Poverty reduction in Newfoundland and Labrador: An encouraging first report

On December 14, 2009, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador released its first report on the progress of the province’s poverty reduction strategy: Empowering People - Engaging Community - Enabling Success. Just two and a half years after the strategy began the results reveal significant improvement concerning levels of poverty.

Initiated in 2006, the strategy sought to make Newfoundland and Labrador the province with the lowest levels of poverty in Canada by 2014 by addressing various poverty–related issues with an integrated departmental approach. Such concerns included health care (as well as dental care), child benefits, special considerations for people with disabilities, employment opportunities and incentives, education, and affordable housing.

Before this initiative, Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest levels of poverty per capita in Canada. But now the levels have dropped significantly, to the third lowest in the country. One of the highlights included the decrease in low-income rates from 12.2 per cent in 2003 to 6.5 per cent in 2007. In addition, the need for income support also decreased by more than 5000 people from 2003 to 2008.

In a press release Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and the lead minister on the strategy, recognized that the work is not yet done, but has high hopes for Newfoundland and Labrador. “Through the progress report, it is evident that Newfoundland and Labrador is well along in its journey toward being the province with the lowest poverty rates in Canada by 2014.”

Newfoundland and Labrador has set the bar high in Canada regarding provincial poverty reduction strategies.