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On February 10, the City of Ottawa officially adopted a municipal poverty reduction strategy, Poverty affects us all: A community approach to poverty reduction. The plan’s vision is that all residents in Ottawa will be able to live in health and dignity.

The development of Ottawa’s poverty reduction strategy follows the implementation of plans in several other municipalities across Canada. Seven out of 10 provinces, including Ontario and Manitoba, also have strategies in various stages of implementation. But the federal government has yet to develop a national poverty reduction plan for Canada.

The first goal of the Dignity for All Campaign is the development of a comprehensive federal strategy to eliminate poverty and social exclusion in Canada, in complement with regional and local initiatives. 2009 saw some progress in this area, including a House of Commons committee study, a unanimous motion in the House of Commons calling for the development of a national plan, as well as a report from a Senate committee recommending immediate federal action on poverty.

Action, however, has remained firmly in the domain of provinces and municipalities.

Poverty affects us all:

Formal consultations to develop a municipal plan to address poverty in Ottawa began in the late 1990s. This led to the development of several community initiatives over the next decade, and eventually the creation of the Ottawa Poverty Reduction Network in 2008. In anticipation of the release of Ontario’s provincial poverty reduction strategy, the Poverty Reduction Network approached City Council about developing a municipal plan. Council approved the development of a plan to be ready by 2010.

In early 2009, a steering committee was formed to develop the strategy. Composed of councillors, city employees, local business people and social justice advocates, the committee continued consultations and presented a draft to the Ottawa Community and Protective Services Committee in January 2010. It was approved, and then adopted by City Council on February 10.

The vision for a city where everyone can live in health and dignity is reflected in the 16 recommendations under three main strategies: a system to benefit people in need, building a community of inclusion, and breaking down myths about poverty and promoting poverty reduction. More specifically the recommendations include expanding support for people with disabilities (1), increasing investments in homeless prevention (9), and public education about poverty in order to promote local action (12).

The two most robust recommendations, 14 and 15, were also the ones that raised the most controversy within City Council. In response to concerns about the adequacy of minimum wages, recommendation 14 calls for the development of policy options for the adoption of a living wage in Ottawa – informed largely by the work of ACORN Ottawa (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). Recommendation 15 calls for exploring the investment savings from the upload of provincial social assistance funds into poverty reduction and social infrastructure.

Most of the opposition came out of concerns about jurisdiction. Provincial governments are responsible for regulating minimum wage levels and social assistance programs. However, promoting a good quality of life at the local level through services and paying employees just wages falls to municipalities.

Municipalities and fighting poverty:

The participation and leadership of municipalities in addressing poverty is crucial. Poverty and social exclusion are most visible at the local level, and certain services, such as transportation and recreation, are in the domain of municipal governments.

Jurisdictional issues can serve as a barrier, especially if certain tasks are viewed as provincial responsibilities. However, why should municipalities have to wait for the provinces to improve the quality of life at the local level? Local governments have the opportunity to set an example for positive change for provincial authorities and the federal government. As argued in Ottawa’s plan, “The community coming together to find local solutions based on collaboration, cooperation and opportunities for partnerships is the most effective way to create change at the local level.”

Municipal governments can also provide insights into the specific circumstances and challenges of a particular city, such as the cost of living. And, as in Ottawa’s case, local and grassroots organizations are instrumental in the consultation process and development of the poverty reduction strategy.

Several other municipalities across Canada have implemented poverty reduction strategies. Many were developed through Vibrant Communities, a movement working in municipalities across the country, encouraging community leadership in poverty reduction. From Victoria to St. John’s, and many in between, the various poverty reduction strategies are calling for an end to poverty and social exclusion.

Other municipalities, including Hamilton and Kingston, like Ottawa, have implemented independent poverty reduction strategies.

Still others have developed strategies targeting one or two specific aspects of poverty, such as Calgary’s campaign to end homelessness.

The federal government:

Municipalities cannot accomplish their goals on their own. Provincial plans offer useful frameworks and supports, but are not enough. The federal role is essential for maintaining national standards in terms of the well-being of all Canadians.

There are many specific ways the federal government can support provinces and municipalities in these initiatives. Through legislation the federal government can work to ensure action is taken on poverty, through an anti-poverty act (the second goal of Dignity for All), using directed taxation to fund specific services, the distribution of funds to the provinces and municipalities and by setting national standards.

Public justice calls for governments to ensure that policies promote equality and access to necessities for all people, including those living in poverty in our communities. Many municipalities and provinces are taking action in the fight against poverty at the local level, but they cannot do it alone.

It is time for the federal government to step up and play its role in promoting dignity for all Canadians.

* Originally published on March 15, 2010 on www.cpj.ca.