Over the past year, the Government of Canada has travelled across the country, engaging with thousands of Canadians, especially those who have lived experience with poverty, to hear their stories, ideas and feedback about reducing poverty. Today the Honourable Jean‑Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced the release of the What We Heard report, a summary of the feedback gathered during the Poverty Reduction Strategy engagement process.
Many of the experiences and stories shared by Canadians are captured in the report, reflecting the diverse needs of Canadians affected by poverty. The report covers issues such as the inability to meet basic needs, challenges with joining the middle class, risks of slipping into poverty, experiences of First Nation, Inuit and Métis people, service delivery and targets and indicators.
Canadians are concerned about their future and the future of their children. They want to see real, tangible results from their government with solutions that address the root causes of poverty. This will require bold and measurable solutions that are inclusive and work to address different aspects of poverty faced by Canadians, as well as setting measurable targets to reduce poverty. The invaluable feedback gathered during the engagement process will help to inform the ongoing work to develop the first-ever Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy.
