Thank you for that question.
I'll start with the market basket measure. I will say that we've been working with many of our colleagues in Quebec. We share some of those concerns about the market basket measure, in particular with the way that it's being proposed as a panacea to measure poverty. The reality is that any measurement you pick is going to be messy. It's not an easy process, but what's so important is that we have multiple different indicators and that we're aware that our narrative with those indicators is always that they need to complement one another.
I will say, having been part of many consultations around the market basket measure, that I have serious concerns that we have not yet seen a “what we heard” report on that market basket measure consultation. What I am hearing publicly is very different from the concerns that I heard raised in those rooms, concerns that this is in fact going to be misused, but used nonetheless, by a number of organizations that are providing direct services. If we don't include specific people, we're going to see those who might not follow a very particular form of poverty—for example, single mothers, other marginalized groups—not qualifying for programs.
This market basket measure might seem like some minutia, but the reality is that how we measure poverty is going to matter so much for the way that we are able to strive to reach these programs.
On your point about the ambitiousness of the target, to be honest, I think there's been some misunderstanding with this government about how to set targets for a poverty strategy. I heard a lot of discourse around the need to set forward realistic targets, but I would argue that if you look at this internationally that's not the way to do it from a human rights perspective. In fact, that's not the way that a number of successful countries have done it.
The way you build in your targets is that you build the human rights goal—to end poverty—in line with the sustainable development goals, and then you work in your short-term goals, your sub-targets. You work through progressive realization to meet your larger goals. That's why I have some concerns about this conversation about realistic targets, because we should be setting our sights on no poverty. There's no question there. It's “end poverty”.
I will just add in one quick point. I will say—