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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Activists call for war on poverty
A coalition of activists asked the country's premiers Thursday to ramp up the fight to eradicate poverty in Canada.
Representatives from business and community groups across Canada, as well as provincial and federal politicians, came together for a round table in Winnipeg Wednesday to discuss a nationwide strategy to eradicate poverty.
Taking advantage of the meeting of Canada's premiers in Winnipeg this week, they presented the Council of the Federation with a draft of their comprehensive anti-poverty strategy at a press conference Thursday.
The group is asking the Council of the Federation to create a working group on poverty reduction, to report back at the council's meeting next year, and to pressure the federal government to do its part to reduce poverty in Canada.
"It's clear that any effective poverty-reduction plan in Canada has to involve the federal government in a major way," said Sid Frankel, chairman of the Manitoba chapter of Campaign 2000, an anti-poverty education group born in 1989.
Poverty activist Harry Wolbert says every day is a challenge when you're dealing with a disability and the barriers that come with it.
"We're struggling day to day. Some things need to change."
Wolbert and his wife both live with disabilities. He describes himself as working poor. His epilepsy means he can't drive a car and is thus overlooked for many jobs.
"There's a misconception that the poor are lazy," said Wolbert, who wants to work more.
Wolbert participated in Wednesday's round table and strongly supports the group's requests. He said with upcoming elections, now is a crucial time for change.
"There's a window of opportunity to do something, finally," he said.
"The province and the (federal) government both need to take leadership on poverty on and off reserves."
Wolbert said some of the worst examples of poverty in Canada can be found on aboriginal reserves.
"It's sad for a country as well off as ours to allow this to continue," he said.
sandy.kowak@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 6, 2010 A12
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