In Calgary on Wednesday night at the Progressive Conservative leadership forum, candidates vying for the job of Alberta’s next premier, at least until the next provincial election, were asked the following:  “Many of you have failed to commit to implementing a Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy; what do you say to the 400,000 Albertans currently living in poverty who need your help?”
 
The leadership race is coming to a close soon, with the vote on September 17 and we know that many of you plan to vote for the next leader of the party and that you care about reducing poverty in the province; in order to help inform your decision, we have drafted our ideal response to the question above and have summarized the candidates’ responses below. You can also watch the video from Wednesday night; the Poverty Reduction Strategy question and responses start at 123:25.
 
When we compare about our ideal response with the candidates’ responses, there was a clear difference among the candidates. No one gave a perfect answer of course but it was clear that some are closer than others to grasping the urgency and importance of implementing a poverty reduction strategy for the province. We hope that this has been helpful in illuminating where the candidates stand on poverty reduction in the province and that it is helpful in your decision-making.
 
Elements of our ideal response would contain all of the following:

• Commitment to a Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy that addresses the root causes of poverty.
• Recognition that an effective strategy must be developed in consultation – particularly with people experiencing poverty.
• An understanding that a collaborative approach to reducing poverty – working across ministries and including the non-profit sector and the for-profit sector – is the best way to tackle the problem.
• A commitment to collaborate with municipalities on reducing poverty.
• Reference to a funding commitment from the provincial government.
• Knowledge that poverty affects some groups disproportionately: new immigrants, single moms, First Nations, and persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrated understanding that poverty is a root cause of homelessness.
• Acknowledgement that reducing poverty is an investment in our province and its people that generates a return.
• A clear statement that in a province as wealthy as Alberta, 400,000 people in poverty in unacceptable.

Candidates’ Responses In Order they Answered:

Gary Mar:
Mar suggested that we can create employability and circumstances where people can be on medications for mental illness and substance abuse, IF they have homes. “You can’t deal with the issue of poverty until you deal with some core issues like homelessness.” Mar then focused his comments on the Aboriginal population indicating that they lead in many areas that they do not want to, including poverty. 
 
Rick Orman:
Orman believes that it is incumbent on government to continue to support the Homeless Foundations in Calgary and Edmonton.  As Premier, Orman would bring Aboriginal Affairs into the premier’s office as a Secretariat, to address poverty, homelessness, and joblessness.  In order to continue developing the oil sands he would engage with First Nations and take full responsibility on the outcome.
 
Doug Griffiths:
Griffiths has committed to a Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy but that it must be meaningful and not just “a headline”. He indicated that he liked the announcement of a 100 million dollars to end homelessness as much as anyone else but that funding is not the answer to solving these kinds of problems – “if that’s all it took we should have done it 20 years ago”. A Strategy must break down silos and barriers. And, it is not only the government’s responsibility to reduce poverty; every single Albertan has a responsibility to do so.
 
Ted Morton:
Morton began by stating that he believes in a “hand-up not a hand-out”. He wants to “bring back the Alberta advantage”, grow the economy, and create jobs, since “the best thing to reduce poverty is a job”. He indicated that fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets were important to keep supporting initiatives like the homeless strategy, the need to focus on Aboriginals because the population is over-represented in poverty, and in keeping social service for drug addiction and mental health. “Those are the drivers of poverty”.
 
Allison Redford:
Redford committed a succinct “yes” to a poverty reduction strategy as a very specific policy that has been adopted by every other province. She indicated that a poverty reduction strategy helps government think differently about social policy to ensure we are reducing poverty for people living in poverty. She sees importance in integrated planning around housing, education, mental illness, addictions and the justice system.  She concluded her comments by saying “lets not be afraid to call it..a poverty reduction strategy and I am committed to that”. 
 
Doug Horner:
Horner says that a poverty reduction strategy needs to be adopted by all departments of government to stop silo thinking in the same way that was done with the Homelessness strategy.  He also indicated that it is not enough that “we just put in a home” – the government needs to implement an Alberta Mental Health Strategy and to ensure that there are opportunities for training and education that are properly resourced so that we maximize the return.