First, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to participate in this consultation.
I'm the president of the National Anti-Poverty Organization, and I'm here from Saskatoon.
The National Anti-Poverty Organization is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that represents the interests of low-income people in Canada.
We would like to applaud the government for recognizing that if Canada is to have a meaningful place in the world of the future, then its citizens must prosper. I cannot emphasize enough that it is critical that this government work to ensure that all citizens prosper.
There are not two distinct groups of people living in poverty, welfare families and working families, but instead people who move from one group to the other. As well, many families listed on the welfare roles also receive some of their income from work.
We are going to emphasize a number of key points today, as we know that many of our national and local partners will also be providing important input into your deliberations.
People who rely on welfare in Canada are not just falling behind, they're also falling into despair and hopelessness. The cuts to and reforms of the welfare systems in Canada have created unprecedented suffering and have reduced mobility for both recipients and low-wage workers, persons with disabilities, and single mothers who fall into the welfare trap that they have little hope of escaping from.
For many low-wage workers in Canada, simply suffering from a serious bout of the flu is enough for them to lose their jobs, fall behind on the rent, lose their housing, become homeless, and end up on the welfare system. That is going to work against them returning to the workforce by providing an income that does not allow them to obtain and maintain secure housing, have enough food to eat without lining up at the food bank or soup kitchens, or provide the absolute necessities for their children to participate in school.
For many people, obtaining the basic necessities becomes a consuming daily struggle. Increasingly, people who fall onto welfare are staying longer and are unable to bounce back into the workforce. Canada has always been proud of and enjoyed a high level of mobility out of poverty. With the changes to the EI system, the increases in precarious employment, and the reduction in the real benefits that welfare systems provide, we have reduced mobility and have created a welfare trap.
We take exception with this government's belief that citizens need appropriate incentives to work and save. Speaking for people living in poverty, including those who fall into welfare, we know that the number one goal that is close to all recipients is to obtain a secure job that will allow them to obtain the basic necessities for themselves and their families. We believe that citizens need supports to go to work.
At NAPO we have just started to work on what we are calling “unclaimed benefits”. We are very concerned that most disadvantaged citizens are not receiving the government benefits they are entitled to. We don't feel this is fair.
We are hoping that your government will support our work in two key ways. First, we believe the government needs to provide financial contributions toward groups such as ours to provide tools and workshops for front-line workers. Secondly, we would like government officials from the various departments to work with us in simplifying the process of applying for and obtaining benefits.
Finally, we are happy that the government is interested in citizens saving for the future. This is an area the federal government could support, with funding for financial literacy programming and regulations against predatory lending, as well as ensuring that the banks are providing access to services without excess fees.
Thank you.