Recommendations will help Government of Canada continue to make progress toward its poverty reduction targets
October 17, 2022 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
In 2018, the Government of Canada made a historic commitment toward reducing poverty through Opportunity for All-Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Strategy included the creation of the National Advisory Council on Poverty and established ambitious poverty reduction targets aimed at building a Canada where every Canadian has a real and fair chance of success.
Today, on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, tabled in Parliament the Council's third report on Canada's progress in reducing poverty. The report, entitled Transforming our Systems, notes that significant progress has been made on reducing poverty in Canada. There were more than 2.6 million fewer people living in poverty in 2020 compared to 2015, including 782,000 children and 187,000 seniors.
However, while the progress made is encouraging, it must be considered in the context of a year that saw exceptional and temporary government income support measures in response to the pandemic. Affordability pressures remain for many Canadians, including the rising cost of living due to inflation.
This is why, as Canada continues its recovery from the pandemic and faces new challenges, the Government will keep working hard to ensure a strong recovery for everyone. From delivering the Canada Child Benefit and raising it every year to keep pace with inflation, to cutting regulated child care fees in half on average by the end of this year for families across the country, we are delivering support for the middle class and those working hard to join it. In addition, on September 20, 2022, the Government introduced legislation to make life more affordable for Canadians who need it most.
The measures proposed in these bills include:
- doubling the Goods and Services Tax Credit for six months, delivering support to roughly 11 million individuals and families who receive the tax credit, including about half of Canadian families with children, and more than half of Canadian seniors;
- providing a Canada Dental Benefit to children under 12 who do not have access to dental insurance, starting this year; and
- providing a one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit to deliver $500 to 1.8 million Canadian renters who are struggling with the cost of housing.
While the Government of Canada continues to make progress towards its poverty reduction goals, the Council's recommendations will help to inform more inclusive policies and programs so that the Government can help grow a more resilient and inclusive society and economy that leaves no one behind.
