Anti-Poverty

In 2018, the Canadian government released Opportunity for All: Canada’s First Poverty 

Reduction Strategy.  This report established an official poverty line for Canada and set specific targets to reduce poverty by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2030. As a union dedicated to social justice, anti-poverty advocacy informs ETFO’s work and continues to be a priority for the Federation.

Anti-poverty work includes key areas to either reduce or abolish poverty.  These areas include but are not limited to: 

• Supports for Early Childhood Education and Care
• Living wages which account for regional costs of living 
• Income security, employment rights and protections 
• Affordable housing and effective strategies to eliminate homelessness 
• Food security with access to healthy and nutrient rich food
• Equitable access to health care 
• Mental health supports that centre and affirm identity

These key areas demonstrate that anti-poverty work is more than charity and requires multiple strategies from policy makers at the national, provincial, and municipal levels.