FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, ON: March 23, 2011 – Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is disappointed that the federal budget did not address the real needs of Canadians, ignoring the social and environmental deficits.
“This budget offers tinkering instead of real change,” said Joe Gunn, executive director. “Instead of a poverty elimination strategy, the government is pursuing a jobs-based approach to recovery that just isn’t sufficient.”
While Budget 2011 offered some small social policy crumbs, these did not amount to an effective and enduring approach to reducing and eliminating poverty. “The budget provides for a federal policy framework for the aerospace industry, but not a comprehensive approach to poverty,” commented policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn. “Even the increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement is only 50 to 70 extra dollars a month for the poorest seniors. It’s just not enough.”
The government’s job creation plan also includes an array of “boutique tax credits,” designed to appeal to small, targeted segments of voters without delivering effective and accountable results to Canadians. “There’s an opportunity cost here,” noted policy analyst Chandra Pasma. “Instead of creating and designing programs that meet Canadians’ needs, we’re letting money drip away through an endless trickle of tax credits that aren’t very effective.”
Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is a national organization that promotes public justice in Canada by shaping key policy debates through research and analysis, publishing and public dialogue. CPJ encourages citizens, leaders in society and governments to support policies and practices that reflect God’s call for love, justice and stewardship.
For more information, contact:
Joe Gunn
Executive director
1-800-667-8046 ext.224
Chandra Pasma
Policy analyst
1-800-667-8046 ext. 223
