Anti-Poverty Strategy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 16, 2006
Poverty advisory council launches Canada-wide forum
The National Council of Welfare today, on the eve of the International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty, is launching an on-line questionnaire at
www.ncwcnbes.net to find out what Canadians think about solutions to poverty
and insecurity in Canada. For over 25 years the NCW has published detailed
statistics on poverty, with its most recent reports released in July and August this
year. During the past quarter century, poverty rates among seniors have improved
dramatically. For all other age groups, including children, poverty is as widespread
as ever and for some people, poverty is deeper as well.
John Murphy, the Chairperson of the Council, is "concerned that Canada has
tended to hide its poverty in silence rather than fight it. If other countries have
successfully tackled poverty, however, Canada can too. Quebec is making an antipoverty
strategy a priority and so is Newfoundland and Labrador. It makes good
economic sense to enable everyone to be as productive as possible. I also want to
believe that Canadian men and women care what happens to fellow human beings
who are struggling to survive in their own rich country". The questionnaire will run
until mid-December and the results will be made public. They will also guide the
advice the NCW provides to the federal government.
The Council encourages individuals and organizations across Canada to respond to
the questionnaire and tell us what you think.
The National Council of Welfare is an independent body established to advise the federal
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development on issues of importance to low-income
Canadians. Its Poverty Profile, 2002 and 2003 report was released July 20, 2006
and its Welfare Incomes 2005 report, on August 24, 2006. For more information, please
visit the website www.ncwcnbes.net
Council members from across the country are meeting in Ottawa on October 19-22.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
National Council of Welfare
112 Kent Street, 9th Floor
Place de Ville, Tower B
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0J9
Telephone: (613) 957-2961
Fax: (613) 957-0680
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