Recommendation 3.1.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government immediately commit to a federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada that would see, during its first phase, the implementation of the recommendations in this report.

This action plan should incorporate a human rights framework and provide for consultations with the provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal governments and organizations, the public and private sector, and people living in poverty, as needed, to ensure an improvement in lives of impoverished people.

The action plan should be reviewed every five years and should follow a three-step process: consultation, revision, and reporting to Parliament.

Recommendation 3.2.1

The Committee recommends that at their next meeting, First Ministers start negotiations regarding the creation of a new federal transfer (e.g., a federal poverty reduction fund) to support provincial and territorial poverty reduction initiatives.

Recommendation 3.3.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government establish a lead department (e.g., Human Resources and Skills Development Canada) or departments, including a specific poverty reduction office or secretariat, to oversee the creation and implementation of a federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada.

Furthermore, to promote consultation and collaboration among the different federal departments and agencies, the Committee recommends the creation of an interdepartmental working group or cabinet committee for poverty reduction to be headed by the minister in charge of the lead department.

Recommendation 3.3.2

The Committee recommends that the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada should see that the mandate and capacity of the National Council of Welfare be expanded to allow it to:

• create an advisory committee on poverty reduction comprised of people living in poverty and other relevant experts to work closely with the Council to oversee the progress of the federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada and to advise the lead minister(s) accordingly;
• assist in the development of measures and indicators and undertake research with respect to the implementation of the federal action plan to reduce poverty and other issues related to poverty;
• submit a written report to the lead minister(s) annually on its findings with regard to the progress made toward the goals established under the federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada, that shall then be tabled before both Houses of Parliament by the minister(s);
• work with the various levels of government and the non-profit and voluntary sectors to build partnerships and raise knowledge of local, provincial-territorial and federal initiatives contributing to the reduction of poverty in Canada; and
• promote a greater understanding of poverty through public awareness campaigns.

Recommendation 3.3.3

The Committee recommends that the lead department(s) (e.g., Human Resources and Skills Development Canada), and/or the office or secretariat responsible for the implementation of the proposed federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada, in consultation with the National Council of Welfare and Statistics Canada:

• examine the advantages and disadvantages of existing measures of low income;
• assess the need for other indicators of material and social deprivation;
• decide on a suite of measures and indicators that would provide effective information to monitor progress on the implementation of the proposed federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada; and
• advise the Government of Canada to adopt this suite of poverty measures in a regulatory or otherwise flexible format which may evolve to accommodate changing best-practices in the measurement of poverty in Canada.

Recommendation 3.3.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government adequately fund the collection of data based on the suite of measures of poverty that it will have adopted to ensure that data are available as needed to inform the monitoring and reporting processes as set in the proposed federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada.

Recommendation 3.4.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine the Treasury Board’s policy on grant and contribution programs with a view to encouraging program administrators to simplify the application process and adopt a more risk-based approach to auditing agreements. Moreover, applications made by community non-profit organizations that have demonstrated an ability to provide effective, high-quality programming and/or that involve partnering by pooling of resources to provide more comprehensive programming should be assessed and administered favourably, while still ensuring a fair review process of all applications.

Recommendation 3.4.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government review the spending priorities under the Social Development Partnerships Program and expand the client groups served under this program. Spending under this program should be increased and targeted at innovative and effective programs delivered by non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is to strengthen the communities in which they operate and provide services and support to those who need it most. Furthermore, funding for these organizations should be made available on a multi-year basis.

Recommendation 3.4.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government provide a more generous charitable tax credit targeted at community non-profit organizations that are dedicated to poverty reduction, and consider other tax policies that would serve the same purpose.

Recommendation 3.4.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government review and implement quickly the required legislative and regulatory reforms to allow core non-profit organizations, especially those that rely on charitable donations and earned income, to better meet their growing revenue needs.

Recommendation 4.1.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government incrementally increase the annual amount of the Canada Child Tax Benefit—including both the base benefit and the National Child Benefit Supplement—to reach a minimum of $5,000 per child within five years’ time.

Recommendation 4.1.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government appoint an expert panel to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) as a tool for supporting early learning and child care. The impact of the UCCB on reducing poverty in Canada should also be examined. The findings of the panel should be made public, and the government should follow up on their recommendations.

Recommendation 4.1.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government work with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders to develop and implement a national strategy on early childhood education and care, including the creation of a national public child care system, while respecting that Québec already has its own public network of child care centres since 1997 and recognizing its right to opt out with full compensation.

Recommendation 4.2.1

Given the lack of consistency in the definitions of disability and eligibility criteria across federal disability programs, the Committee recommends that the federal government ensure that those who qualify for the Canada Pension Plan Disability automatically qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. The Committee further recommends that the federal government initiate discussions with the provincial and territorial governments to bring some consistency and coherence to the definitions of disability used by programs in all jurisdictions.

Recommendation 4.2.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government double the budget for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program and begin to measure the long-term impact of this program on the success of clients’ return to work and the total economic benefits associated with these outcomes.

Recommendation 4.2.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government extend EI sickness benefits up to 50 weeks for those who suffer from a prolonged and serious illness.

Recommendation 4.2.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase the duration of the EI compassionate care benefit from six to 12 weeks and provide access in cases of serious illnesses other than palliative care cases such as episodic disabilities.

Recommendation 4.2.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government create a federal basic income program for persons with disabilities and support a disability-related supports program to be delivered by the provinces and territories.

Recommendation 4.2.6

As a first step in addressing the needs of the poorest of Canadians with severe disabilities, the Committee recommends that the federal government amend the Income Tax Act to make the Disability Tax Credit a refundable credit and ensure that new federal benefits for persons with disabilities are not clawed back from those receiving social assistance payments.

Recommendation 4.2.7

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase funding for the Opportunities Fund; expand the terms and conditions of this program to support effective long-term interventions and skills development opportunities, especially with respect to essential skills training; and take concrete steps to raise awareness and promote the program to potential clients, employers and service providers.

Recommendation 4.2.8

The Committee recommends that the federal government include specific allocations and targets for persons with disabilities in Labour Market Agreements and Labour Market Development Agreements.

Recommendation 4.2.9

The Committee recommends that the federal government invest infrastructure funds in accessible and affordable public transportation so as to ensure that all Canadians with or without disabilities, no matter where they live, have access to transportation.

Recommendation 4.2.10

The Committee recommends that the Canadian Transportation Agency meet at least annually with its Accessibility Advisory Committee and that it actively involve the Advisory Committee in the development of its monitoring and compliance methodology.

Recommendation 4.2.11

The Committee recommends that the federal government revise its decision not to fund the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey in 2011 and commit to providing financial support for this valuable policy and research tool on an ongoing basis.

Recommendation 4.3.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government make changes to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), in particular by increasing benefits (especially those to persons living alone), increasing or indexing the basic exemption for employment income, and excluding Canada Pension Plan benefits from the income calculation for the GIS, and that the federal government sytematically verify eligibility of pensioners to the GIS and allow an individual to apply for a pension and/or the GIS by adding a question to that effect in the tax return.

Recommendation 4.3.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase the Canada Pension Plan replacement rate and exclude from the benefit calculation the time spent caring for a gravelly ill person, in the same way that time spent caring for a child under the age of seven is currently excluded.

Recommendation 4.4.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government take immediate steps to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and implement the standards set out in this document.

Recommendation 4.4.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in partnership with provincial/territorial governments and Aboriginal governments and stakeholders, take immediate steps to strengthen the commitment to provide high-quality, culturally relevant elementary and secondary education to Aboriginal students; provide better support to Indigenous educational institutions; and improve access to post-secondary education for Aboriginal people.

Recommendation 4.4.3

The Committee recommends that, given the recent and ongoing increase in the Aboriginal children population, the 2% cap on spending increases be eliminated and replaced by funding based on actual costs and needs.

Recommendation 4.4.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government ensure that the new Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy is adequately funded and is responsive to the needs of all Aboriginal people. A formative evaluation of this new strategy should be conducted within 18 months and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada should share the results of this evaluation with our Committee.

Recommendation 4.4.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government take action to eliminate the gap in well-being between Aboriginal children and non-Aboriginal children by granting as a first step adequate funding to social programs that provide early intervention services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families including the Aboriginal Head Start program and the First Nations Inuit and Child Care Initiative.

Recommendation 4.4.6

The Committee recommends that the federal government provide adequate funding for First Nations’ child welfare agencies to deliver in-home support and prevention services to First Nations children and their families

Recommendation 4.4.7

The Committee recommends that Aboriginal housing be a component of the federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada. The plan should include targets, timelines and indicators toward reducing poverty and ensuring greater equity between the living standards of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. This component of the plan should be developed in collaboration with Aboriginal organizations and governments.

Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the federal government work in partnership with Aboriginal government and stakeholders to immediately address the housing crisis in Aboriginal communities and ensure that all Aboriginal people have access to affordable, safe and adequate housing.

Recommendation 4.4.8

The Committee recommends that the federal government conduct an evaluation of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, including a review of results obtained, an examination of the adequateness of funding and an assessment of the need to potentially extend this program to more cities, to reach the increasing proportion of the Aboriginal population living in other urban areas than those currently covered under this strategy.

Recommendation 4.5.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase the goods and services tax credit by more than the scheduled increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.

Recommendation 4.5.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase its contribution to public transit, in particular by making the public transit pass tax credit refundable or by increasing its contribution to the Public Transit Capital Trust.

Recommendation 4.5.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue negotiations to reach an agreement on the National Pharmacare Strategy.

Recommendation 5.1.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government immediately undertake a study to determine the feasibility of eliminating capital gains taxes on donations of real estate to registered charities for the purpose of affordable housing and that it conduct a thorough evaluation of additional tax measures that could promote the creation of affordable housing in Canada.

Recommendation 5.2.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government commit to preserving Canada’s existing affordable housing stock, which is at risk with the upcoming expiration of long-term social housing agreements. Current levels of spending on affordable housing must increase, with additional funding provided as needed.

Recommendation 5.2.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government fund the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Affordable Housing Initiative and the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program on a permanent basis, and regularly review funding levels to ensure that the programs meet the housing needs of Canadians.

Recommendation 5.2.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government ensure that the measures announced in Budget 2009 for the construction of social housing units for low-income seniors, people with disabilities, Aboriginal people, and areas of the North are promptly delivered. The housing situation of these target groups should be monitored closely, and the need for more funding should be regularly assessed.

Recommendation 5.2.4

The Committee recommends that all federal funding agreements for the construction or retrofit of social housing include a requirement that a certain percentage of units respect universal design principles. The federal government should also actively promote the importance of opting for a universal design in all new infrastructures.

Recommendation 5.2.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, service providers and other stakeholders, develop a comprehensive, long-term national housing strategy. The strategy should address the problem of homelessness, as well as the need for adequate and affordable housing in Canada, with the goal of providing a range of housing solutions to meet the needs of Canada’s diverse population. It should provide for sustained funding to tackle these issues and include measurable goals, timelines, and accountability mechanisms.

Recommendation 6.1.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government change the loans and grants system so that all financial parameters, including the maximum amount of assistance and grants, are indexed to the annual changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Recommendation 6.1.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government conduct an exhaustive review of the problems relating to access to postsecondary education and student debt and make the necessary changes to the loans and grants it provides and to student debt management measures.

Recommendation 6.1.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government take steps to substantially increase adult literacy levels, in particular by increasing funding for the literacy and life skills program and through measures to encourage newcomers to learn English or French.

Recommendation 6.1.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government take steps to increase adult learning and training offered by businesses, through employment insurance, labour market and labour market development agreements, and grants or tax credits for training.

Recommendation 6.1.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government follow the work of the Task Force on Financial Literacy and implement its recommendations, if they are effective and achievable, in order to enhance Canadian’s financial knowledge.

Recommendation 6.1.6

The Committee recommends that the federal government follow the recommendations of the Advisory Panel on Labour Market Information to improve the quality of labour market information in order to increase the employability of young people and immigrants.

Recommendation 6.1.7

The Committee recommends that the Knowledge Infrastructure Program be made permanent, with a sufficient budget to maintain high-quality college and university infrastructure.

Recommendation 6.1.8

The Committee recommends that the federal government encourage training for persons with mental health problems in particular by providing additional financial support to the Mental Health Commission of Canada to support pilot projects or other research projects relating to training.

Recommendation 6.2.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to monitor the Working Income Tax Benefit to ensure that it achieves its intended results and be prepared to continue to expand this measure.

Recommendation 6.2.2

The Committee recommends that the House of Commons instruct the appropriate Parliamentary Committee to undertake the required quinquennial review of the Employment Equity Act. In preparation for this review, the government should provide that Committee with a current assessment of the Employment Equity Act and options for improving its effectiveness.

Recommendation 6.2.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to monitor and strengthen its pay equity regime with the view to ensuring that all workers in the federal jurisdiction are equitably remunerated and that all pay equity complaints are resolved in a timely fashion.

Recommendation 6.2.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government move quickly to modernize Part III of the Canada Labour Code. The proposed legislative reforms must provide the requisite balance between the needs of employers and employees as well as adequately capture the changes that have occurred in the Canadian workplace over the last several decades, particularly relating to changes in work time and work arrangements.

Recommendation 6.2.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase the budget for social economy initiatives and that this increased funding be used to promote job creation among low-income individuals, especially those who face serious barriers finding and securing a job.

Recommendation 6.3.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government immediately adjust and index the income threshold used to determine eligibility for the Family Supplement under the Employment Insurance program.

Recommendation 6.3.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government provide a fair and adequate wage replacement for all unemployed individuals who can demonstrate a reasonable attachment to the labour force. Moreover, the program’s financing structure should afford premium payers long-term premium rate stability.

Recommendation 6.3.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government implement more income support and active labour market measures to assist displaced older workers, especially low-income workers between the ages of 60 and 64, who face the prospect of persistent unemployment.