Focus on Strategy to End Poverty Could Save Canada Billions of Dollars

Ottawa (ots/PRNewswire) -

Canadians are paying a very high cost for the preventable
consequences of poverty when they could potentially save billions of
dollars by investing to end poverty, according to a thought-provoking
new report, The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty, published today
by the National Council of Welfare.

"It is important that Canadians are aware of one of our most
expensive spending patterns-paying top-dollar on temporary fixes for
the problems that grow out of poverty," said Dr. John Rook, Chair of
the Council. "The good news is even more vital. A better pattern is
already partially in place, in policies and programs that enable
people to get out of poverty, not just cope with it, and to be well
and to thrive. Now, we need to get the whole job done."

The report draws on a wide range of local, national and
international research from economics to epidemiology to illustrate
how reducing poverty benefits everyone, no matter where we sit on the
income ladder.

The report's findings include:

- In 2007, the amount it would have taken for every Canadian
          to have an income over the poverty line was $12.6 billion. 
The
          consequences of poverty that year added up to almost double
that amount.
          Despite this spending, by 2009, 3.2 million Canadians 
(9.6%) were still
          living in poverty.
        - Indirect costs drive up the cost of poverty. Stable housing
          costs less than shelter, ambulance, police, hospital and 
other bills
          resulting from homelessness. Similarly, basic medicine 
costs far less
          than emergency wards, where people end up when they can't 
afford
          medicine. This pattern can be found in the justice system, 
education,
          employment, business and other areas.
        - Societal costs reflect the wasted potential-and tax 
dollars-of
          people who could be contributing more to the economy if 
they did not go
          hungry, or continued to be poorly paid, ill-housed, 
stigmatized or
          ignored.
        - Solving poverty is about more than money because humans are
          social beings. The daily wear-and-tear of stress, including
          discrimination and lack of respect, can physically damage 
brains and
          bodies. The lower you are on the income ladder, the more 
stressors you
          are likely to face, with the fewest resources to cope. 
There is a direct
          relationship between poverty and poor health.
        - The benefits of programs are often underreported. Child and
          seniors' benefits, for example, provide secure, 
non-stigmatizing incomes
          broadly in society, and they have benefits well beyond 
individual
          recipients. The improved wellbeing of today's seniors 
compared to the
          past enables them to remain active in their communities or 
to help care
          for grandchildren.

The Council's recommendations in the report focus on: a
Canada-wide strategy to ensure everything works together; a sustained
investment plan; a design framework centred on wellbeing; and a forum
that brings people and ideas together to get the best results.

Rook emphasized Canada has more options than some other countries
struggling with poverty and spending pressures, including wealth,
experience, public support for mutual responsibility and social
innovation. "The way forward is practical and within our grasp,
building on what we have and know already," he said.

The full report, an 'in-brief' version and additional
documentation are available at http://www.ncw.gc.ca.

The National Council of Welfare is an independent body established
to advise the federal government on issues related to poverty.

For further information: Media Contact:
Carrie-Ann Breckenridge +1-(613)-277-4458
carrie.breckenridge@ncw-cnb.gc.ca

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