Let’s do something
about poverty!
Poverty Free Saskatchewan (PFS) PFS is a network of individuals and organizations working toward poverty elimination. PFS recognizes there have been anti-poverty groups working hard for decades in all regions of our province and we wish to support a provincewide movement. PFS believes people living in poverty are key to our work and should be involved in our
decision-making. All regions of the province and its diverse populations should be involved as everyone has valuable insights into their own unique situations. Poverty elimination will require involvement and commitment from governments, business, community organizations and individuals. PFS values and promotes respect for all perspectives in its poverty elimination campaign.
Poverty Free Saskatchewan Founding Members Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Saskatchewan (CCPA SK) Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry (RAPM) Regina Anti-Poverty Network (RAPN) Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition (SAPC) Social Policy Research Unit (SPR) – Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers (SASW) Poverty Free Saskatchewan graciously acknowledges the following for their assistance and support in the creation of this document.
Brian Banks Sydney Bell Gloria DeSantis Fiona Douglas
Simon Enoch Kirk Englot Debbie Frost Peter Gilmer
Paul Gingrich Joanne Havelock Rick Kotowich Eric Levitan-Reid
Sarah Liberman James Mulvale Larry Sanders Angela Yung
You may download, distribute, photocopy, cite or excerpt this document provided it is properly and fully credited and not used for commercial purposes. The permission of PFS is required for all other uses.
Publication and design of this document was made possible through a generous donation from the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA).
“You do have those days where you’re just gonna be like, I’m tired of worrying, I’m tired of trying …
… I’m just not gonna try for a while, and pretend it’s not there, but it’s always there the next day.” — Anonymous
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overty Free Saskatchewan (PFS) created this document in the hope that it can serve as a catalyst for a much-needed discussion on poverty in our province.
• Poverty costs us all. Eliminating poverty has many benefits and will save society money. • Poverty is not just about money, it’s about being excluded from community life.
We would like this document to encourage a renewed dialogue on poverty and foster new and innovative proposals and solutions from concerned citizens. This is your invitation to get involved in creating an action plan to eliminate poverty in Saskatchewan. Our network extends an invitation to connect with us. We want to hear from everyone concerned with the issues of poverty in our province.
• Poverty can be eliminated. Other provinces and countries have reduced economic inequality through the development of antipoverty programs. • We can all work together to end poverty in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan has experienced an economic boom over the past decade. However, poverty still exists here and throughout Canada. A large group from around the province have joined together to create PFS and are working to end poverty now!
This discussion document will explain that: • Poverty still exists today and is a serious problem. • Economic inequality is associated with many social and health problems.
To learn how you can get involved, go to the end of this document.
Poverty still exists today and is a serious problem that affects us all.
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overty is a multi-dimensional social problem that often includes issues concerning income, cost-of-living, health and social cohesion. Poverty affects a diverse group of persons in our communities and no one is immune to its consequences.
• Saskatchewan has the third highest provincial child poverty rate in Canada. • In 2007, there were 35,000 children under age 18 living beneath the poverty line (before-tax Low Income Cut-off) in Saskatchewan. This was 16.7% of all children.
• Saskatchewan’s (2006) overall poverty rate is 15.3% — affecting 140,000 people. Canada’s overall poverty rate is 14.5%. Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
• 45% of Aboriginal children in Saskatchewan live in low-income families. 3
Let’s do something about poverty!
• The poorest in Saskatchewan are children living in female single-parent families, with a poverty rate of 47.5% (19,000). The national rate among this group is 42.6%.
• In 2009, Saskatoon’s average rent increased 8.3% — the second highest increase in Canada. The average rent in Regina for all types of suites was $752 — the provincial average was $760 monthly.
• Northern Saskatchewan is considered one of the five poorest regions in the country. With an annual median income of $13,600. Specifically, La Ronge was ranked as the second-poorest region in Canada.
• In 2009, Regina, had the lowest vacancy rate in Canada at 0.6%, resulting in one of the country’s tightest rental markets. • Northern residents experience much higher cost-of-living expenses which create greater stresses for those living on low-incomes.2
• Lower income earnings are particularly acute for Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis people, women, seniors, people with disabilities, recent immigrants, and racialized or marginalized groups.1
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espite Saskatchewan’s low unemployment rate relative to the rest of the country, the social assistance caseload increased by 8.4% between October 2008 and December 2009. In January 2010, the caseload increased to 26,295 — a three-year high.
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askatchewan’s economic growth has brought with it rising costs for many basic goods and services that we all require to live a full and dignified life. For those of us on fixed incomes, rising costs worsen the anxieties and burdens of living with poverty.
While the Saskatchewan government did increase social assistance rates in 2007, the level of economic assistance through the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan (SAP) is still far too low to raise people out of poverty.
• Food prices rose 6% in 2009, compared to the core inflation rate of 1%. Prices for dairy products rose 6.6% and for vegetables rose 8.3%.
• For a single adult living in Regina or Saskatoon, SAP rates are $455 per month or $5,460 per year. For an adult with one or two children living in Regina or Saskatoon, the SAP rate is $865 per month or $10,380 per year.
• Saskatchewan was the only province to experience an increase in water, fuel and electricity costs. • Problems with affordable housing are well known for Saskatchewan residents. Rental costs have gone up in many locations across the province, including rural and northern areas.
Let’s do something about poverty!
• Due to a four-tier system based on residency, SAP recipients in some cities, towns and other locations may receive even less funding for housing.3
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Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
Economic inequality is associated with many social and health problems.
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ealth costs, crime and other problems are greater in societies with greater income inequality. The most economically unequal societies experience the most serious social and health issues.
Quintile Shares of after-tax income of families with children, Saskatchewan, 2006
This pie chart shows us a snapshot of income distribution in Saskatchewan in 2006. That year the top 20% of families with children took 40% of after-tax income and the bottom fifth were left with only 6%.4
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n a study of incomes and health, epidemi ologists Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett found that a smaller gap between rich and poor means a happier, healthier, and more successful population overall.
In Saskatchewan, income disparity has grown dramatically over the past decade, with the gap between the richest and poorest families mushrooming since 2000, as seen in this graph.
Countries with reduced income inequality showed reduced crime rates, mental illness, obesity, and teen births and increased levels of trust in society. Although the poorest would gain the most from a decrease in inequality, people of all income levels would benefit.5
Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
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Let’s do something about poverty!
Poverty costs us all. Eliminating poverty has many benefits and saves money.
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• 72% more likely to not be fully immunized against disease
hile we are quick to consider the costs of aiding the poor, we rarely consider both the social and economic costs that poverty inflicts on our society. Below we consider some of the costs in health, education and productivity that we all bear due to the existence of poverty in our society.
• 80% more likely to be physically inactive • 1140% more likely to be smoking already6 In Canada, low-income has also been negatively correlated with lower functional health, increased hyperactivity, reduced vocabulary and math skills, and higher drop-out rates among children.7
A study of health outcomes in the City of Saskatoon demonstrated that low-income residents consume an extra $179 million in annual healthcare costs than if they were middle income. The study found that low-income resi dents are:
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Canadian study found potential cost savings that could be realized by reducing inequal ities in health among its residents. Bridging the gap between all other neighbourhoods and the wealthiest neighbourhoods would have resulted in a savings of about $62 million in 1999 — or 15% of all hospital and physician expenditures in Winnipeg in 1999.8
• 3360% more likely to have hepatitis C • 118% more likely to have heart disease • 165% more likely to have diabetes • 448% more likely to have an infant die in the first year of birth
The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) has estimated that the private and social costs of poverty in Canada result in $7.6 billion in extra healthcare costs; $1-2 billion in costs of increased crime and $35-42 billion in lost productivity costs.
In comparison to higher income children, Saskatoon children aged 10-15 years that are low income are: • 180% more likely to have low self reported health
Let’s do something about poverty!
In Ontario alone, the social and private costs of poverty are estimated to be equal to 5.5 to 6.5% of the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).9
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Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
Poverty is not just about money — it’s about being excluded from community life.
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hile not easy to measure, there are very real consequences for individuals, families and communities when poverty and the d is empowerment it creates result in people being socially excluded from education, athletic, cultural and community activities and from being a full participant in civic life.
Exclusion and isolation only further exacerbate poverty’s harmful effects. The elimination of poverty will help create more vibrant commu nities by giving people the opportunity to fully engage and participate in the life of their respective community.
Enduring poverty has drastic consequences for mental and emotional health. For instance, the Saskatoon study found that low-income adults were 1458% more likely to attempt suicide and 367% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. Even more disturbing were the study’s findings that low-income children aged 10 to 15 were 200% more likely to be depressed and 190% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.10
Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
“Poverty directly harms the health of those with low-incomes while income inequality affects the health of all Canadians through the weakening of social infrastructure and the destruction of social cohesion.” Dr. Dennis Raphael
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Let’s do something about poverty!
Poverty can be eliminated. Other provinces and countries have reduced economic inequality through the development of anti-poverty programs.
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ome people think that poverty is inevitable. However, other provinces and countries have demonstrated that through concerted action people can drastically reduce the incidence of poverty and contribute towards the elimination of poverty altogether.
uebec was the first province in Canada to enact legislation for a poverty reduction strategy in 2002. Since that time, Quebec has: • Delivered 16,002 new social, community and affordable housing units. • Increased the provincial minimum wage from $7.00 to $9.00 per hour.
Since developing and implementing its 2006 poverty reduction action plan, Newfoundland and Labrador have taken the lead in poverty reduction, setting a new precedent for poverty reduction rates in Canada. Through the program, Newfoundland has:
• Introduced a child assistance tax credit worth up to $2,924 for one child, and up to $4,007 for two children.
• Increased the minimum wage to $10 per hour.
• Fully indexed social assistance benefits to cost-of-living increases.
• Lowered rental rates for employed low-income earners and those aged 55 and older.
• Decreased low-income rates from 12.1% to 9.8% of the provincial population.12
• Providing a Job Start benefit of $125 to single people and $250 to families to assist with making the transition from Income Support to employment.
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n Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario have also adopted comprehensive antipoverty programs in recent years, In addition, American states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon, Vermont and Alabama, and countries like Ireland and the United Kingdom have also launched initiatives to reduce poverty over the past decade.13
• Reduced the incidence of low-income people and families in Newfoundland by almost half; from 12.2% to 6.5%. • Newfoundland now has the smallest lowincome gap in Canada.11
Let’s do something about poverty!
Other groups are approaching poverty from a human rights perspective, through a Charter of 8
Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
Rights challenge recently filed by a coalition of social welfare groups in Ontario.14 They hope to convince the Canadian and Ontario governments to create low-cost public housing.
A recent Senate report calls for federal-provincial initiatives to lift people out of poverty. Senator Hugh Segal stated, By breaking the cycle of poverty once and for all, we will be investing in human empowerment — which will drive the health and prosperity of our cities and yield benefits for all of us.16
Others consider poverty with regard to sustain ability. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Sustainable development cannot take place in societies marked by persistent socioeconomic inequalities, large-scale environmental degradation or widespread disease. Similarly, the promotion of public health requires sound physical and built environments, a prosperous economy and a just society.15
These initiatives demonstrate that poverty can be drastically reduced and eventually elimi nated. By adopting many of these ideas and creating our own, we can develop a “Made-inSaskatchewan” action plan that can do the same in our province.
We can all work together to end poverty in Saskatchewan.
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overty is not inevitable, there are concrete actions that government, communities and business can take to eliminate the scourge of poverty in our province. The history of our province is full of examples of people working together to bring about change. In Saskatchewan, thousands of people work daily to lessen the burden of poverty; in our streets, at food banks, through church groups, in schools, hospitals and out of neighbourhood and community centres. As well, governments provide services such as income assistance, Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
child benefits and affordable housing. Yet poverty still exists — even in a province as rich as ours. We need to continue to work on solutions that include citizens and governments alike in order to create a “Made-in-Saskatchewan” action plan to eliminating poverty. This is your invitation to get involved to eliminate poverty in Saskatchewan. Our network, Poverty Free Saskatchewan (PFS), invites you to connect with us. We want to hear from everyone concerned with the issue of poverty in our province. 9
Let’s do something about poverty!
Here are some of the ways you can help PFS.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Send us an email so we can send you and/ or your organization updates of our events and activities.
other artistic input that express your thoughts about poverty in our province. And yet, doing something about poverty will not be just an exercise on paper, it will require real action in the real world.
Attend a PFS public meeting.
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Ask your organization to officially support the efforts to create an action plan. Tell others what you are doing about poverty and the work of PFS.
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Give them our website information: www.povertyfreesask.ca
Consider using your answers to write a letter to your local newspaper, your Saskatchewan MLA, or other government representatives. Get together with a group of people you know who are living in poverty or working with those who live in poverty, discuss the questions below, and send us your response.
Talk to business owners and leaders of other organizations. PFS will gladly accept your responses and ensure they are considered when an action plan is drafted. We will not use any identifying information in the material we produce, or on our website, unless you give us permission in writing. However, please include your name, address, phone number and email address so we know which communities have participated in this work so we can include you as we move forward. Thank you very much!
Let us know if you/your organization are holding a special poverty event or perhaps meeting with the government or other organizations. Contact us with your personal answers to the questions listed on the back cover. We would be glad to receive email, written letters, audio or video commentaries, or
Let’s do something about poverty!
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Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
Endnotes 1. Fiona Douglas and Paul Gingrich. Child and Family Poverty Saskatchewan Report 2009. University of Regina Social Policy Research Unit: Regina, SK, November, 2009. Accessible at: http://www. campaign2000.ca/reportCards/provincial/Saskatchewan/ 2009PovertyReportCard.pdf
7. David Ross. “Child Poverty in Canada: Recasting the Issue.” Canadian Council on Social Development. April, 1998. Accessible at: http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/ recastin.htm 8. Canadian Population Health Initiative. Reducing Gaps in Health: A Focus on Socio-Economic Status in Urban Canada. Canadian Institute for Health Information: Ottawa, 2008. Accessible at: http://www.secure.cihi.ca/ cihiweb/products/Reducing_Gaps_in_Health_Report_ EN_081009.pdf
Garson Hunter, Fiona Douglas and Sarah Pederson. “Will the Economic Boom Reduce Poverty in Saskatchewan?” Saskatchewan Notes. Vol. 7, No. 3, 2008. Accessible at: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/ sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Saskatchewan_ Pubs/2008/SaskNotes_Economic_Boom_Poverty.pdf
9. Nathan Laurie. The Cost of Poverty: An Analysis of the Economic Costs of Poverty in Ontario. Ontario Association of Food Banks: Toronto, 2008. Accessible at: http://www.oafb.ca/assets/pdfs/CostofPoverty.pdf
Citizens for Public Justice. “Bearing the Brunt: Saskatchewan Fact Sheet.” April, 2010. Accessible at: http://www.cpj.ca/files/docs/Saskatchewan.pdf
10. Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence, “Low Income Women Speak Out through Photovoice Projects.” Accessible at: http://www.pwhce.ca/program_ poverty_photovoice.htm
Cassandra Kyle. “Sask. north among the poorest regions.” The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix July 31, 2010. Accessible at: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/ Sask+north+among+poorest+regions/3346328/story. html#ixzz0w7qZN1WH
Dr. Dennis Raphael. “Poverty, Income Inequality, and Health in Canada.” CSJ Foundation for Research and Education, Toronto, June 2002. Accessible at: http:// www.povertyandhumanrights.org/docs/incomeHealth.pdf
2. Citizens for Public Justice. “Bearing the Brunt: Saskatchewan Fact Sheet.” April, 2010. Accessible at: http://www.cpj.ca/files/docs/Saskatchewan.pdf
11. Laura May. “Newfoundland takes the lead on poverty reduction.” January 5, 2010. Accessible at: http://www. makepovertyhistory.ca/en/blog/newfoundland-takeslead-poverty-reduction
Ted Merriman and Bob Pringle. Affordable Housing: An Investment: The Report of The Task Force on Housing Affordability. Regina, Saskatchewan. June, 2008. Accessible at: http://www.gov.sk.ca/adx/aspx/ adxGetMedia.aspx?mediaId=496&PN=Shared
12. Government of Quebec. “Fight Against Poverty and Social Exclusion.” February, 2010. Accessible at: http://www.mess.gouv.qc.ca/grands-dossiers/luttecontre-la-pauvrete/plan_en.asp
Cassandra Kyle. “Sask. north among the poorest regions.” The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix July 31, 2010. Accessible at: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/ Sask+north+among+poorest+regions/3346328/story. html#ixzz0w7qZN1WH
13. Spotlight on Poverty. “State-wide Anti-poverty Initiatives.” January, 2010. Accessible at: http://www. spotlightonpoverty.org/statewide.aspx
3. Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services. “Saskatchewan Assistance Rates, April, 2010.” Accessible at: http://www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca/SAPrate-card.pdf
Laurie Monsebraaten. “Europe’s anti-poverty efforts put us to shame.” The Toronto Star, October 4, 2008. Accessible at: http://www.thestar.com/article/510758 14. Tracy Heffernan quoted by Kirk Makin “Charter challenge aims to force governments to create public housing”. The Globe and Mail, Toronto. May 26, 2010.
Citizens for Public Justice. “Bearing the Brunt: Saskatchewan Fact Sheet.” April, 2010. Accessible at: http://www.cpj.ca/files/docs/Saskatchewan.pdf
15. Public Health Agency of Canada. “Sustainable Development in Public Health: A long term journey begins.” Public Health Agency of Canada: Sustainable Development Strategy 2007- 2010. Accessible at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/sds-sdd/sds-sdd2a-eng.php
4. Paul Gingrich. Boom and Bust: The Growing Income Gap in Saskatchewan. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Regina, Saskatchewan. September 2009, page 211. Accessible at: http://www.policyalternatives. ca/publications/reports/boom-and-bust 5. The Equality Trust. “Why More Equality?” Accessible at http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/why. Based on Richard Wilkinson and Kate Picket. The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. Penguin Books, 2010.
16. Parliament of Canada, News Release. “In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness.” Released December 8, 2009. Accessible at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/2/parlbus/ commbus/senate/com-e/citi-e/subsite-dec09-e/ Report_Home-e.htm. The full report by The Honourable Art Eggleton P.C., Chair, and The Honourable Hugh Segal, Deputy Chair is accessible at: http://www.parl. gc.ca/40/2/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/citi-e/rep-e/ rep02dec09-e.pdf
6. Mark Lemstra and Cory Neudorf. Health Disparity in Saskatoon: Analysis to Intervention. Saskatoon Health Region, 2008. Accessible at: http://www. saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/documents/PHO/ HealthDisparityRept-20pgSummary.pdf
Poverty Free Saskatchewan, October 2010
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Let’s do something about poverty!
Questions for a Saskatchewan Action Plan 1. What does poverty mean to you? 2. Why should we worry about poverty in Saskatchewan? 3. What would a poverty-free Saskatchewan look like? 4. How can we achieve a poverty-free Saskatchewan? 5. What targets and policies should we adopt?
Contact Information Poverty Free Saskatchewan c/o Social Policy Research Unit Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2 Visit our Website: www.povertyfreesask.ca Email Us: povertyfreesask@gmail.com