Thanks for the question.
Yes, it's absolutely essential that there be some coordination, bearing in mind the sensitivities around federal jurisdiction versus provincial jurisdiction. But there's no doubt that we should at least be striving for some kind of national standards. I actually think the federal government could be showing some real leadership and not just taking its hat off to commend the provinces, all except B.C., and territories on what they have set out to do to reduce poverty, which is a great thing. That's wonderful, but there isn't any national organizing principle or framework, which I think is an essential ingredient to getting this right across the country, bearing in mind regional and provincial differences, of course.
I think the way in which the national-level government could show leadership is through human rights. That could provide that universal framework that all other provincial, and territorial, and even municipal strategies could fall under so that those would be the benchmarks that you're trying to hit, the human rights benchmarks. And you wouldn't be micromanaging provinces, territories, and municipalities. You're only saying, “We as a national-level government, having international human rights obligations, have to make sure we're all meeting those obligations, so, provinces, territories, and municipalities, here are the human rights benchmarks. Go.” Of course, you should be adequately resourcing the provinces, territories, and municipalities to ensure that they can meet those benchmarks.
I think that's an interesting way forward. There's no doubt that federalism is complicated. I think that any strategy has to grapple with the complications. I notice, as I scan the country, some really interesting developments at the municipal level and creativity at the local level, because they are so close to the people who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, and inadequate housing, terrible work conditions, etc. I think harnessing that creativity and ensuring that it flourishes in this country is important.