Poverty is Canada's 'great unfinished business'

from The Halifax News

HALIFAX
RICHARD CUTHBERTSON
The Daily News

Felekech Woldehana immigrated to Canada from Ethiopia in 1993. Back then, she remembers, you could find a home in metro for around $100,000.

Yesterday, she learned the average price for a single dwelling in the city is now $300,000.

"Who can afford that?" she asked.

The woman, who studies social work, was speaking at a town hall meeting on poverty. About 300 people packed Woodlawn United Church hall in Dartmouth.

The meeting was hosted by Ken Dryden. The former Montreal Canadiens goaltender is now a federal Liberal member of Parliament. He's embarked on a cross-country tour hosting public meetings on poverty.

The problem of poverty in Canada lingers as "great unfinished business," Dryden said.

A panel of representatives from various not-for-profit social agencies spoke. Many agreed that safe and affordable housing is key to alleviating poverty.

The executive director of Metro Turning Point Shelter said getting out of poverty can only be done with a job and a decent wage. Michael Poworoznyk called poverty in Canada an emergency: "It's not acceptable to accept this social emergency."

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Nova Scotia wanted to clear up a misconception. Carol Tooton said the public believes people in Canada with disabilities get appropriate care.

"It's a myth," she said.

Some members of the public noted that roundtable discussions and town hall meetings have been held before. Promises have been made, but still Canada is left with a poverty problem. One man asked why he shouldn't be cynical.

Dryden pointed to a speech made by Liberal Leader Stephane Dion in November. In the speech, Dion announced a plan to reduce by 30 per cent in five years the number of Canadians living under the poverty line. He said he wanted to cut in half the number of children living in poverty.

Specific targets, Dryden said, are key and have worked in countries such as the United Kingdom.

rcuthbertson@hfxnews.ca