Federal Poverty
Reduction Plan

Time Period

2005-Present

Jurisdictional Focus

Canada

Key Players:

Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities: Candice Hoeppner (Chair), Raymond Folco (Vice-Chair), Yves Lessard (Vice-Chair), Josée Beaudin, Rick Casson, Ed Komarnicki, Tony Martin, Maria Minna, Michael John Savage, Maurice Vellacott, Jeff Watson, Alice Wong, Georges Etoka (Clerk)

Other Participants: Dean Allison, France Bonsant, Gordon Brown, Dona Cadman, Ron Cannan, Rodger Cuzner, Ruby Dhalla, Jacques Gourde, Mike Lake, Ben Lobb, Judy Sgro, Lynne Yelich

Relevant Report(s) Produced:

Federal Poverty Reduction Plan: Working in Partnership Towards Reducing Poverty in Canada (2010)
NOTE: This reproduction is a copy of an official work published by the Government of Canada, and has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of, the Government of Canada.

Initiative Summary:

In February, 2008, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities heeded calls from anti-poverty organizations and social policy advocates and began to explore the role of the federal government in reducing poverty in Canada. During the early stages of this exploration, it became clear that nationwide poverty reduction would involve a high degree of collaboration between the federal government and other organizations and levels of government.

After thorough research and consultation with key stakeholders, including Canadians with first-hand experience of poverty, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities developed a framework and clear recommendations upon which a full-scale Federal Poverty Reduction Plan could be built.

While it does not focus specifically on the coordination of disability income supports, the Federal Poverty Reduction Plan does call for the introduction of a consistent definition of “disability” across programs, as well as improved coordination of the different poverty alleviation efforts taking place across the country and improved interactions between provincial social assistance and federal benefits.