What a week! Last week blew by with events and statements calling for the end of poverty in Canada. October 17th, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, was point of convergence where members of society, political parties and media all focused attention on poverty. To help re-cap all that transpired last week, below are a few highlights that are worth reading/watching:
Dignity for All campaign partner, Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) released their Poverty Trends Scorecard – Canada 2012, giving a stark reminder that particular population groups are more vulnerable to poverty (lone-parents, Aborginal persons, recent immigrants, and persons with disabilities).
Members of both the House of Commons and the Senate wore “End Poverty / Éliminer la pauvreté“ buttons to show support for ending poverty in Canada (pictures to come). Members of the federal All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus joined Dignity for All at an evening panel discussion on Parliament Hill where 75 community members, parliamentarians and advocates gathered. Read statements by two of the caucus members, Senator Art Eggleton, and by MP Chris Charlton (read in the House of Commons).
CWP Executive Director, Leilani Farha and CPJ ED Joe Gunn were featured on CPAC’s “Primetime Politics” show (start watching at 25:25), and Leilani also did a radio interview with CKCU Carlton radio.
After the panel discussion a slam poetry event organized in collaboration with PSAC launched an enthusiastic “POW” to ending poverty at The Hub Ottawa. Artists helped people get “Em-pow-WORD” and learn about different facets of poverty. Stay tuned for a blog about this event with pictures to come later this week.
Finally, October 17th was also the day that the bill for a national housing strategy was debated. Bill C-400, An Act to Ensure Secure Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing would enact a strategy to ensure Canada’s housing crisis is addressed, and also recognizes the right to adequate housing. This is a critical bill that could assist thousands of homeless, and millions of housing insecure Canadians. We hope it is passed.
You can read the debate on Bill C-400 in the House here.
