Human Resources, Labour and Employment
December 14, 2009
First Progress Report Shows
Significant Results in Province�s Fight Against Poverty
Newfoundland and Labrador has realized significant
improvement in the overall level of poverty since 2003.
In fact, Newfoundland and Labrador has moved from being
a province with one of the highest levels of poverty in
Canada to the province with the third lowest level.
Today, the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human
Resources, Labour and Employment and lead Minister for
the Poverty Reduction Strategy, released Empowering
People - Engaging Community - Enabling Success: First
Progress Report on the Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador�s Poverty Reduction Strategy. This document
demonstrates that through the Poverty Reduction
Strategy, the Williams Government is meeting its
commitment to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Minister Sullivan officially released the Poverty
Reduction Strategy Progress Report today at an event
hosted by Penelope Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of the
Community Services Council, at the Buckmaster Community
Centre in St. John�s. Joining Minister Sullivan was John
Rook, Chair of the National Council on Welfare, an
advisory body on matters of concern to low-income
Canadians.
�Reducing poverty restores the balance of opportunity
for all,� said Minister Sullivan. �I am very pleased to
release our first progress report on the achievements
made through the Poverty Reduction Strategy to improve
the quality of life and social inclusion of individuals
and families living in or vulnerable to poverty in our
province. Through the progress report, it is evident
that Newfoundland and Labrador is well along in its
journey toward being the province with the lowest
poverty rates in Canada by 2014.�
The progress report demonstrates that by all available
measures of low income, Newfoundland and Labrador has
realized significant improvement in the overall level of
poverty since 2003.
According to Statistics Canada�s Low Income Cut-Off (LICO)
� the most commonly used measure of low income in Canada
� Newfoundland and Labrador shows significant
improvement in the incidence, depth and persistence of
poverty:
- The incidence of low-income decreased from 12.2
per cent in 2003 (63,000 persons) to 6.5 per cent in
2007 (33,000 persons); a decrease of 30,000 people
over this time period. Newfoundland and Labrador has
the third lowest level per capita in the country of
persons living with low incomes.
- The depth of poverty, or the average low-income
gap (i.e. the average amount low income people fall
below the LICO) decreased from $5,500 in 2003 to
$4,900 in 2007 and is now the lowest in the country.
- The Income Support caseload has decreased
substantially from 36,700 in 2003 to 31,323 in 2008.
Over 4,000 Income Support clients started employment
between 2006 and 2008.
�The vision and commitment of Newfoundland and
Labrador to combating poverty in a comprehensive,
holistic fashion has been nothing less than
inspirational,� said Mr. Rook. �If every province and
territory sought to match or exceed what Newfoundland
and Labrador has already done and intends to do, there
would be that much more reason for confidence that
poverty can be drastically reduced and eventually
eliminated in Canada.�
�Every Newfoundlander and Labradorian should be
extremely proud of this accomplishment,� said Minister
Sullivan. �While more work remains to be done, I am
confident that the measures put in place through the
strategy and noted throughout this progress report
represent a solid foundation upon which to build further
momentum and success. By continuing to work together,
government and the community will improve access to
services, strengthen our social safety net, improve
earned incomes, and provide for a better educated
population. I am fully confident that we will achieve
our shared vision of being the province with the lowest
level of poverty by 2014.�
The provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy originated
from a 2003 Blueprint commitment. It was formally
launched in 2006 with an investment of $32 million in
support of 20 initiatives. Today the Poverty Reduction
Strategy is comprised of over 80 initiatives with an
investment this fiscal year of over $132 million.
Empowering People - Engaging Community - Enabling
Success: First Progress Report on the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador�s Poverty Reduction Strategy
can be accessed at
www.hrle.gov.nl.ca/hrle/publications/poverty/PRSProgessReport.pdf
To request a print copy, please email
povertyreduction@gov.nl.ca or call 1-866-883-6600.
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Media contacts:
Jennifer Collingwood
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment
709-729-0753, 690-2498
jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca |
John Rook
Chair, National Council on Welfare
613-957-2961
|
BACKGROUNDER
Highlights of the Poverty Reduction Strategy between
2006 and 2009
-
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 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;
-
Committed to increase the minimum
wage to $10 per hour by July 2010;
-
Increased labour market
participation for persons with disabilities;
-
Enhanced employment incentives by
expanding the period of time to 30 days that income
support clients can receive benefits while
transitioning 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;
-
Provided free text books for all
students from K-12;
-
Increased the instructional grant
provided to schools, thereby eliminating school
fees;
-
Lowered the rental rate for
Newfoundland Labrador Housing tenants with
employment earnings and for those aged 55 and older;
-
Implemented an Affordable Housing
Program for both seniors and persons with
disabilities;
-
Increased funding for the Kids Eat
Smart Foundation to expand the initiative to more
schools;
-
Published a Guide to Provincial
Government Programs and Services for Individuals and
Families;
-
Provided a Job Start benefit of $125
for single people and $250 for families to assist
with making the transition from Income Support to
employment;
-
Established a Supportive Living
Community Partnership Program;
-
Established a provincial
homelessness fund; and,
-
Expanded the Adult Basic Education
Program.
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