I am delighted to share this information, particularly since, for the last 10 years now, I have been tabling an antipoverty bill in the House of Commons. I am confident that this time it will work. I am no. 123 on the list; I am sure that my time has finally come.
I have three questions and a request. I would like you to give us an outline. We might have to join the statistics with your service. There would be two columns on the chart. Ms. Collin has already given us food for thought, but I think it might be interesting to hear the pros and cons for each one of the measures. For example, I know that the national council uses low income thresholds in its documents, but that you are very critical of these thresholds because one type of measurement takes into account one's real income while the other one only represents what people require to meet their needs.
My position is closely related to that of Mr. Gourde. For example, Quebec has adopted a rather special and ground-breaking approach. The two provinces with legislative strategies to combat poverty have dropped the low income thresholds. Report after report, the United Nations criticize Canada, which has signed the two comprehensive treaties relating to economic and cultural rights, because no measures have been forthcoming. It would be nice to have a chart to demonstrate the pros and cons, not only as they relate to policies, but rather to the statistical point of view. I think that would be useful.
Secondly, I liked what Ms. Sheila Regehr had to say when describing how the people who study income security are unable to explain how one arrives at the amount of $3,000 for a single person living in British Columbia and $6,000 for the same person living in Quebec, or vice versa.
In a document, you were able to determine how much it would cost to raise everyone above the poverty threshold. I remember reading a figure, and I would like you to remind me of what the amount is. I do not want to hazard a guess, even if one does come to mind. I would like you to repeat it before the members of this committee.
How are we going to solve this problem? For example, could we use the federal government's Canada Social Transfer — to which, of course, all taxpayers contribute — and make the transfer conditional on it being used specifically for income security? We are very jealous of the prerogatives that Quebec enjoys. With respect to the effort that will have to be made to raise workers above the low income threshold, could you provide us with the figure and tell us what you think would have to be done?
I will now move on to my second question, so that I will not have to come back to it later. I would like to ask either the people from HRDC or from the council to answer it. Two provinces have adopted legislation, and a third one is in the process of doing so. I would like you to tell us how you feel about these measures. It is my understanding that what has truly helped people to rise above the poverty level in recent years...
Canada has improved its lot. For example, in the 1980s, whenever we spoke of poverty, we thought of the elderly. In fact, that is what was on the first page of the Senate report. Now, the people who are having the hardest time are the heads of single-parent families. We also say that things are better for children in Canada now, mainly because of the Canada child tax benefit which has increased every year. I would like you to tell us if there is really a correlation between the increase in the Canada Child Tax Credit and the improved conditions for children.
Those are my three questions, and I would like to see that chart. Of course, I am not expecting it before we finish our work.
