Status of Women committee  Thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I am responsible for the poverty reduction strategy at ESDC. The introduction of Canada's official poverty line, as measured by the market basket measure, was a key feature of the poverty reduction strategy. There are a number of

Finance committee  Good evening. Thank you for the chance to be here today. As the committee knows, on August 21, 2018, the government released “Opportunity for All - Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy”. The poverty reduction act included in the BIA legislates the commitments made in that s

Finance committee  I don't have that with me today, but I could certainly provide it to the committee. The market basket measure is calculated by Statistics Canada.

Finance committee  There is a review under way at this point in time. We are expecting that the basket will be updated for the release of the Canadian income survey next year.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  Statistics Canada is responsible for the statistical element of the basket and Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for the policy content of the basket.

Finance committee  It's a joint effort between the two departments.

Finance committee  I think that remains to be determined. Certainly the statistical portion is within the ambit of the chief statistician, so that falls fully within the purview of Statistics Canada.

Finance committee  I think it depends a little on which element we're speaking about. For example, questions of statistical methodology related to—

Finance committee  Well, Statistics Canada is responsible for the statistical element and the policy elements are for ESDC.

Finance committee  I think I would just respond again to the question of what is in the basket. The statistical elements are decided by Statistics Canada and the policy elements are decided by ESDC.

Finance committee  If I may, the market basket measure has been calculated since the early 2000s. It's a measure that has been in place over time. It was rebased in 2008 through the similar sort of measure review that's under way now. It's a measure that does provide, as you said, a basket of goods

Finance committee  The contents of the basket are a joint decision between Statistics Canada and ESDC depending on the nature of the item that's being determined.

Finance committee  There is very close consultation. I work very closely with my counterpart. We have an ADM data committee that meets.

Finance committee  I will confirm this with the committee but my understanding is that it has been with officials to date. With the MBM becoming the official poverty line, it is an opportunity to reconsider the sign-off and the authority for the basket itself. Again, the statistical element remains