Key Themes Guiding the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Eight key themes emerged from the 2005 Poverty Reduction consultations and
guided the development of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. These are core to the
strategic direction and public investment of the Provincial Government over the
long-term in reducing, preventing and alleviating poverty in Newfoundland and
Labrador:
- Better coordination and awareness within the Provincial Government, between the Provincial Government and the community, and between community
groups.
- A stronger emphasis on education including early learning, the ability of
the K to 12 system to meet the needs of all students, addressing low levels
of literacy, student debt, and barriers experienced in pursuing
post-secondary studies.
- Reducing barriers experienced by Income Support clients to go to work or
school and to raise Income Support rates to meet necessities.
- Understanding and addressing the links between low income and health
status.
- Understanding and addressing employment and economic development; including
low wages, poor benefits, the minimum wage rate, full-year and full-time
employment, and the role of the Employment Insurance (EI) system.
- Understanding and addressing the role that poverty plays in women’s
inequality and the connections between violence and poverty.
- Understanding and addressing the challenges faced by persons with
disabilities, reducing barriers to their employment and encouraging greater
inclusion in society.
- Understanding and addressing the development of specific strategies for high concentrations of poverty and the cycle of poverty.
These themes speak to the Provincial Government’s overall 10-year goal to
become the province with the least poverty in the country. The Provincial
Government would like to hear from you in regard to these themes.