ÿWPC5 ‰2Y¾Þ¼yø@øÍÕž;FlT,—&¢§døI-’€G!úìöó i«1.ˆ~ŽR9ªŽÊ¸ù£üfºÇÕ ™B mDfŠ( T˜âÞƒË?øÜèñÍ'>@jùGÓÞ¸š‚Ö¢ç³1º–Ÿ5(9»ÂczNÜ[7ŸF¦‡b–©­³° å´*6w%{'|'¸˜1>¾Ž H ·pº‘Ë@v™dæŽrXêrìUÑ_»„ìõåȱñÄ÷*°8Ï8œžr8F&2x¨îkȨJÄu¶ÐwY²- )„6ûˆ¯y668Ï ú–gXD܇”96OÔÝ@Ã@ªLmÖÏo¯?)’±·ƒ­!úÆ‹Oq>C7Àâ:pBAõ¶FEFa†RªÖÙ×ÐœÌ¹ŠÆgxÍ,ÍÇÎËÜ®\Ù•ø{ã`Ü-5ÿ{}J–¶N*<°ŠÚc=œ‹š†’7S¹.¨cÍ~Ç"’þà|zõÍCj݇è§Ëîô`5FŸfiæª)¢^­º°Ì×fÌøàß…Ü{K•>|‘uså:åZÁwPã$±Bá’‘¸)y.lj™û¹Ó§A#½¯ÖC=^âlôD-¯b,âøQ ÙÕ%¥Ã‰§&ú TÞ„(ó®o #ÁšUN[ %© 0:¯^ éwõ4ù  m˜Brother MFC-6000,,TT,,0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,ÔêmE9 g3tFeat3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔElection€2008:€Poverty€is€an€issueÐ ° ÐReproduced€from€Canadians€For€Public€Ô_ÔJusticeððsÔ_Ô€electronic€newsletter,€article€found€atÐ œì Ðhttp://Ô_Ôcpj.caÔ_Ô/Ô_ÔotherworkÔ_Ô/Ô_ÔCanadian_ElectionsÔ_Ô/Ô_Ôindex.html?apÔ_Ô=1&x=121774Ð ˆØ ÐOne€in€ten€Canadians€ð!ð€more€than€3.3€million€people€ð!ð€live€in€poverty.€Four€million€Canadians€areÐ tÄ Ðalso€in€need€of€affordable€housing.€Almost€two€million€Canadians€are€unemployed,€but€less€thanÐ `° Ðhalf€of€them€have€access€to€EI.€There€are€real€people€behind€these€statistics.€They€are€ourÐ L œ Ðneighbours,€our€childrenððs€classmates,€and€sometimes,€members€of€our€own€families.Ð 8 ˆ ÐThere€are€many€among€us€that€see€the€face€and€share€the€lived€experience€of€poverty€every€day.Ð $ t ÐCitizens€for€Public€Justice€was€among€the€over€35€organizations€convened€by€the€CanadianÐ  ` ÐCouncil€on€Social€Development€(Ô_ÔCCSDÔ_Ô)€on€Saturday€to€share€inspiration€about€efforts€to€addressÐ ü L  Ðpoverty€taking€place€throughout€the€country.€Representatives€of€local€food€banks€and€refugeeÐ è 8  Ðorganizations,€provincial€anti-poverty€networks,€national€coalitions€against€child€poverty€andÐ Ô$  Ðglobal€human€rights€organizations€came€together€from€Canada.€The€consensus:€poverty€is€a€hugeÐ À  Ðissue€and€needs€to€be€addressed€with€a€federal€poverty€reduction€strategy.€It€was€humbling€andÐ ¬ü  Ðinspiring€to€be€a€part€of€this€diverse€group;€it€is€also€tremendously€encouraging€to€see€that,Ð ˜è  Ðtogether,€we€are€starting€to€be€heard.Ð „Ô  ÐThough€not€at€the€top€of€their€election€priority€list,€four€of€the€five€major€political€parties€haveÐ pÀ Ðpledged€to€address€poverty€in€Canada€in€their€election€platform.€Both€the€Liberal€Party€and€theÐ \¬ ÐNew€Democratic€Party€have€gone€so€far€as€to€outline€plans€for€a€poverty€reduction€strategy.€TheÐ H˜ ÐLiberals,€Ô_ÔNDPÔ_Ô,€the€Green€Party€and€the€Bloc€Ô_ÔQubcoisÔ_Ô€have€also€proposed€measures€to€addressÐ 4„ Ðhousing€and€homelessness.€Each€of€the€parties€has€identified€additional€measures€to€addressÐ  p Ðpoverty.Ð  \ ÐÌ€€€€*Ð ä4 ÐÌ€€€€€€The€Liberals€have€proposed€the€ð ð30-50€Plan€to€Fight€Poverty.ðð€The€proposal€aims€to€reduceÐ ¼  Ðthe€number€of€people€living€below€the€poverty€line€by€at€least€30€percent,€and€reduce€the€numberÐ ¨ø Ðof€children€living€in€poverty€by€at€least€50€percent€over€the€course€of€a€five-year€term€in€office,Ð ”ä Ðthrough€a€series€of€tax€benefits€and€credits.Ð €Ð ÐÌ€€€€€€In€the€area€of€housing,€the€Liberals€have€said€they€will€help€to€provide€for€the€creation€ofÐ X ¨ Ð30,000€new€social€housing€units,€and€the€refurbishing€of€another€30,000€existing€units€to€makeÐ D!” Ðthem€more€livable.€They€have€also€indicated€their€commitment€to€the€Residential€RehabilitationÐ 0"€  ÐProgram€and€the€Homelessness€Partnering€Initiative,€recently€renewed€by€the€ConservativeÐ #l! Ðgovernment.Ð $X" ÐÌ€€€€€€Finally,€they€have€proposed€changes€to€Employment€Insurance,€ð ðto€be€made€permanent€byÐ à%0!$ Ðlegislationðð€aimed€at€improving€benefit€levels€and€expanding€benefit€Ô_ÔtimelinesÔ_Ô€inÐ Ì&"% Ðhigh-unemployment€areas.Ð ¸'#& Ѐ€€€*Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ€€€€€€The€Ô_ÔNDPÔ_Ô€platform,€in€turn,€proposes€ð ða€Poverty€Elimination€Act€to€eliminate€poverty€inÐ |*Ì%) ÐCanada€by€the€year€2020,ðð€including€targets,€reporting€and€accountability€measures.€ð ðInitialÐ h+¸&* Ðtargets€will€include€reducing€child€poverty€by€more€than€50€percent€and€the€overall€poverty€rate€byÐ T,¤'+ Ðmore€than€35€percent€in€the€first€five€years.ððÐ @-(, Ї€€€€€€They€also€propose€the€implementation€of€a€ð ðcomprehensive€and€fully-funded€affordableÐ ° Ðhousing€strategy€that€meets€Canadaððs€international€obligations,€as€set€out€by€the€United€NationsððÐ œì Ðwith€a€10-year€goal€of€allocating€one€percent€of€federal€spending€for€affordable€housing.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ€€€€€€The€Ô_ÔNDPÔ_Ô€plan€for€employment€insurance€would,€among€other€things,€increase€the€proportionÐ `° Ðof€unemployed€Canadians€who€are€covered€by€Employment€Insurance€to€80€percent.€The€Ô_ÔNDPÔ_ÔÐ L œ Ðalso€pledges€to€re-establish€the€national€minimum€wage€and€set€it€immediately€at€$10€per€hour;Ð 8 ˆ Ðrestore€a€uniform€22.12%€corporate€tax€rate;€establish€a€national€Ô_ÔpharmacareÔ_Ô€program;€and€makeÐ $ t Ðsubstantial€investments€in€affordable€and€accessible€child€care.Ð  ` Ѐ€€€*Ð ü L  ÐÌ€€€€€€The€Green€Party€has€taken€a€different€approach,€proposing€a€serious€discussion€on€theÐ Ô$  Ðpotential€of€a€negative€income€tax,€or€a€Guaranteed€Livable€Income€(Ô_ÔGLIÔ_Ô)€for€all.€They€believeÐ À  Ðthat€poverty€could€be€eliminated€by€providing€ð ða€regular€annual€payment€to€every€CanadianÐ ¬ü  Ðwithout€regard€to€a€needs-€test.ðð€In€order€to€address€child€poverty€specifically,€the€GreensÐ ˜è  Ðpropose€ð ða€comprehensive€plan€to€improve€our€social€safety€network,ðð€Ô_ÔmodeledÔ_Ô€on€successfullyÐ „Ô  Ðimplemented€European€programs.Ð pÀ ÐÌ€€€€€€The€Greens€have€also€proposed€the€creation€of€a€National€Affordable€Housing€Program€thatÐ H˜ Ðprovides€sufficient€funds€annually€through€the€Canadian€Mortgage€and€Housing€CorporationÐ 4„ Ð(Ô_ÔCMHCÔ_Ô)€to€community-based€agencies€across€Canada€to€build€20,000€new€subsidized€affordableÐ  p Ðhomes€and€10,000€rehabilitated€affordable€units€per€year€for€the€next€ten€years€using€capital€grantsÐ  \ Ðand€changes€in€tax€and€mortgage€insurance€regulations.Ð øH ÐÌ€€€€€€Additional€proposals€outlined€by€the€Green€Party€include€the€elimination€of€income€tax€forÐ Ð  Ðthose€earning€$20,000€or€less,€and€universal€access€to€quality€childcare€and€early€childhoodÐ ¼  Ðeducation.Ð ¨ø Ѐ€€€*Ð ”ä ÐÌ€€€€€€The€central€piece€of€the€Blocððs€poverty-related€measures€is€support€for€coherent€socialÐ l¼ Ðpolicies€which€include€a€National€Strategy€Against€Homelessness,€as€well€as€stable,€long-termÐ X ¨ Ðfunding€for€communities€organizations.€The€Bloc€has€also€proposed€an€independent€commissionÐ D!” Ðon€Employment€Insurance€to€oversee€an€expanded€EI€program,€that,€among€other€things,€wouldÐ 0"€  Ðexempt€temporary€foreign€workers.Ð #l! ÐÌNotably€absent€among€the€policies€proposed€to€address€poverty€in€Canada€is€the€ConservativeÐ ô$D # ÐParty.€Health€care,€child€care,€and€crime€are€all€identified€as€ð ðkey€issuesðð,€but€they€make€noÐ à%0!$ Ðmention€of€poverty€in€any€of€their€election€material€released€to€date.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌAs€Christians€we€are€called€to€practice€justice€and€compassion,€and€as€Canadians€we€have€beenÐ ¤(ô#' Ðblessed€with€a€level€of€prosperity€that€could€easily€be€shared€by€all.€Ô_ÔCPJÔ_Ô€has€called€for€the€federalÐ )à$( Ðgovernmentððs€commitment€to€designing€and€implementing€a€federal€poverty€reduction€strategy,Ð |*Ì%) Ðbased€on€consultations€with€citizens.€We€believe€that€the€federal€government€has€the€responsibilityÐ h+¸&* Ðto€protect€the€rights€of€their€citizens€and€promote€the€well-being€of€communities€by€investing€inÐ T,¤'+ Ðaffordable€housing€and€providing€the€necessary€funding€and€infrastructures.€Ô_ÔCPJÔ_Ô€also€believes€thatÐ @-(, ÐCanada€should€implement€an€income€security€program€for€all€Canadians.Ð ° ÐÌWe€are€encouraged€to€see€that€a€number€of€the€strategies€proposed€by€the€Liberals,€Ô_ÔNDPÔ_Ô,€andÐ ˆØ ÐGreen€Party€reflect€the€ideas€put€forward€in€Ô_ÔCPJÔ_Ô€recommendations.€Of€course,€the€policies€thatÐ tÄ Ðultimately€get€implemented€depend€on€the€outcome€of€the€October€14€federal€election.Ð `° ÐÌAs€engaged€citizens,€it€is€important€that€we€all€do€our€best€to€get€informed,€to€go€beyond€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðsound-bites.€Candidate€debates€are€currently€taking€place€in€communities€across€the€country.€TheÐ $ t Ðtelevised€Leadersðð€Debates€are€also€taking€place€this€week.€We€encourage€you€to€attend€yourÐ  ` Ðlocal€debate,€ask€the€candidates€to€share€their€vision€for€Canada,€and€to€remind€them€that€povertyÐ ü L  Ðis€an€issue.Ð è 8  ÐÌÔ_ÔCPJÔ_Ô€is€a€member€of€the€core€organizing€committee€that€has€mobilized€over€25€national€and€localÐ À  Ðsocial€justice€organizations€in€support€of€a€Five-Party€Debate€on€Poverty€and€Inequality.€TheÐ ¬ü  Ðdebate€will€take€place€on€Monday,€October€6€from€7:00€to€9:00€pm€at€Dominion€Ô_ÔChalmersÔ_Ô€UnitedÐ ˜è  ÐChurch€in€Ottawa€(on€Cooper€at€OððConnor).€Representatives€of€Canadaððs€five€major€politicalÐ „Ô  Ðparties€ð!ð€the€Conservatives,€the€Liberals,€the€Ô_ÔNDPÔ_Ô,€the€Bloc,€and€the€Green€Party€ð!ð€have€beenÐ pÀ Ðinvited.Ð \¬ ÐÌQuestions€for€candidates:Ð 4„ ÐÌ€€€€*€Do€you€support€adopting€a€federal€strategy€to€end€poverty€in€Canada€that€commits€theÐ  \ Ðgovernment€to€achieving€a€specific,€measurable€target€for€poverty€reduction€supported€by€aÐ øH Ðbudget€and€mechanisms€of€accountability?Ð ä4 Ѐ€€€*€What€actions€will€your€party€take€to€ensure€a€living€wage€for€all€workers€in€Canada?Ð Ð  Ѐ€€€*€What€will€your€party€do€to€ensure€that€every€Canadian€has€access€to€affordable€housing?Ð ¼  ÐÌLinks€for€more€informationÐ ”ä ÐÌ€€€€*€Ô_ÔCPJÔ_Ôððs€pre-budget€brief€to€the€Standing€Committee€on€FinanceÐ l¼ Ѐ€€€*€From€Promise€to€Action:€Ô_ÔCPJÔ_Ôððs€brief€to€the€Human€Rights€Councilððs€Review€of€CanadaÐ X ¨ Ѐ€€€*€Fighting€poverty€with€policy:€Ô_ÔMPsÔ_Ô€share€party€visions€with€Ô_ÔCPJÔ_ÔÐ D!” Ѐ€€€*€Housing€insecurity:€the€face€of€povertyÐ 0"€  Ѐ€€€*€Investing€in€well-being:€A€guaranteed€livable€income€for€CanadaÐ #l! ÐÌ€ÌÌà  àÌFAITH€JUSTICE€POLITICSÐ ¸'#& Ð#501-309€Cooper€Street,€Ottawa,€ON€K2P€0G5€€T:€613-232-0275€€€€F:€613-232-1275€€€€E:€Ô_ÔcpjÔ_Ô€@Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÔ_Ôcpj.caÔ_Ô