liberal government will work with partners at all levels to develop a Poverty Reduction Plan for Canada. It will set goals, identify practical measures for achieving them and set out who can do what among all the partners."  And it commits to several measures that would be part of such a Plan, including increasing the federal investment in affordable housing by $550 million in the first two years, and establishing a new Early Childhood Learning and Care Fund that will begin with $500 million in the first year, rising to an annual commitment of $1 billion by the fourth year. There are also commitments on improving access to higher education for low income youth and increases to the seniors' Guaranteed Income Supplement so that no senior would have to live in poverty.  In total the Liberal have committed $5 billion over two years to different parts of their Poverty Reduction Plan.

It is a pretty good start, and they make clear that they are prepared to do more as the plan gets developed in consultation with provincial and territorial governments and other partners.  One of the things that I would like to see added is an increase in the combined Child Tax Benefit and National Child Benefit Supplement , to bring it up to a maximum of $5400. This has been one of the most effective tools in fighting child poverty. Some of the funds needed to do this could be found by ending the Child Tax Credit which is unfair as it provides nothing for low income families who don't pay taxes.

On the global poverty front, the Liberal Platform commits to unfreezing the aid budget and returning Africa to the top of Canada's aid priorities. The Liberal Platform also commits to adopting Canadian Corporate Social Responsibility standards, and setting up an independent ombudsman office to advise Canadian companies, consider complaints made against them, and investigate those complaints where it is deemed warranted.

The Liberal Platform does not, however, commit to a timetable to achieving the 0.7% of national  income aid target which Make Poverty History has been advocating for.

We expect the NDP, Green Party and Bloc to also have many commitments on Make Poverty History demands when they release their Platform. I will provide an analysis when they are available.

Make Poverty History has lobbied all the political parties to include our goals in their platforms. With the exception of the Conservative Party, it looks like our campaigning efforts are bearing fruit.

Make Poverty History