Vote to end poverty!

Update! With a provincial election happening on November 7, Poverty Free Saskatchewan has posted responses from a questionnaire it sent to the province's parties asking about their plans to address poverty.

With seven provincial/territorial elections underway this fall (SK, MB, ON, NL, PEI, YK, NWT), Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada is encouraging political parties, candidates, and Canadians everywhere to make the reduction and eradication of poverty a key election issue. Dignity for All is adding our voice to the efforts of provincial/territorial campaigns, such as Ontario’s 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction’s Call to Action on Poverty in Ontario.

Three of the provinces with elections currently underway - Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland – already have poverty reduction strategies in place, but the parties need to outline their specific plans for building on these commitments. PEI, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories do not have poverty reduction strategies, but are in the process of consulting with communities and organizations as to what would be needed in such a plan. Please let your local candidates know that you want to make poverty eradication a priority!

So how do the provincial election platforms stack up? We’ve pulled together the following platform comparisons so you can see how the political parties currently vying for your vote plan to address poverty:

Ontario: Our friends at Campaign 2000 have developed a “political commitments grid” that evaluates Ontario’s four major political parties’ plans on poverty reduction and eradication.

Manitoba: Make Poverty History Manitoba has launched their Vote to Make Poverty History campaign which outlines how you can put poverty on the election agenda. Also check out Canadian CED Network Manitoba's 2011 Provincial Election Resource Page which includes responses from the party leaders outlining their stance on poverty reduction strategies.

Northwest Territories: YWCA Yellowknife and Alternatives North have created a toolkit for the NWT election taking place on Oct 3rd, and posted responses from candidates about their stance on an anti-poverty strategy.

Prince Edward Island: While not a platform analysis, this op-ed in The Journal Pioneer by Marie Burge and John Gallie highlights how poverty has been largely ignored in the provincial campaign.

Citizens for Public Justice has gathered information from the party platforms for the Newfoundland and Labrador election and the Yukon election and organized the highlighted platform promises into tables covering issues that contribute to a poverty reduction strategy.

Are you aware of any similar election analysis done in your province our territory? Let us know!

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to poverty. Whether Winnipeg or Windsor, Toronto or Tuktoyaktuk, or Montreal or Moncton, poverty looks different across the country, and local knowledge, expertise and resources are required to adequately combat its complexities. If we are going to solve poverty in Canada, meaningful action is required at all levels of government, including municipal, provincial/territorial, and Aboriginal government. But we must be unified. In order to avoid confusion and inefficiency, we need a comprehensive federal plan for poverty elimination that complements provincial and territorial plans by setting clear, measurable standards, and provides coordination, support, and adequate funding from the federal government. Through Dignity for All, you can call on the federal government to do their part as well!