Islanders invited to help craft poverty-reduction strategy

Supporting Island families -

Islanders are invited to help create a collaborative strategy to further reduce poverty in the province.

The Poverty Reduction Advisory Council will provide input and advice on poverty reduction, focusing on housing, food, and employment. Islanders can apply to join the advisory council through Engage PEI at www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/executive-council-office/engage-pei until December 8, 2017.

“The members of this council will bring a range of experiences and views that will help us consider the many factors contributing to poverty, as well as ways to create and take action on short and longer-term solutions,” Family and Human Services Minister Tina Mundy said. “The council will also engage with the public, community groups, not-for-profit and service organizations, leaders in private and corporate sectors, and provincial and municipal governments.”

In addition to the contributions of groups and individuals across the province, the Poverty Reduction Strategy will build on recent government initiatives to reduce poverty which include:

• increases to social assistance food rates and personal comfort allowances;
• increases to seniors and low-income home repair programs;
• increases to school breakfast programs;
• increases to minimum wage;
• Income Tax Act changes to help lower-income Islanders;
• introduction of Generic and Catastrophic Drug programs;
• introduction of Harvest and Prosper Program; and
• introduction of a Grandparents and Care Providers Program

“Government cannot address poverty alone and our strategy will focus on the role of all partners,” Minister Mundy said. “We must work together to ensure everyone has the chance to be self-sufficient, healthy and able to thrive in our Island society.”

Public consultations will take place in early 2018 as part of the development of a collaborative poverty reduction strategy.
 
Media contact:
Darlene Gillis
ddgillis@gov.pe.ca