OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 17, 2021 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister,
Justin Trudeau, today issued the
following statement on the International Day for the Eradication of
Poverty:
"Today, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty,
we reflect on the progress we have made as a global community to
end poverty. We also acknowledge the work that remains to improve
the well-being of people in Canada
and around the world.
"This year's theme is 'Building Forward Together: Ending
Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People and our Planet.' The
COVID-19 pandemic has put at risk decades of progress made to end
poverty worldwide. As we rebuild from a once-in-a-century crisis,
this theme urges us to work together – including with those living
in persistent poverty – to end poverty in all forms through
strategies that protect human rights and ensure that no one is left
behind.
"Reducing poverty is a priority for the Government of
Canada. That is why we introduced
Canada's First Poverty Reduction
Strategy, which sets ambitious and concrete poverty reduction
targets. We are making long-term investments to support seniors,
increase housing options, provide clean water, improve
transportation, and provide skills development and training to
address multiple dimensions of poverty. We introduced the Canada
Child Benefit and are moving forward on establishing Canada-wide $10-a-day child care to make life more affordable
for families and increase women's participation in the workforce,
while creating new jobs and driving strong economic growth. We are
also working with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and
community groups to reduce poverty across the country. Over 1.3
million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty since 2015, and
we remain committed to reducing poverty by 50 per cent by the end
of the decade.
"While we have made progress in our efforts to reduce poverty,
COVID-19 has put this progress at risk everywhere. To help keep
Canadians safe and weather the socio-economic impacts of this
pandemic, we have provided $350
billion in support to Canadians and Canadian businesses
during this difficult time, including $290
billion in direct support measures. We will continue to
provide support to Canadians as long as we deal with this pandemic.
Budget 2021 included over $100
billion over three years in investments as part of the
Government of Canada's growth plan
that will create good jobs and support a resilient and inclusive
recovery. These investments will help us finish the fight against
COVID-19 and heal the wounds left by the COVID-19 recession by
creating an economy that is more innovative, more inclusive, and
more competitive.
"Canada is working at home and
abroad to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development
Goals, and build a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world
for all. Since last year, Canada
has committed over $2.6 billion in
international assistance to fight COVID-19 around the world.
Canada's international assistance
helps address humanitarian needs caused by the pandemic and other
crises, and helps support developing countries' recovery and
resilience. Guided by our Feminist International Assistance Policy,
we work closely with our international partners to reduce poverty
and inequality, and address the unique challenges faced by women
and girls.
"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite Canadians to join me in
thanking all those who work tirelessly every day to help lift
others out of hardship, and to take this opportunity to recommit
ourselves to eradicating poverty in our lifetime. Together, we can
end poverty, here in Canada and
around the world."
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office