On behalf of the National Advisory Council on Poverty, I am proud to share with you our latest report, Blueprint for Transformation: The 2023 Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty.
In 2022-2023, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we had the opportunity to engage with people in-person on issues related to poverty, including income inadequacy, housing, food insecurity, health, and discrimination and stigma. In addition to our in-person engagement, we held virtual small-group sessions with participants from across Canada. We spoke with diverse groups of people, including persons with lived expertise of poverty, community organizations, practitioners, academics, and youth.
We are grateful to everyone who took the time to speak with us, and all those who are actively working to reduce poverty in our communities. Your insights continue to drive our work and inspire our report and recommendations. Thank you.
During our engagement, we heard that amid high inflation and rising cost of living, there is a growing sense of hopelessness where we once heard optimism. Participants shared that chronic issues seem to be getting worse since the early years of the pandemic, including inadequate employment and benefit income, unmet housing needs, and food insecurity. We heard that while there have been gains in poverty reduction, populations made most marginal have not benefited equitably and continue to face disproportionately high levels of poverty and discrimination.
In our report, we note that while significant progress has been made to reduce poverty in Canada, urgent action is needed to not only meet our poverty reduction targets for 2030 but also surpass them. This year, we decided to reiterate our previous recommendations to the Government of Canada to take urgent action in five key areas: Indigenous poverty; dignity, equity, and inclusion; income adequacy; access to benefits and services; and prevention and protection. As a Council, we stand by these recommendations and believe they offer a realistic blueprint for sustainably and equitably reducing poverty in Canada.
We invite you to read the report, share it within your networks, and help us continue the dialogue. Together, we can build a more equitable, safe, and compassionate country for all. Please share with us your feedback and let us know if you would like to take part in future engagement activities, by sending an email to EDSC.CCNP-NACP.ESDC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.
You can access Blueprint for Transformation: The 2023 Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty here.