Details
- Full Title
- An Act concerning the development of a national poverty reduction strategy in Canada
- First Reading
- February 26, 2016, Parliament 42, Session 1
- Type
- Private Member’s Bill
- Full Content
- https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/42-1/c-245
Summary
Bill C-245, also known as the Poverty Reduction Act, aims to create a national strategy to reduce poverty in Canada. The bill focuses on the development, implementation, and monitoring of this strategy. It seeks to improve the lives of Canadians living in poverty and promote social inclusion.
The bill requires the Minister of Employment and Social Development to develop and implement a poverty reduction strategy. This strategy will be created in consultation with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities, municipal administrations, and civil society organizations. The strategy must take into account all people living in poverty and the reasons why some people are more at risk.
To make sure the strategy is working, the bill also creates the Office of the Poverty Reduction Commissioner. This commissioner will keep an eye on how well the strategy is doing, suggest ways to improve it, and report on the progress made. The commissioner will work with the Parliamentary Budget Officer and Auditor General to help monitor the strategy.
In addition to the poverty reduction strategy, the bill also changes the Canadian Human Rights Act to include "social condition" as a reason people cannot be discriminated against. It also creates a National Council on Poverty Elimination and Social Inclusion to advise the Minister on poverty and social inclusion issues.
Issues
Economy
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Spending
This bill creates the Office of the Poverty Reduction Commissioner. The Commissioner's salary will be equal to that of a Federal Court judge, and they will receive reasonable travel and living expenses. The bill also creates the National Council on Poverty Elimination and Social Inclusion, and members will be paid remuneration fixed by the Governor in Council.
Social Services
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Healthcare
The bill preamble acknowledges that poverty leads to poor health, meaning people living in poverty have more health problems and lower life expectancy than people who are not living in poverty.
Social Justice
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Reconciliation
The bill specifically mentions the need to address the living standards and historical circumstances of Indigenous communities. The poverty reduction strategy must take into account the specific needs of Aboriginal communities. The Minister must consult with Aboriginal communities when developing and implementing the strategy. The bill also recognizes Aboriginal status and history as factors that put some individuals at higher risk of poverty.
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Immigration and Integration
The bill recognizes immigration or refugee status as factors that put some individuals at higher risk of poverty.
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Income Inequality and Poverty
This bill is focused on reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion. It requires the development of a national poverty reduction strategy, the creation of the Office of the Poverty Reduction Commissioner to monitor progress, and the establishment of the National Council on Poverty Elimination and Social Inclusion to advise the Minister. It also adds "social condition" as a prohibited ground of discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
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Gender and Sexuality
The poverty reduction strategy must take into account the different realities of men and women, determined in particular through gender-based analysis.
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Racism
The bill recognizes discrimination and racism as factors that put some individuals at higher risk of poverty.