Towards a Canadian poverty reduction strategy
The Government of Canada is committed to developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy. Governments can make a difference. However, poverty is a complex problem that requires involvement from a wide range of partners. For this reason, the Government of Canada is reaching out to its provincial, territorial and municipal partners, Indigenous people, community organizations, poverty experts and academics, the business community and, notably, those who have a lived experience of poverty to work together towards reducing poverty.
Governments at all levels have made efforts to reduce poverty. This includes the development of several poverty reduction strategies already in place across Canada’s provinces, territories and municipalities. At the federal level, the Government has made several recent announcements on initiatives that will support its poverty reduction efforts (Annex A). The Government of Canada is seeking views on how to build on and align with these existing efforts. Developing a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy also presents an opportunity for government to examine its programs to see if they can be strengthened to address the causes of poverty in Canada.
Give the Government your views on the Strategy
The Government of Canada wants to hear from all interested Canadians on developing a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy. Youth are particularly encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas as they are not only the beneficiaries of poverty reduction measures but active agents of change.
To begin, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, will engage with members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to discuss their views and their work on poverty reduction strategies. This work will focus on improving the delivery of federal resources and services to inform the Poverty Reduction Strategy. For more information on the work of the Committee, including how you can participate, please visit Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
In the coming months, an online engagement website will be launched where interested individuals and organizations can participate in developing the Strategy. There will also be discussion forums and online town halls with the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
The online engagement will be complemented by in-person roundtables with Indigenous organizations, businesses, community organizations, academic experts and, notably, Canadians who have a lived experience of poverty.
The Government of Canada will also work closely with partners in provincial, territorial and municipal governments—which deliver many programs focused on improving the well-being of Canadians—to discuss how the federal government can strengthen its contribution to reducing poverty.
Questions or comments can also be emailed to: povertyreduction@canada.gc.ca