Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your deliberations and discussions on the critical issue of poverty reduction in Canada.
The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian CED Network represents hundreds of community organizations that are working with thousands of community members across the province to build stronger and fairer local economies, to reduce poverty and homelessness, and to create more sustainable communities.
I should clarify that when we talk about community economic development, we are not referring simply to business-focused development, as you might envision from the term. We are talking about people in communities working together at a local level to generate innovative and effective initiatives that create economic opportunities for individuals, families, and neighbourhoods in ways that improve social and environmental conditions.
Whether we are looking at the social determinants of health, the many facets of full social inclusion, or the nature of poverty, we understand that they all describe a complex and interdependent set of dynamics that can only be effectively addressed with integrated approaches. The CED model understands that complex community issues require multi-faceted and coordinated responses. Those responses will be most successful if they are community led.
This isn't a new idea, of course. Communities across the country and around the world have been working together to fight poverty for a very long time. We have many innovative and effective models here in Manitoba. But despite the proven track record of this approach, communities of all kinds around our province lack the necessary support to take action in dynamic, holistic, and innovative ways.
What has been lacking, and what we are recommending, is a comprehensive federal strategy for reducing poverty and for supporting community-led responses to poverty reduction. To be effective, this federal strategy needs to be strengthened with targets and timelines for outcome-based results. It should be accompanied by anti-poverty legislation. We stand as part of the Dignity For All campaign with this clear and fundamentally important request.
A comprehensive strategy requires that policies be developed to achieve defined objectives in key areas, such as child care, housing, food security, skill development, and employment. Here in Manitoba, this has been very well laid out in The View from Here, a comprehensive strategy designed by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba together with Make Poverty History Manitoba. Policies in these areas will have an even greater impact on poverty reduction and social inclusion if strategic consideration is given to the way these policies are implemented.
When capital projects are undertaken, we recommend that the federal government implement training and apprenticeship components that ensure that skill development happens in the local community. This is important, because when the infrastructure is completed and the project is done, the employability of people in that area will be enhanced, and the legacy of the project really can live on in the lives of those people.
On creating economic stimulus initiatives aimed at infrastructure, we recommend strategic investments in community infrastructure, such as child care centres and social housing.
On supporting labour market development, we recommend that community-based organizations rooted in impoverished neighbourhoods be given the resources they require to provide holistic support for a sufficient length of time to ensure success. And when you address our housing crisis in this country, we recommend that social enterprises, such as our own Inner City Renovation, be contracted, recognizing that the overall return on investment through this strategy is much greater than simply the value of the construction contracts.
On developing strategic investments, we recommend prioritizing comprehensive community renewal initiatives, as demonstrated here in Manitoba with our 12 neighbourhood renewal corporations. They work with communities to identify comprehensive long-term strategies for revitalizing neighbourhoods.
I know that you heard from one of the members of the Canadian CED Network policy council in Vancouver on the value of social enterprises. So I will just reiterate the primary point that this is one important model that hires and trains people from marginalized populations, particularly people living in poverty and living with various disabilities, who would otherwise face barriers to employment.
A point I want to make clear is that there are opportunities in everything the government does--in every department, in every program, in every project, and in every policy--to have an impact on poverty in this country. But without putting in place a comprehensive framework and an anti-poverty lens through which all decisions are made, most of these opportunities may not even be identified. They will most certainly be missed. In creating a federal framework for reducing poverty, we would recommend that you consider Manitoba's CED policy framework and lens as a model that would require the federal government to ensure that all programming and policies consider the implications for poverty and community development.
Finally, we recommend that the federal strategy include a program that commits funds to strengthen effective community-led poverty reduction initiatives. As I mentioned earlier, Canadians across the country have long been taking action that enables others in their community to overcome barriers and develop capacity and opportunities to participate fully in community life. Many of these initiatives lack the required resources to work with the active leaders in their communities to tackle the complex issue of poverty, and yet they do what they can with great passion, innovation, effectiveness, and dedication.
As I said, there's a long history, and there's current strength and innovation in communities across the country already working at reducing poverty. But what we need is strong government leadership that creates a comprehensive federal strategy for reducing poverty, strengthened with targets and timelines for outcome-based results, with accompanying anti-poverty legislation, and a complementary program for enabling community-led responses to poverty reduction.
Thank you.