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"This anti-poverty report comes at the perfect time — right before a federal election — to hold the government to account for its inaction on the biggest challenge our country is facing." says James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Ottawa (03 Feb. 2015) — Dignity for All: the campaign for a poverty-free Canada was created to make Canada poverty-free, socially secure and cohesive by 2020. Canada Without Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice, the organizers of Dignity for All, have released a national anti-poverty plan for Canada. The report, hitting social media under the hashtag, #WeHaveAPlan, outlines what needs to be included in an action plan and the steps it will taketo eliminate poverty.
National Anti-Poverty Plan for Canada launched
"We are very excited by the amazing reception this report has received from representatives from all parties, " said Joe Gunn, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Justice. "The collaborative process in which the National Anti-Poverty Plan for Canada was drafted has made it clear that we have the political will to take action on poverty in Canada. And now we also have a plan. The time to act is now."
“It is never acceptable for a rich country to do nothing about poverty, and now is certainly not the time,” said Leilani Farha, Canada Without Poverty’s Executive Director. “The rights of 4.8 million people are being violated, and yet the federal government hardly seems concerned. Our plan lays out the framework for a successful national anti-poverty plan.”
Dignity for All campaign focuses on eliminating structural causes of poverty
The campaign, launched in 2009 by Canada Without Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice, has been calling on the federal government to provide leadership and action to address the structural causes of poverty in Canada. The campaign's three main objectives are:
- a federal plan for poverty elimination that complements provincial and territorial plans.
- a federal anti-poverty Act that ensures enduring federal commitment and accountability for results.
- sufficient federal investment in social security for all Canadians.
This multi-year, multi-partner, non-partisan campaign has brought together various partners across communities who specialize in education and health care, and has conncected with social justice, faith-based and labour activists. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has joined thousands of Canadians who have already endorsed the campaign.
NUPGE's All Together Now! promoting solutions to poverty and income inequality
"This anti-poverty report comes at the perfect time — right before a federal election — to hold the government to account for its inaction on the biggest challenge our country is facing," says James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
"Through the National Union's All Together Now! campaign against rising income inequality, we have seen how poverty is devastating Canadians," continued Clancy. "We need a comprehensive federal strategy that takes into account the socio-economic factors that lead to poverty and develops a blueprint to follow to eliminate these challenges at every level."
"We need the federal government to tackle the systemic problems that led to such high levels of poverty," says Clancy. "The federal government has the resources to remove poverty as a barrier to opportunity. Tax fairness, funding for health care, job creation, education and training, affordable housing — these are all things the government can do something about. It is high time it did."
More information:
Dignity for All: National Anti-Poverty Plan for Canada
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE