World leaders must tackle poverty in economic stimulus

OTTAWA – G8 and G20 leaders meeting in April on the recession must make reducing poverty a priority in their economic stimulus plans, says a NDP motion approved unanimously in the House of Commons Wednesday.

“Canadians know it is the moral, legal and humanitarian right thing to do but it`s a smart economic move too,” said NDP Poverty Critic Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie). “I welcome all the parties urging leaders to make this social investment that will reduce poverty and grow our economy.”

Martin`s motion, which received rare all-party support, said the government should urge leaders at the London meetings to face the “core challenge of redressing the increased and enduring poverty and its social and economic effects on individuals and nations.”

“Critical income security initiative and social infrastructure investment protects human dignity, the common good, equality of opportunity and economic prosperity.”

The Senate is expected to pass a similar motion introduced by Conservative Senator Hugh Segal.

Recent reports have put the cost of poverty in Canada in billions of dollars, reducing the GDP. Besides hurting the poor directly, there are social costs borne by the general population for extra costs associated with health care, crime, social assistance, loss of tax revenues and the intergenerational costs that result from the likelihood of poor children remaining in poverty as adults.