Mandate

The mandate of the National Council of Welfare is to advise the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in respect of any matters relating to social development that the Minister may refer to the Council for its consideration or that the Council considers appropriate.

The Council which was created in 1969, advises the Minister on the needs and problems of low-income Canadians and on social and related programs and policies which affect their welfare by:

• communicating directly with the Minister
• informing and influencing public opinion through widely-disseminated reports
• providing a vehicle through which people concerned with the problems of low-income Canadians can make their views known to government.

The Council fulfils its mandate and achieves its objectives by:

• publishing several reports each year on poverty and social policy issues
• presenting submissions to groups such as Parliamentary Committees and Royal Commissions
• meeting with Cabinet Ministers to discuss current policy issues affecting low-income Canadians
• communicating in writing with the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development on social policy issues raised in reports and meetings of the Council and
• responding to inquiries from researchers, members of the media and the public for reports, data, statistics and other information on poverty and social policy.