Liberals set up committee to be sounding board for poverty strategy

OTTAWA – The federal government is looking for a few good people to help it craft a poverty reduction strategy and is turning to public consultations for ideas.

Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos plans to use the expertise of an advisory committee on poverty to produce a national program that the Liberals are expected to deliver late in their four-year mandate.

The committee will operate for one year and be made up of experts from academia, business and social services, as well as people who have lived with poverty.

The body will act as a sounding board to test ideas that emerge from the public consultations on ways to help those living in need.

The announcement today comes as the Liberals finalize a national housing strategy designed to help make housing more affordable and reduce homelessness.

It's estimated that some three million Canadians live in poverty and 235,000 experience homelessness annually.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Kim Anderson

Originally from a northern B.C. town that boasts a giant fly fishing rod and a population of 3,100, Kim moved to Kamloops in 2011 to attend Thompson Rivers University. Kim is as comfortable behind a camera as she is writing on her laptop. After graduating with a degree in journalism, Kim has been busy with an independent freelance writing project and photography work. Contact Kim at kanderson@infonews.ca with news tips or story ideas.

Kim's Stories