Finance committee  Yes, well, I had indicated the minimum wage, but certainly any cuts in income tax could easily become tied to job creation as a way to boost the economy. Certainly the idea that higher taxes are hard on the poor.... I think if our ancestors in this country had adopted the idea th

Finance committee  I'm sorry. I don't have those figures. The only figure I had was the increase in the guaranteed income supplement. If it had been $700 million, it would have raised this whole group of women out of poverty and above the poverty line. I have no idea about the other costing. I'm

Finance committee  We did indicate that if the level of CPP benefits were to be increased that would result in an increase of payments currently--

Finance committee  -- and of unemployment insurance, that--

Finance committee  Certainly the incentives for a stronger economy will increase employment. There is no doubt about that. But increasing employment is really only one segment of reducing poverty. If we look at a poverty reduction strategy, it's usually made up of many components, including housi

Finance committee  Well, I think the association's position, and my position, is that while Canada has certainly been very good at regulatory banking and capital protection, I think we have a great capacity to become a world leader in terms of developing our social capital, which is our future gene

Finance committee  Yes, we're aware that the infusion of about $300 million a year ago wasn't sufficient, based on the Caledon Institute of Social Policy research showing that $700 million would have lifted that group of women above the poverty line.

Finance committee  In response to your question, the Canadian Association of Social Workers is on record as asking the federal government to develop a poverty reduction strategy federally and work with many of the provincial jurisdictions that already have instituted poverty reduction programs. We

Finance committee  My indication is that a couple of years ago there was much more discussion of poverty reduction strategies at the highest levels in the government. Lately there hasn't been much of an initiative that I'm aware of, although the provincial governments, particularly New Brunswick's

Finance committee  Good morning. My name is Ray Pekrul and I'm the representative from Saskatchewan for the Canadian Association of Social Workers. The issue that we again want to advocate to you is the improvement of the financial status of low-income and moderate-income women in Canada. We ackno

Finance committee  I don't know how to respond to that. I just know that group of women is particularly vulnerable and is often living below the LICO level.

Finance committee  If they were married or were living with a pensioner, they would be eligible for those benefits directly; otherwise they are not, according to this provision.

Finance committee  Yes, that's correct. We're recommending that there be a drop-out provision similar to the child care provision currently in the CPP.

Finance committee  Thanks for the question. The point we're trying to make is for women who are between ages 60 and 65 who are widowed and who would be able to receive an allowance under old age security. We're advocating that elderly women who are unattached, and oftentimes very poor, by a large

Finance committee  Thank you for the opportunity to present on behalf of the Canadian Association of Social Workers, a federation of member organizations of social workers from nine provinces and territories. We wish to advocate for the improvement of the financial status of low- and moderate-inc