Editor:
As the current economic crisis developed, many people across Canada were awakened to the reality of instabilities with their finances and pensions. Many are worried about being able to continue their current lifestyles, supporting their children through their education and retiring with security.
While these worries might be new to many Canadians, others live with these worries and many more each day. Canadians living in low income and poverty must continuously worry about their financial security and about supporting their families with basic necessities such as shelter and food.
Yet during this economic downturn, we do not see leadership by the federal or provincial governments to assist those most vulnerable with more financial security and access to the workforce if able. The reality of the situation remains stark as people living in poverty have less money than they had two decades ago and those who are rich are richer than they were two decades ago.
While the problem is and remains evident, the solution is not a one-over. Redirecting taxes or raising wages will not solve the poverty we see on Prince Edward Island. We need the co-operation of all Islanders, businesses and levels of government to work together on a strategy that commits to concrete reductions in the levels of poverty for our province.
Some will argue that we must wait for the economy to become strong again before we address these inequities and disadvantages in our policies. This cannot be the case. The economic downturn will affect people living in poverty and low-income individuals greater and faster than other Canadians. We must not allow economic uncertainty to prevent action on reducing poverty; research shows that by providing training, education and child support now to those living in low-income situations, there will be an economic benefit over time as it lessens the strain on our health and social systems.
Residents of Prince Edward Island need to begin a discussion on how we are finally going to take a united and firm action on reducing poverty in our province, before the strain upon our social fabric and systems becomes unsustainable.
Christina MacLeod,
P.E.I. Poverty Reduction Network
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1 comment:
For my purposes the definition of poverty is fairly straight forward; it is not defined by
numbers (although numbers do have their place). I define poverty as the denial of the legitimate
opportunity to contribute whatever you have to contribute to the economic system and, therefore, the denial
of an equitable share of that system's goods and services. Just because an individual's income is below a
certain level does not make them poor if they have a legitimate opportunity to make their contribution to the
economic system and share in that system's goods and services but choose not to exercise that opportunity.
An individual is poor only when they are denied the opportunity to participate equitably in their economic
system. This denial is never the fault of the individual; it is and always has been the fault of the economic
system itself. We all choose the economic system that we support and, therefore, we all create that system
and the poverty it generates (or not). And I have defined a set of rules of economic engagement that would
eliminate poverty but do not expect these rules ever to be implemented. They can be found in:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/povertyandthefoundationofeconomics
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