I will be making my presentation in both official languages, starting in English.
The Canadian Council of Churches is the largest ecumenical body in Canada, now representing 22 churches of Anglican, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions. Together the Canadian Council of Churches represents 85% of the Christians in Canada.
On May 13, MP Tony Martin noted in the House of Commons that the Canadian Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada had together hosted an MP Roundtable on Parliament Hill on Faith and a Sustainable Economy. He further noted that the religious left and religious right were coming together to call for an end to poverty. While we wonder which one of us is religious left and which one is religious right, churches in Canada are united in their determination to contribute to ending poverty in Canada.
In a letter sent on November 26, 2007, 21 member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches--that's one fewer than we currently have--unanimously signed a letter to the Prime Minister, calling on the Government of Canada to establish a high-level task force to develop a national poverty reduction strategy within the next budget year, incorporating these features: measurable goals and timelines, indicators to measure poverty in Canada that are publicly comprehensible, a means to monitor and evaluate progress, budget commitments that focus on the needs of vulnerable people--and we've heard some of those vulnerable groups named here: women, children, racialized groups, aboriginals, immigrants, and refugees.
To date, Madam Minister, the federal government has not established a poverty reduction task force, nor initiated a poverty reduction strategy.
At the recent May round table held with members of Parliament two weeks ago in Ottawa, there was a striking agreement among all participants, which included representatives from each political party. They all agreed that a resolution calling for the end of poverty in Canada would not be enough unless it included a plan of implementation. They agreed that a unanimous vote for an action plan to end poverty in Canada would carry more weight and be more effective if it included measurable goals and timelines, publicly comprehensible indicators, and a means for monitoring and evaluating progress.
Canadians want to hold their government accountable for ending poverty in Canada.
Throughout Canadian history, churches in Canada have long proclaimed the need for people to stand with those who have less, to give charitably and to work for justice. In the 1960s, churches were instrumental in advocating for Medicare and universal public health care for all in Canada, regardless of economic circumstances. The Salvation Army, to give you one example, is the largest non-governmental direct service provider of social services in Canada.
However, it is the Government of Canada that is charged to establish justice for all and to secure a common good for all. We join with our member churches and partners in specifically calling for the Government of Canada to include these concrete policy initiatives: first, a federal plan for poverty--we're not just talking about a nationally coordinated strategy, but one initiated by the federal government for poverty elimination that complements provincial and territorial plans; poverty reduction targets, timetables, indicators, especially for aboriginal families, in coordination with Inuit, Métis, first nations, and urban aboriginal communities; sufficient federal investment in social security, through taxation and other means, for all Canadians, including an increased child benefit for low-income families and expanded eligibility for employment insurance.
A cornerstone of any federal anti-poverty strategy or poverty reduction strategy must include a national housing plan that includes substantial federal funding for social housing and a means for holding provinces and territories accountable for delivering social housing. There is a role for the federal government.
We need a universally accessible system of early childhood education and care affordable to all children and, finally, a federal anti-poverty act that ensures enduring federal commitment and accountability for results.
Finally, we urge the panellists themselves to demonstrate support for the Dignity for All campaign recently launched by Citizens for Public Justice, a faith-based policy organization, in partnership with A Canada Without Poverty, formerly the National Anti-Poverty Organization.
We invite you to search online for dignityforall.ca and to click the button “I support”. Thank you.