EDMONTON – The federal government has released its long-anticipated poverty reduction strategy, titled Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The strategy sets a standard measure for poverty and aims to reduce it 20 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030.
“A national poverty strategy was long overdue, and the federal government deserves kudos for this important step,” said Joel French, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.
The announcement of the strategy did not include any new funding but highlighted existing government initiatives that aim to reduce poverty.
“The Canada Child Benefit, in particular, has had an impact on reducing poverty across Alberta and the rest of the country,” said French. “But there are other areas still requiring ambitious action to eliminate poverty, including a universal pharmaceutical coverage for all Canadians and a universal system of early learning and child care.”
French also pointed out that Alberta is one of only two provinces in the country without its own poverty reduction strategy.
“Our provincial government has taken some significant steps to address poverty in Alberta,” continued French. “Now Alberta should add to those actions a poverty reduction strategy of its own so we can set goals and measure our progress on the way to eliminating poverty.”
-30-
Public Interest Alberta’s From Poverty to Progress campaign launched last year calls on the Alberta government to create a poverty reduction strategy.
Media Contact:
Joel French, Executive Director
Public Interest Alberta
780-420-0471
[email protected]
