CPJ at the Liberal Social Justice Caucus

On Monday, May 11, CPJ executive director Joe Gunn, and I, along with Rob Rainer (Canada Without Poverty), Laurel Rothman (Campaign 2000) and Dennis Howlett (Make Poverty History), met with members of the Liberal Social Justice Caucus for an engaging conversation about how a Liberal government could address poverty in Canada.

The meeting was set up as a “Mock Cabinet” meeting, and we explored the nature of a potential plan to address poverty in Canada. In a demonstration of collaboration, the NGOs represented argued for a comprehensive, integrated strategy – rather than a few, discreet measures. We made the case for federal anti-poverty legislation that would enshrine government commitment in law. We identified key policy areas – such as EI, the child tax benefit, and housing – that would need to be addressed in a strategy, as well as a few areas that would likely deliver the “biggest bang for the buck,” namely childcare, training, and pharmacare. We also emphasized the need for: intergovernmental and cross-ministerial collaboration, a reshaping of the debate around taxes and public services, an understanding of poverty as a human rights issue.

The discussion of how to frame the issue focused on whether measures should be about poverty at all. That is to say, are we talking about a poverty reduction strategy, or a plan to build a better Canada? While we all agreed that everyone benefits when measures are put in place to meet the needs of those living in poverty, perspectives varied on whether naming poverty was (1) the right thing to do, or (2) politically advantageous.

In closing, MPs offered us assurances that the Liberal party is giving serious consideration to how best to address poverty and related social development issues. They suggested that we could anticipate seeing our concerns about poverty reflected in the Liberal election platform (expected in June). They also referenced initiatives currently underway in the Senate to better understand poverty and homelessness.

The Social Justice Caucus is an informal grouping of Liberal parliamentarians convened by MP Anita Neville.

The May 11 discussion involved MPs Larry Bagnell, Ken Dryden, Maria Minna, Kirsty Duncan, Carolyn Bennett, Judy Sgro, Navdeep Bains, Frank Valeriote and Senator Art Eggleton.