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Poverty reductions strategy needed across country

Federal, provincial and territorial governments need to work together

To the editor:

Since 2006, the government of Newfoundland & Labrador, especially the Poverty Reduction Strategy has been committed "to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty (Reducing Poverty: An Action Plan)."

While the province is trying to move forward, the federal government has been working in reverse.

I don't know how Newfoundland & Labrador can effectively reduce poverty by itself, without the help of our federal government.

Our province has to work with Ottawa, and our municipalities, plus all social-economic stakeholders to make poverty reduction a reality.

In the meantime, there are Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans and Canadians who are falling through our province's and country's social safety net.

Canadians need our federal government to exercise its national leadership role in combating poverty by calling for a National Poverty Reduction Strategy; a National Housing Strategy; a new National Health Accord and the reintroduction of the National Pharmaceutical Strategy.

Furthermore, the provinces, territories and the federal government should consider the old Guaranteed Annual Income scheme.

We may never eliminate poverty, but Ottawa and the provinces and territories should try at least do something to give a hand up to those people who are trying to escape the poverty trap.

No one should be left behind.

Edward Sawdon

St. John's, NL