In less than two weeks, parties and candidates go head to head to decide who will lead Canada over the next four years; so we ask, “What are they doing about poverty?”
 
You’ll notice that this platform review is somewhat different from that of the Liberals, primarily because the Greens have provided a more detailed – if less strategically marketed – account of their policies in both their official platform and “Vision Green” document.  We thus have more material to bite into – both to applaud and criticize.    
 
The Green platform boldly commits to “Make Poverty History” in Canada, and to advocate for poverty eradication abroad.  How do they suggest going about it?  That’s what we explore here.
 
Enhancing Affordability
In order to improve the purchasing power of those living on low income, the Greens would institute a Federal Minimum Wage – of $10/hour.  While good intentions likely motivated this initiative, it misses the mark in terms of making a substantial reduction in the number of people living in poverty.  VCC firmly advocates for a locally determined Living Wage that reflects the local costs of living; in most Canadian municipalities, $10/hour is a poverty wage.   The Greens can be applauded, however, for advocating a Guaranteed Livable Income, above the Low-Income Cutoff, for those with disabilities.  They would also take steps toward a GLI for those living on welfare, and take steps to make employment feasible for those living on income assistance – currently it often incurs income losses
 
Similar to the Liberals, the Greens advocate for a National Affordable Housing Strategy, and would also subsidize energy retrofitting for low-income housing – thereby reducing monthly utility costs. The Greens would make transit free for those receiving income supports, which addresses a huge time/financial management issue for those on low-income, and would provide financial assistance for those taking care of ill family members.  Finally, the Greens are the only party to mention and prioritize global fair trade, thus integrating a global poverty reduction strategy systemically in the market.
 
Encouraging employment
The Greens aim to create more green jobs, implement employment incentives and stimulate youth employment while expanding EI access and bolstering old age pensions.  They also support a reduction in working hours across the country (with a standard 35h/week and 3 week minimum vacation) both to boost employment rates and free up time for individuals to participate more fully in their communities, if they so desire.   In addition, the Greens intend to implement equal protection to contracted and temporary, union and non-union workers.  Lastly, they would press professional societies to remove unnecessary barriers to recognizing professional credentials for new immigrants.
 
Children
The Greens envision ending child poverty by ensuring that parents can provide for their children through accessible and affordable childcare, supporting extended maternity/paternity leave, lifting parental income above the Low Income Cutoff, income-splitting, extending Employment Insurance, and supporting women’s re-entry to the workplace after staying at home with children.  They also commit to taking cues from European countries with the best track records of reducing child poverty. 
 
Health
Exhibiting their understanding of connections between mental health and poverty, the Greens would increase funding for non-institutionalized mental health patients, including in rural areas; increase funding to develop a comprehensive mental health strategy for all Canadians; increase the number of detoxification and rehabilitation facilities; and increase support sexual abuse survivors.
 
The Greens also advocate for the creation of a crown corporation that could distribute prescription drugs more cheaply; they would pair this with a shortening of the duration of drug patents – such that cheaper “no-name” brands could go on the market more quickly.  This proposal shows promise, but VCC would also like to see universal coverage of prescription medication, particularly for those with disabilities and living on low income.  This is not addressed by the Greens’ provisions for higher income – neither a Guaranteed Livable Income nor a minimum wage of $10/hour can ensure that all individuals, with varying medical needs, are capable of covering the costs.
 
And much more…
The Greens intend to enforce the Employment Equity Act to help those with disabilities find employment; they would invest in social housing that accommodates special needs; and they would improve public care options for those with disabilities, including the elderly.  They would “vigorously” defend gender equality in Canada, including pay equity.  They would work to diminish the social isolation experienced by some individuals living in poverty/at risk of poverty by improving universal access to the internet, and by allocating more funds to training in the official languages for new immigrants.  Finally, they are the only party to suggest a change in our primary indicator of well-being, from the Gross Domestic Products – a purely economic indicator that is capable of false positives  - to the Genuine Progress Indicator, which shows how we’re doing in terms of quality of life, including poverty elimination,
 
Overall, the Greens offer sound strategies to reduce the number of people living in poverty.  Because they provide a greater depth of information than the Liberals, it is difficult to make a comparison; for now, we can commend both the Greens and the Liberals for their efforts to reduce poverty, and urge them to take our recommendations – such as implementing locally developed Living Wages – into consideration, if they have the opportunity to move forward with their objectives.
 
Up next – the NDP!