Citizens for Public Justice and Canada Without Poverty release a National Anti-Poverty Plan for Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, ON: February 3, 2015 – It’s time for a plan to end poverty in Canada. In a country as wealthy as ours, 4.8 million people struggle to make ends meet: to pay their rent, feed their families, and address basic needs. Today, Dignity for All, a collaborative campaign between Citizens for Public Justice and Canada Without Poverty, released their much-anticipated National Anti-Poverty Plan for Canada.
“Over the past five years, Dignity for All has received support and input from thousands of people in Canada” said Joe Gunn, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Justice. “We are very excited by the amazing reception this report has received from representatives from all parties. 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,” said Gunn.
The report makes recommendations in six policy areas: Labour and Employment, Food Security, Health, Income Security, Housing and Homelessness, and Early Childhood Education and Care. It calls for the Federal Government to immediately take action in each of these areas, to address both the immediate and long-term needs of the 1 in 7 people in Canada who live in poverty.
“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.”
Over the past 5 years, Dignity for All has garnered support from 15,000 People in Canada who believe it is time for the Federal Government to step up and take responsibility for this country’s impoverished populations. It is time for Parliament to act. Our plan puts this in motion.
Today, the Dignity for All campaign is calling on all Federal Parties to adopt these measures within their election platforms, and make a promise to people living in Canada that they will act on this pressing issue within first year of taking office.
The full report can be downloaded from dignityforall.ca/about/our-plan/
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A press conference will be held on Tuesday, February 3rdat 10:30am in the Charles Lynch Room (Centre Block).
Dignity for All: the campaign for a poverty-free Canada, headed by Canada Without Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice, is a multi-year, non-partisan campaign supported by over 15,000 individuals and 600 local and national organizations calling for a comprehensive federal plan to eliminate poverty.
Twitter: @DignityForAllCA & #WeHaveAPlan
Contact: Brad Wassink, Communications Coordinator, Citizens for Public Justice, 613 232-0275 x.225 or brad@cpj.ca
