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.
โThis budget offers tinkering instead of real change,โ said Joe Gunn, executive director. โInstead of a poverty elimination strategy, the government is pursuing a jobs-based approach to recovery that just isnโt sufficient.โ
While Budget 2011 offered some small social policy crumbs, these did not amount to an effective and enduring approach to reducing and eliminating poverty. โThe budget provides for a federal policy framework for the aerospace industry, but not a comprehensive approach to poverty,โ commented policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn. โEven the increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement is only 50 to 70 extra dollars a month for the poorest seniors. Itโs just not enough.โ
The governmentโs job creation plan also includes an array of โboutique tax credits,โ designed to appeal to small, targeted segments of voters without delivering effective and accountable results to Canadians. โThereโs an opportunity cost here,โ noted policy analyst Chandra Pasma. โInstead of creating and designing programs that meet Canadiansโ needs, weโre letting money drip away through an endless trickle of tax credits that arenโt very effective.โ
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 Godโs 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
