Finance committee  Yes, it is. We've called for all the pieces that are included in the legislation and the strategy so far—targets and timelines—not so much an official poverty line but certainly the need for clarification around poverty rates and also for the advisory council. Those are all thing

Finance committee  I think the CCB is one example of a program that's been effective. I think we have yet to see the full benefit. We've had some preliminary data come out with the Canadian income survey. There seems to have been a positive impact in terms of lowering the poverty rates of those who

Finance committee  Very much. Yes. There is a range of things that we do know, such as shelter. Shelter includes not only things like rent and mortgage, but also utility costs. I think they're going to be including Internet as a cost that's included as a necessity. There are things that are not in

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  I am aware that Statistics Canada has a methodology for how they establish criteria. I know through engagement in the consultation process that this was not fully clear to the people participating. It's a complex methodology. I think the benefit of the market basket measure is t

Finance committee  That's a good question. Right now there is a consultation process that happened this winter between Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada. They took input from a range of—

Finance committee  I don't know.

Finance committee  Thank you for your question. We're not recommending that there be a change in terms of having the market basket measure as the official poverty line. It's a measure that we have made reference to for several years. It provides a certain amount of helpful information. Given its

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, all, for the opportunity to be here with you today. My name is Darlene O'Leary. I'm the socio-economic policy analyst with Citizens for Public Justice. Citizens for Public Justice, or CPJ, is a national, faith-based charitable organization that