WHEREAS 1 in 10 Canadians live in poverty and 1 in 4 of those in poverty are children;
WHEREAS for those who live in poverty it takes an unacceptable toll in terms of lives diminished, dreams deferred and potential denied;
WHEREAS poverty costs all Canadians. It forces up our tax bills, depresses the economy, increases health care cost and breeds alienation and crime;
WHEREAS poverty disproportionately affects older people, women, children, recent immigrants, the disabled and aboriginal people;
WHEREAS with an aging population, Canada will face a significant shrinking of the workforce over the next 20 years. To boost the size of our workforce, we will need to draw more extensively on underutilized sources of labour which are also the groups overrepresented in poverty;
WHEREAS over 4 million people across Canada are in need of affordable housing;
WHEREAS an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 people are homeless in Canada;
WHEREAS it has been demonstrated that it is more cost effective to provide housing and supports to the homeless then to leave someone on the street;
WHEREAS income inequality is on the rise in Canada undermining social cohesion;
BE IT RESOLVED that a Liberal Government shall establish poverty, housing and homelessness strategies based on goals, timetables and practical measures to achieve them.
National Liberal Caucus
The ethics of the Liberalism Party require elimination of poverty. Poverty is contrary to principles of democracy, justice and human rights..
Notwithstanding the ethical basis of Liberal Party action to alleviate poverty; the Liberal Party should strongly make the macro-economic case for alleviating poverty.
Poverty is synonymous with low economic activity. Poverty equates to low production and low consumption. Moreover, the social and health problems that arise from poverty cost the taxpayer more than it would cost to alleviate the poverty. The Liberal Party must clearly state the macro-economic benefits of reducing poverty.
The idea of establishing a Small Loans Bank is brilliant. May we succeed at least one small step at a time. All are suffering: ADULTS as well as children after all.
The war on poverty has a lot to do with effective education. If people are not prepared for life at home because they have it rough there, (at home), the responsibilities fall on our schools to develop better social programs to teach children how to get along in life. Our schools are not teaching children the basic self-responsibilities of life, and our children leave high school with nothing in their toolbox to help them learn how to cope with life and its many challenges. The result is crime, alienation, and a whole society of people who prefer to live off of the government instead of building a happy and prosperous life, since they were never taught any life skills at home or in school. Learning basic self responsibilities like doing homework and coming to school in a neat and clean fashion are things which have long been forgotten in our schools. Methods must be developed to instruct students on how to be tidy, the benefits of doing homework and learning, how to make friends and coexist in society, as well as how to interact with teachers and authority figures in a positive and trusting way. This obviously requires much investment of time and research. These children don’t have many role models or persons they can look up to in our homes or in the media. More advanced academic corriculums and better practical, hands-on support for students in order to meet these corriculums must be developed if we are to create a better and more prosperous society in the future.
Canadians need to address poverty in their own country every day of the year.
Individuals and families must have the supports necessary to raise a family,have a decent place to live,to remain single by choice and a way to help their elderly parents or grandparents that is ethical and beneficial to all.
Liberals need to realize the economy is connected to crime,homelessness and joblessness.
It is so important that every Canadian contribute because of our aging population.
We need to have as many people working as possible.
Many Canadians are supporting adult children ,raising their grandchildren and taking care of aging parents when they are a senior citizen themselves.
Lorna Sutherland
I’m disappointed that the policy proposed by the Natinoal Liberal Caucus is so short on specifics. This doesn’t offer enough to earn my vote and I don’t think it would win us many votes with Canadians.
I agree with all the comments here. But like Jason Chemiak, the resolution seems to me to be devoid of specifics, and almost appears like an afterthought. Specifics are what Canadians want, and I sure hope the future Liberal policy book and platform gives Canadians something to chew on.
I trust that the resolutions on poverty # 25 National + #25 Ontario and various versions from PRIOR convenetions over past 30 years – ALL could be MERGED and clarified – LIBERAL Policy is the framework and principles which form our platform and more is set and communicated; How-To Tasks to implement these operations with ecomnomic attributes and projected impact and consequences is what the leadership and government is hired to do.
We, as a Party, have allowed poverty to burden our fellows for many years. Forget calling others bad names. Let us get down to business, form a starter plan to assist those falling through the cracks and those others who need training in order to fill jobs new to them.
I would like to see issues of poverty linked to local food growers. Many farmers can’t sell products that don’t fit grocery store measurements. This could be a cheap source of fresh healthy food for poor families but we need to create a food system to secure distribution.
I am a Disabled person who would like to see this issue of Poverty dealt with federally.
I am appauled that many Liberals on this forum have made the legalization of Dope more important than the isssue of Poverty. That astounds me to no end.
Come on Liberals lets get out heads above water and deal with issues of true National importance. I am disabled by no action that I ever took in my life. I am on Federal CPP and I get no benefits from the government to which I pay taxes. I pay for my glasses and I have no dental so I have problems with my teeth. Wow I pay provincial tax and those in Ontario get free glasses, free Dental and free prescription coverage. What is wrong with this picture? Our Federal government gives money to the provinces for health care and surely with some of the tax money that they get, they could allow something for those of us that are truly Disabled to have some real food on our tables and some real benefits. They squander so much on Jets, and on Mega Prisons that they can afford to give all of us that are in positions similar to mine, the ability to have the right glasses for our eyes and dental work so that we can keep our teeth.
It is ridiculous a country such as our Canada that we allow so many people to go to bed hungry yet we can dole out Billions of dollars to other countries to see that their people do not go to bed hungry? I believe like most that it is better to give than to receive but I also believe in feeding those in my country first than giving away to others and letting our own children go without food, clean water and winter clothes on their backs. Many children freeze in the winter because the parents have to chose between rent, food and hydro to heat a house or an apt. Is that our Canada? Yet I still come back to the fact than many Liberals voted for dope to be higher on the agenda that Poverty. Shame on you that did that. You are cold and unfeeling to say the least. How about their kids? I suppose they would purchase their dope then feed their kids. Wow what a way to live they must be rich. Poverty does not help Canada. Poverty kills it hurts, it costs more money in health issues, in housing issues, as it has to build shelters…..Lets deal with this whole issue of Poverty as it for one should be the Highest on our Agenda as Liberals to erradicate this Poverty in our county and show others how to do this. We can be True Leaders in this area so lets lead and really stop talking and stop studying and do something about it. Enough is Enough.
You are a truly brave soul. And must stronger than me.
I vote for this one as the number one resolution to be dealt with
I propose that fighting poverty must be a strong objective and set in the top priorities of the Liberal plan.
The development of this statement could be started by including in it Resolution 71 (Existing poverty ratio is 10% of population 25% of which are children), Resolution 25 (Poverty is growing), Resolution 48 (Creation of a Microcredit Bank), and Resolution 113 (CPP Death Benefit change). The existance of poverty is costing more to the economy than
concerted efforts to eliminate it would be, I believe.
I don’t think it needs to be linked. We set goals for other things that we meant including the deficit, this is a human deficit we are fighting to save.
Has anyone looked at the micro-credit model in India ?
I think this is a great idea. Let’s start defining specific target groups (disenfrachised aboriginals, children, homeless, unemployed etc) and identifying their specific needs and how to address them through something on this website. For example,
Disenfranchised aboriginals – could have a small net percentage of resources consumed on aboriginal land go to those aboriginal communities for their own preferred social and economic development.
The unemployed should be assisted with training and education. Develop options for them. Unemployment should be an opportunity to change your career path or to reinvent yourself as well as to look for another job.
Poverty and income disparity can be greatly diminished with a progressive revision of our tax code.
I support adding a resolution of amend the tax code to the linked resolutions because it would help to reduce poverty for a wide segment of the population and make the tax system more equitable.