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By Chandra Pasma
THE START of a new year always holds such promise, the
possibility of hopeful change and new opportunities.
But 2009 is not starting on such an optimistic note. As
an economic downturn descends upon us, everyone is waiting to see what will
happen next. Will we avoid the worst of it? How much will we suffer? What
can be done?
Economic stimulus
We also await the government’s full response to
the economic crisis, which will be announced in the Speech from the Throne
and the budget at the end of January.
The Conservative government has been promising
stimulus, but it has been slow to reveal all the details, delayed by
partisan interests and the desire to wait and see what the Americans will
do.
Meanwhile, Parliament ended with the threat of a
coalition government, ready to replace the Conservatives if the opposition
parties were not pleased with the government’s response to the
economy. But the state of the coalition is far from certain now.
A new Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff, and the
prorogation of Parliament mean the players aren’t necessarily in the
same place as when the parliamentary games began.
So what kind of opportunity does 2009 present?
In November, Barack Obama’s new chief of staff,
Rahm Emanuel, said, “You never want a serious crisis to go to
waste.” The incoming U.S. administration sees an opportunity to do
politics differently.
In contrast, the Canadian response to the economic
crisis has thus far involved partisan games, flippant remarks, and few firm
commitments. But there is no reason why Canada can’t also take this
moment of rethinking, restructuring and economic stimulus to offer hope and
to create a better future.
In particular, the Canadian government should not lose
sight of our most vulnerable, most marginalized people – the poor.
No one is immune from the economic crisis, but a
recession will hurt poor Canadians more than middle- and high-income
Canadians.
Poor Canadians will be among the first to lose their
jobs, and will find it difficult to obtain new work. Employment Insurance
and social assistance are inadequate to prevent many from falling into
poverty.
Poverty reduction
Addressing these shortcomings can act as a stimulus for
the whole economy, in addition to helping poor Canadians.
Measures to reduce poverty, such as reforming the
Employment Insurance program and investing in affordable housing, early
learning and child care, act as automatic stabilizers for the economy by
providing cash transfers and jobs. They are a compassionate stimulus plan.
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A comprehensive poverty reduction strategy introduced
in the 2009 budget and developed in consultation with citizens over the
course of the year would offer hopeful change to the 3.3 million Canadians
living in poverty. 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of an all-party
resolution passed in the House of Commons to end child poverty by the year
2000. It’s time for Canada to make good on that promise.
Canada is paying for the cost of poverty, whether we
take action on it or not. A recent study in Ontario pegged the cost of
poverty there at $32 billion, for social programs, health care, policing
and the judicial system, and lost tax revenues.
Given that Ontario has one-third of Canada’s
poor, the cost would be around $90 billion when multiplied for Canada.
Acting on poverty is good for our economy.
Vision of Jubilee
But more importantly, addressing poverty is a matter of
justice. In the biblical context, God’s response to poverty was a
vision of Jubilee: God’s people were called not only to charity, but
also to periodic redistribution of the means of production – land,
grain and livestock.
For us today, Jubilee translates to a need to create
policies that ensure everyone has access to a sustainable livelihood and a
livable income. Jubilee requires that every citizen has the opportunity to
live in dignity as an image bearer of God, fully able to participate in
community life.
The economic crisis highlights the vulnerability of
Canadians living in poverty, but it also presents an opportunity to address
poverty. Our politicians need to work together for the good of the most
vulnerable Canadians.
Whether the Conservatives stay in government or a
coalition takes over, political parties need to cooperate. We need to see a
return of the conciliation and cooperation promised in the November Throne
Speech. All parties should work together to make 2009 a year of opportunity
to seek the common good.
Chandra Pasma is a policy analyst with Citizens for
Public Justice, www.cpj.ca, an ecumenical social advocacy organization.
January 2009
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