Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome and thank you for being here. There was something remarkable, I feel, in the briefs you have presented this morning: not only have you clearly identified the current problems, but you have also put them in context, which helps us to understand.
I am going to speak in global terms. Both the Canadian Teachers' Federation and Mr. Cappon pointed out what is being done in other countries, particularly in the European Union, the United Kingdom and New Zealand; the federation also mentioned the United Nations' position.
I have the impression that you have studied what is being done in those places quite closely, especially the Canadian Teachers' Federation. That is my understanding. At the same time, I have the impression that history is repeating itself. When we reread the brief that you presented in 1989, when the government was committing to a 50% reduction in child poverty before 2000, we realize that it is almost identical to the one that you presented today in terms of its recommendations. I am very struck by that.
You say that involvement from the Government of Canada is still noticeable, that it can be felt, that it makes about a 10% difference in the alleviation of poverty. Yet here we are with almost the same challenges, if we look at your recommendations. What are we to make of that? Have we made any progress at all, or are we running on the spot? If so, why are we not getting anywhere?
I have two related questions. What can we learn from the strategies and the legislation that the countries I mentioned earlier have put in place in order to eliminate poverty? Do we have things to learn, or do those countries have things to learn from our virtual failure to reach the objectives that were set?