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Watch the video: What is poverty costing us in BC?

BC has one of the highest rates of poverty in Canada. With a provincial election expected within a year, it's important to discuss what can be done to change this.

A new report released last week is poised to change the conversation about poverty in BC. The Cost of Poverty in BC reveals that the dollar-value cost of poverty in the province is twice the anticipated cost of fixing the problem.

The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg has provided the following policy briefing on the new Manitoba Poverty Reduction Act:

On Friday, June 17th, the Manitoba legislature passed important legislation that will give some authority to the government’s poverty reduction strategy. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act will create the means to define, monitor and enforce what the government does to deal with poverty and social exclusion. This act was embedded in Bill 51, THE BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION AND TAX STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2011.

The leaders of the richest countries will gather in France this week for their annual G8 Summit. But the French government has set low expectations for any major new agreements or initiatives. It is likely to be mainly an opportunity for informal disucssion of issues of concern to the G8 leaders and there may not even be an official final communique.

Most of the key issues related to global poverty and climate change have been put off until the fall when the G20 meets in November, also hosted by the French Government. The French government has announced that their priorities for the G20 agenda include: combating commodity price volitility, reforming the international monetary system, fighting corruption and financing development through a financial transaction tax.

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:

The NDP Platform endorses increasing aid to 0.7% to fight global poverty, and calls for national poverty reduction plan. It also pledges strong action on climate change. These are the three key points in the Make Poverty History Call to Action.

The NDP Platform states very clearly that they will, “get Canada on track to fulfilling our longstanding commitment to increase our Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget to 0.7 per cent of GDP with an immediate increase of $500 million and further increases each year.” 

This blog was submitted by Fern Bennett from the Saint John Make Poverty History Local Group:

Saint John held an all-candidates’ forum that specifically discussed the issue of poverty on April 19, 2011. It took a bit of maneuvering, but by the local MPH group teaming up with the Human Development Council, Vibrant Communities, and UNB Urban and Community Studies Institute, we managed to get all the candidates to commit, secure a lovely venue, and provide light refreshments. Saint John Radio 103.5 broadcasted the event. People from all income levels attended…well maybe not the ultra wealthy J…  It was a very polished and orderly event; however, my goal of ‘enlightenment for all’ may not have been achieved.

Human Resources and Skills Development Minister, Diane Finley, was urged to respond positively to the recommendations in the recent report on a Federal Poverty Reduction Plan from the House of Commons Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee (HUMA). The etter from Make Poverty History strongly supported the Committee's first recommendation (3.1.1), “that the federal government immediately commit to a federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada...” 

HungerCount 2010, an annual national study recently released by Food Banks Canada, shows that food bank use in Canada has been on the rise. As reported by the CBC news, food bank use across Canada has hit its highest level since 1997. According to Katharine Schmidt, executive director of Food Banks Canada, "This is a reality check. Food banks are seeing first hand that the recession is not over for a large number of Canadians."

Supporters of the Robin Hood Tax in Canada have been sitting by while our Canadian government has made considerable efforts to push it off the agenda of the G20 and G8.

Coming off the cusp of a major campaign in Canada earlier this year, we at Make Poverty History are gearing up for a more active campaign going into next year. We fully realize that it will be made an issue at the G8 and G20+5 summits next year in France.