News
Canada’s children told to fend for themselves say Campaign 2000
Make Poverty History Steering Committee member, Campaign 2000, has written about how the Federal Budget will affect children living in poverty in Canada.
The budget caters mostly to those who are well off, giving them precedence over today’s children and their families. According to Campaign 2000, this budget will further increase the gap between the rich and the rest.
Federal Budget 2012: Facts and figures on Canadian Aid Performance - past, present and future
(Originally posted by Make Poverty History member organization, Canada's Coalition to end Global Poverty)
Federal Budget Should Not Fight Deficit on Backs of Poor
Campaign Urges Government to Protect and Un-Freeze Development Assistance and Act on Domestic Anti-Poverty Plan
OTTAWA (March 22, 2012) –The Make Poverty History campaign warned against cuts in next week’s budget to Canada’s aid program and called for investment in proposed initiatives to fight poverty in Canada.
“If there are to be cuts to balance the budget, the poorest must not pay the price,” said Jennifer Slawich of RESULTS Canada. “People living in poverty here and abroad have already been hit hardest by the economic crisis, and continue to experience its worst impacts.”
Make Poverty History Manitoba Election Action
Make Poverty History Manitoba has launched a "Vote to Make Poverty History" campaign for their provincial election.
Poverty Elimination Act Re-introduced in House of Commons
On June 20th NDP MP Jean Crowder introduced Bill C-233, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada – the same as Bill C-545 which had been introduced in June 2010 by defeated NDP MP Tony Martin and which died on the order paper upon the calling of the federal election.
Jean Crowder, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo--Cowichan, is the new NDP critic for Human Resources and Skills Development and the lead for poverty issues. You can read her speech in the House when she introduced the Bill here.
Demand G20 action on food prices to avoid more hunger
One in seven people in the world now go to bed hungry every night. Recent food prices could make the crisis even worse.
There is a crucial meeting of Agricultural Ministers from the G20 countries later this month that could take steps to avoid a disaster.
Please join in supporting an online action sponsored by Oxfam Canada by sending an email to Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, calling on him to show leadership at these meetings, and to push for four key policies:
Federal Budget Fails to Address Poverty
An increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors of up to $600 a year for single seniors and $840 for couples is about the only measure in the federal budget that does anything to reduce poverty. It is only about a third of what is needed to bring all seniors out of poverty. And because it is targeted only to those receiving the maximum GIS amount, it will actually help a relatively small number of people.
There was nothing in this budget to address growing rates of poverty among Aboriginal people, youth and recent immigrants - groups where poverty rates are much higher than among seniors. There was nothing for the one in ten children still living in poverty.
All Parties Except Conservatives Support Make Poverty History Goals
Make Poverty History has lobbied all the political parties to include our goals in their platforms. With the exception of the Conservative Party, our campaigning efforts have succeeded as all of the other major parties’ platforms have endorsed key Make Poverty History goals.
Three out of four parties commit to reduce poverty
Conservatives ignore poverty reduction and inequality
Toronto– Citing the persistence of poverty and growing gap between the rich and poor across Canada, national anti-poverty coalition Campaign 2000 today expressed satisfaction that three out of four parties have committed to a poverty reduction plan.
Reducing poverty and inequality is not just a moral issue, but an essential element in managing the economy. Poverty and inequality drive health care and crime control expenditures, lead to skilled labour shortages through poor educational attainment, and generate social conflict.
