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It has now been over two and half years since Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada was launched at the Canadian Social Forum in Calgary. In that time, the campaign has grown significantly in both recognition and the number of supporters. Dignity for All now has 555 organizational endorsers and over 8,960 individual supporters. Prior to the May 2 election, 91 Members of Parliament had endorsed the campaign, along with 22 Senators. However, the large turnover reduced MP endorsements to 56; in the interceding months, this number has grown to 65.

Looking back on the year, Dignity for All has been present at many meetings, rallies, discussions, and events, but the following stand out as key moments for the campaign:

1. Dignity for All organized public support for the Federal Poverty Reduction Plan report by the parliamentary Human Resources Committee. This included issuing a media release and publishing articles on the report, encouraging member organizations to write the Minister for Human Resources asking her to adopt the recommendations in the report, and sending out an e-action asking supporters to send their own message to the Minister (over 2000 people responded). Dignity for All followed up this action by meeting with senior officials in Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and issued a reaction to the response from the Government to the Report.

2. Dignity for All’s Inaugural Policy Summit was held March 3-4. With 35 participants on the first day representing 21 organizations, and 37 the next representing 23 organizations the second day, the event was a great success. Discussions revolved around developing recommendations on housing, and Early Childhood Education and Care. Presentations by experts in the field were followed by question and answer periods, and group discussions of the recommendations that had been drafted in advance.

3. Dignity for All was proud to co-sponsor the March 7 event, Who’s in the Middle? a discussion on what faith communities and politicians are saying and doing about poverty in Canada. Mardi Tindal, Moderator of the United Church of Canada, presided over the evening which included presentations from Pastor Greg Paul, Sen. Art Eggleton, MP Tony Martin, MP Mike Savage and CPJ’s Joe Gunn. With over 125 people in attendance, including several MPs, the event was standing room only.

Dignity for All was also present March 8 at the Interfaith Forum on Faith and Poverty, which brought leaders of various faith traditions together with MPs from all four federal parties to discuss the HUMA report and poverty in Canada.  The meeting of faith leaders culminated in the issuing of an interfaith declaration (drafted, in part, by CPJ) on federal action on poverty titled, ‘A Time for Inspired Leadership and Action.’

4. In preparation for the May 2, 2011 election, Dignity for All was present at an all-party candidates debate on poverty issues in the swing riding of Surrey North, in Surrey, British Columbia. Organized by campaign co-lead Canada Without Poverty and the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, the debate offered discussion among the candidates on two campaign goals that are key federal issues – support for Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada, and the need for a federal poverty strategy.

5. In August, Citizens for Public Justice released an ecumenical resource on poverty in Canada, Living Justice: A Gospel Response to Poverty. Intended to engage and animate Christian faith communities around poverty issues, Living Justice contains reflections, prayers, discussion questions and activities that examine the reality of poverty in Canada and offers concrete suggestions for meaningful action, including joining the efforts of Dignity for All.

6. Canada Without Poverty partnered with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women, the Calgary Centre for Culture, Equity and Diversity and Toronto-based Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change on a survey examining perspectives of poverty within ethno-cultural communities in Canada. The ensuing report, Ethno-Cultural Communities and Poverty Key Findings From a Survey, was released in November and affirmed that poverty is indeed an issue relevant to ethno-cultural communities. A follow-up forum with 20 organizations that work with ethno-cultural communities was held in Calgary to further examine the report results. Discussion on poverty strategies and advocacy confirmed the willingness of participants to mobilize around Dignity for All and support campaign activities in Alberta.

7. In preparation for the Council of the Federation meeting of the Premiers in Vancouver this past July, Dignity for All encouraged the hosting Premier, Christy Clark, to put poverty issues on the agenda. The campaign wrote an Op-Ed piece for the Toronto Star, and a letter to Premier Clark suggesting this is a time for premiers to share best practices in light of the fact that six provinces currently have a poverty strategy in place.

In 2012 the campaign will remain focused on promoting public policy solutions to poverty and will kick off the year with the re-scheduled event, “What's Next? How do we Address Poverty in Canada?” a panel discussion on Parliament Hill to discuss ways to take action against poverty. A second policy summit looking at income security will be organized for the spring, and action around the Canada Health Transfer and Canada Social Transfer will be taken in recognition that these two funding streams are integral to addressing poverty at the provincial/territorial levels.

The Campaign Committee and Management Team are grateful for all of the support received from various individuals, organizations, and unions and look forward to renewed engagement in the new year.