Moving forward with poverty reduction in New Brunswick?

New Brunswick became the sixth province to adopt a poverty reduction strategy, Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick economic and social inclusion plan, at the end of 2009. The plan was finalized after a series of meetings with representatives from all over the province and from various sectors, including government, business and the social justice community. The plan was aimed at addressing the circumstances of specific communities, working at the grassroots level, but with overall support from the provincial government.

Now, several months after the plan was introduced by the provincial government and approved in the legislature, groups like the Common Front for Social Justice (CFSJ) are weighing in on the plan, the evidence of action so far, and the needs that are still very evident across the province.

Leading up to the introduction of New Brunswick’s plan, Minister of Social Development Kelly Lamrock on several occasions publicly criticized his own government’s lack of progress with social assistance in the province. So it is not a surprise that social assistance reform is a big part of the plan, as are other concerns like raising the minimum wage, improving access to childcare and introducing a pharmacare program.

But how and when will these changes be implemented? These are the big questions from groups like the CFSJ.

The CFSJ argues (as they have since the plan was launched) that the government handpicked representatives to sit on the committees that developed the plan and will oversee the implementation. And recently the government created a Crown Corporation to monitor much of the plan, which takes away the ability of Members of the Provincial Legislature to make direct critiques to those in charge of the plan. Also, there are concerns that some regions of the province are not represented on the Board that manages the Crown Corporation.

In terms of accomplishments, CFSJ points out that so far the changes made to the social assistance program only benefit about 3% of New Brunswickers receiving payments. Everyone else will have to wait until at least July 2011. In addition, the minimum wage is increasing and there are plans for it to continue going up in the coming years, but it remains the lowest wage in Atlantic Canada, and still well below the Low Income Cut-Offs. Finally, this year’s budget has offered little in terms of childcare, pharmacare and other promised spending.

But it is way too early to give up hope altogether on New Brunswick’s plan. Mr. Lamrock and others involved on the Crown Corporation and the Board that will manage the plan are optimistic and hopeful in the scope of the plan and all the actions that will come. Let us hope they will also take the time to review these critiques from the CFSJ and other organizations and implement change in order to really make an impact in the fight against poverty in New Brunswick.