The Government of Canada launched Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy which builds on the Government of Canada’s significant investments since 2015. These include the Canada Child Benefit, enhancements to Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, investments in skills training and the National Housing Strategy. Programs like these are having a real and meaningful impact on those working hard to make ends meet and are lifting thousands of Canadians out of poverty.

The Strategy offers a bold vision for Canada as a world leader in the eradication of poverty, with progress validated in terms of its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty. It introduces:

• a measure of poverty: Canada’s Official Poverty Line;
• concrete poverty reduction targets that will lead to the lowest rates in Canadian history by cutting poverty by 50 percent by 2030; and
• a National Advisory Council on Poverty that will report on progress made.

Legislation is proposed for introduction as early as possible in Parliament that would entrench Canada’s Official Poverty Line, the poverty reduction targets and the National Advisory Council on Poverty in law.

The Government of Canada recognizes that to be successful, it cannot act alone. Partnerships between departments and other levels of governments will be important. Working together is key to reducing poverty in Canada, and collaboration is a big part of the Strategy going forward to ensure that our programs and policies are aligned and complementary, as Canadians expect and deserve nothing less.

All Canadians should have the opportunity to succeed. The Strategy aims to have a significant impact for Canadians by lifting everyone, from children and families, to seniors, out of poverty, now and into the future.

To learn more about the Poverty Reduction Strategy, click here.

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Share the Poverty Reduction Strategy today with anyone you know who might benefit from it, whether it’s a family member, a local stakeholder or an organization supporting people living in poverty.