A Clear Path to Opportunity, Self-Reliance and a
Prosperous Future
– Budget 2011 Stands Strong Against Poverty
The Provincial Government is continuing its efforts to prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty with an investment of almost $140 million through Budget 2011. This investment will introduce five new initiatives to the Poverty Reduction Strategy and expand several others, providing new supports and enhancing existing services for the most vulnerable in the province. The initiatives are aimed at achieving four outcomes: improving access to key health services, enhancing housing and community supports, ensuring a better educated population, and enhancing the province’s social safety net.
“Our government has presented a comprehensive series of new initiatives in Budget 2011 to improve the standard of living for people living in low income and provide opportunities for self-reliance,” said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and lead minister for the Poverty Reduction Strategy. “From the time our province became one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to establish a Poverty Reduction Strategy, advocates have praised our approach as a model for other jurisdictions to follow. These investments will create real change in the lives of vulnerable people throughout our province, and will support our reputation as a leader in the fight against poverty.”
Improving Access to Key Health Services
Budget 2011 includes an investment of $1.5 million through the Department of
Health and Community Services to develop an Adult Dental Health Care Program
that will significantly increase access to dental services for people who
are vulnerable to poverty.
The plan will make diagnostic and therapeutic dental services available once every three years to adults aged 18 or over who live in low income or who are in receipt of Income Support. Budget 2009 had already expanded the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Plan to make assistance available to all children aged 13-17 in low income families. This new initiative will make basic dental services available to people living in low income regardless of age.
It is anticipated that the plan will be ready for implementation before the end of this fiscal year, and will involve an annual investment of $6.1 million when fully operational.
Enhancing Housing and Community Supports
The Provincial Government through Budget 2011 is investing approximately
$5 million to enhance housing and community supports.
Through the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, $2.4 million in additional funding will be provided for the Supportive Living Community Partnership Program which brings the total funding available in 2011-12 to $4.8 million. This program provides funding to community-based organizations that help people who are vulnerable to homelessness. The funding is used to help develop housing supports for people experiencing multiple barriers and to promote housing stability.
Further initiatives through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) are:
These initiatives support the strategic goals of the Social Housing Plan – Secure Foundations. The annual Provincial Government investment in the strategy for 2011-12 is $17.5 million.
Ensuring a Better Educated Population
The Provincial Government recognizes there is a wide range of complex issues
which can contribute to a young person’s decision to leave school prior to
graduation, and is committed to exploring innovative means by which they can
continue their education, and succeed in life.
Over $1 million is being provided through the Department of Education for the Positive Actions for Students (PASS) program over the next two years. The program is designed to reach out to disengaged and at-risk youth in an effort to help them remain in school and continue their education. This initiative currently provides support for over 250 students in selected schools across the province.
In addition, the Murphy Centre, located in St. John’s, will receive an additional $115,400 annually from the department to enable 25 more individuals to access its academic programs. The centre provides a vital service to more than 500 individuals, providing a high school credit program, Adult Basic Education, and personal and career services.
Furthermore, Budget 2011 provides an additional $225,000 for the Education Incentive Program delivered by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, bringing the total investment to $625,000. The program was introduced to address low school attendance rates by providing a $50 monthly incentive for families with children in Grades 7-12. There are approximately 4,400 families eligible for this funding.
Enhancing Our Social Safety Net
Budget 2011 includes new investments through the Department of Human
Resources, Labour and Employment to enhance the benefits and services within
the Income Support Program. Specifically, these changes are intended to
improve the overall well-being of recipients, promote savings and long-term
money management, and encourage clients to return to work. The new
investments are:
Budget 2011 includes $180,000 from the Department of Finance to harmonize the thresholds of the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit and the National Child Benefit Supplement. It is expected that this initiative will benefit approximately 625 families living with low income.
The Employment Transitions Program will also be expanded to two new locations with $309,600 in new funding from the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. This will bring the total investment in this program to $579,600 in 2011. It provides for single parents to participate in a nine-week program focusing on career planning, job readiness, job maintenance, and life skills.
Additional Initiatives that Complement the Poverty Reduction Strategy
The Provincial Government is also making a number of investments through
Budget 2011 that are complementary to the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Investments through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing are:
Investments through the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment are:
“These new measures have been informed by a combination of research across government departments and input received through our province-wide consultations last fall,” said Minister King. “I am confident they will have a positive and enduring impact, and will put the Provincial Government in an excellent position to launch our next four-year poverty reduction action plan.”
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Media contacts:
Bradley Power Director of Communications Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment 709-729-0753, 699-5707 bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Heather May Director of Communications Department of Education 709-729-0048, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Luke Joyce Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 725-4165 LukeJoyce@gov.nl.ca |
Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 699-6524 JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca |
2011 04 19
2:40 p.m.