Executive Council
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
Finance
Health and Community Services
Justice
Transportation and Works
March 26, 2009
Standing Strong in the Fight Against Poverty
The Williams Government continues to stand strong and lead the way in its
fight against poverty by investing $132.2 million in Budget 2009 to help
individuals and families with low incomes. The 18 new significant initiatives
announced today will help realize the provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy�s
commitment of becoming the jurisdiction with the lowest poverty rates in Canada
by 2014.
"Our government made a firm pledge to help support people with low incomes
tackle the social and economic challenges that arise from living in poverty,"
said the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. "The
launch of the provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy in 2006 laid the foundation
needed to achieve our ultimate goal of alleviating, preventing and reducing
poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, we continue to build on that strong
foundation through our commitment to invest in new areas, enhance existing
services and strengthen the community level partnerships that are vital to
meeting this goal."
For residents living in, or vulnerable to, poverty, Budget 2009 supports
measures across four key areas: enabling greater self-reliance, strengthening
access to early childhood development, enhancing integrated supports for those
most vulnerable to poverty, and building social infrastructure and capacity in
communities.
"Through the Poverty Reduction Strategy, this year our government is
establishing a series of new supports to best position those experiencing
poverty to continue to move forward to reach their potential, to participate
fully in their communities, reduce the barriers they face in accessing needed
services, and improve their overall quality of life," said the Honourable Susan
Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.
Enabling Self Reliance
As part of a series of tax measures through the Department of Finance, $16
million is being provided in Budget 2009 to support the Poverty Reduction
Strategy through targeted low-income tax reduction measures. The low-income tax
reduction threshold will be increased from $13,511 to $15,911 for individuals
and from $21,825 to $26,625 for families.
An additional $492,300 is also being allotted through the Poverty Reduction
Strategy to enable greater self-reliance by removing financial disincentives and
barriers that make it difficult for people to work:
$350,000 to lower the rental rate for Newfoundland Labrador Housing
tenants by reducing the rent geared to income calculation from 30 to 25
per cent of household income. For a working family with a net household
income of $1,360 per month, this new calculation will result in a
savings of $68 per month. This initiative is an example of putting money
right back into the pockets of those in need; and,
$142,300 to expand to Labrador the successful Employment Transitions
Program for single parents. This program is designed to help single
parents in receipt of income support find and secure employment.
Improving Access to Early Childhood Development
A key goal of the Poverty Reduction Strategy is to increase emphasis on early
childhood development through improvements to the early learning and child care
system, promotion of healthy child development and the strengthening of early
intervention services and programs.
Budget 2009 contains $3 million in measures to further support these
important objectives:
$1.3 million to increase
subsidy rates for children up to 12 years of age in regulated child care
spaces. This will reduce or eliminate any surcharge over and above the
current subsidy rates to help families access regulated child care
services;
$1.1 million to increase funding to strengthen existing family
resource programs and support the start-up of new programs in Conception
Bay South, Lewisporte and Happy Valley-Goose Bay; and,
Approximately $600,000 to fund early intervention services for
pre-school children at risk of, or who have, a developmental delay or
disability. The funding will support new child management specialists
and clinical positions to address the current waitlist for these
services and improve access for earlier intervention.
Enhancing Integrated Supports for Those Most Vulnerable to Poverty
$11.3 million is provided through Budget 2009 to support a stronger social
safety net by integrating community supports to tackle and prevent homelessness,
enhancing services available through the justice system and enabling women who
have experienced violence to make a successful transition to financial
independence:
$7.5 million to implement a new financial assessment process for home
support. This new process will help eliminate financial inequities when
determining the contribution individuals are required to pay;
$1.2 million to establish a new Iris Kirby transition house in
Carbonear, which will provide short-term residential services as well as
programming for women and children in crisis;
$1.2 million to establish a Supportive Living Community Partnership
Program to support community-based initiatives that enable individuals
with complex needs overcome homelessness;
$1 million annually to support non-profit organizations through the
establishment of a Provincial Homelessness Fund. Administered by
Newfoundland Labrador Housing, this fund will complement the Supportive
Living Community Partnership Program;
$304,000 to support a specialized Family Violence Court, which will
provide support for victims of family violence, intervention for
offenders and increased awareness of the impacts of violence on the
family. Women in violent relationships are often forced to choose
between violence and poverty. Establishing a specialized Family Violence
Court is an important measure by this government to support and protect
women and children who are victims of violence; and,
$94,000 to offer women who are victims of family violence enhanced
employment readiness services. This funding will also allow for
associated staff training.
"These Budget 2009 investments further our aim to prevent, reduce and
alleviate poverty and speak to the importance this government places on making
improvements to programs and services to help vulnerable individuals and
families in low income," said Minister Sullivan. "Improving access, integrating
supports and building strong communities are critical to our success."
Building Social Infrastructure and Capacity in Communities
Budget 2009 contains an additional $13.1 million to focus on building social
infrastructure and capacity at the community level targeted at social housing
and support for youth at risk of poverty.
Highlights include:
An additional $440,000 is being invested this year in the Community
Youth Network (CYN), which includes expansion to Baie Verte Peninsula,
Bay of Islands and Bay of Exploits areas of the province and increase
core funding for all existing sites. The CYN offers young people at risk
of poverty access to constructive programs and services in the areas of
academic support, employment, wellness, social, and recreational
activities;
As previously committed, this year operating grants for each of the
eight women's centers in the province will be further increased from
$105,000 to $110,250 for a total of $882,000 on an annual basis;
$5.6 million for renovations and energy retrofits for social housing
as part of a modernization and improvement program � upgrading for
windows, siding, doors and roofs;
$3 million for social housing units for low-income seniors;
$2.65 million for a new, affordable housing program to provide
funding to both private and non-profit housing groups to assist them in
constructing suitable housing for those with low incomes;
$1 million to fund the engineering design and site preparation for
new, smaller social housing units to meet the demands of 80 per cent of
applicants who require one or two bedroom accommodations. Currently, 80
per cent of units have three or more bedrooms; and,
Increased financial support of $400,000 annually for the eight
existing community centres operating throughout the province. This
increases the total annual commitment to $150,000 per community centre.
The community centres provide Newfoundland Labrador Housing tenants with
opportunities to engage in social, educational, recreational, employment
and career development, and health and wellness programs.
The social housing initiatives listed above are administered by Newfoundland
Labrador Housing, as directed by the provincial social housing strategy - A
Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Throughout Canada, leading poverty reduction groups and organizations have
recognized the leadership shown by Newfoundland and Labrador in taking a
long-term, comprehensive approach to addressing poverty," said Premier Williams.
"Budget 2009 builds on a strong foundation and sets a strong course forward to a
future where everyone can realize the promise of prosperity and have the tools
to participate in growing the province."
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Media contacts:
Elizabeth
Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
|
Roger
Scaplen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
709-729-4304, 727-0991
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
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Jennifer
Collingwood
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 690-2498
jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca
|
Erin Molloy
Communications Specialist
Women�s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-7938
erinmolloy@gov.nl.ca |
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Finance
709-729-6830, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
|
Ronalda
Walsh
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
ronaldawalsh@gov.nl.ca
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Ken
Morrissey
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 685-6612
kenmorrissey@gov.nl.ca
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David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca |
Jenny
Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca |
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BACKGROUNDER
Highlights of Accomplishments Realized by Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2006-08
Provided adults with disabilities living with family the same board
and lodging supplement as those living with non-relatives;
Expanded eligibility for the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription
Drug Program to include low income residents with the addition of the
Access Plan (eligible prescription medications) and the Assurance Plan
(protection against the financial burden of eligible high cost drugs);
Increased access to the Special Child Welfare Allowance Program to
help families offset some of the associated costs they incur at home
when looking after a child with a developmental and/or physical
disability;
Expanded the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Plan to enable 13-17
year olds in low-income families to receive the same coverage as
children and youth in families that receive income support;
Increased outreach supports for youth addiction, prevention and early
intervention services;
Increased labour market participation for persons with disabilities;
Expanded to 30 days the period prescribed for exemption and overlap
of benefits as an incentive provided to income support clients who go to
work;
Enhanced benefits for income support clients for health services such
as eye exams, eyeglasses, dentures, and the special diet allowance;
Expanded to more areas of the province and increased the overall
level of support for the Community Youth Network;
Raised basic income support rates by five per cent;
Beginning in 2007, indexed income support rates to the Consumer Price
Index for a test period of six years;
Provided free text books for all students from K-12; and,
Increased the instructional grant provided to schools to cover
prescribed materials by eliminating fees.
2009 03 26 2:15 p.m.
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