Advocates call for poverty support as province anticipates budget surplus in upcoming fiscal report
Anti-poverty advocacy groups and the NDP opposition are calling on the provincial government, which is anticipating a budget surplus, to lift up Albertans struggling with poverty.
According to new data released by 2-1-1, the provincial help hotline, 30 per cent more Albertans are struggling to meet their basic needs for things like housing and food, over the past three years.
"People are really hurting," said Susan Gwynn, of anti-poverty advocacy group PovertyTalk!.
A study out of the University of Toronto says one out of five Alberta households are struggling with food insecurity.
Despite a slight dip from June to July, Canada's inflation rate continues to keep grocery bills higher than the previous year.
Alberta's NDP opposition said the province needs to prioritize helping those in poverty.
"The surplus belongs to all Albertans, and right now we're not seeing the benefit to important programs and services for the use of those surpluses," said Joe Ceci, NDP municipal affairs critic.
In June the UCP government announced a $3.9 billion surplus for the fiscal year ending in Mar. 2022 due to a dramatic rise in energy prices contributing to a surge of royalty revenues.
"It's not a surplus if you're failing to support Albertans at a time when they need it most. And its not a surplus when Albertans are paying more income tax, more for fees, more tuition and higher bills," said Ceci.
ADJUSTING INCOME SUPPORT BENEFITS
Anti-poverty advocates said the province could begin with adjusting or reindexing income support benefit programs to match inflation.
"(The province) also needs to put in place some things that can really help with affordability right now, those would be things like utility rate caps, or insurance rate caps, so that people have a predictable cap on what they're paying month to month, which can help them in the short term navigate this particular crisis," said Meaghon Reid, executive director of Vibrant Communities.
Another group also sees Alberta's prosperity as a potential moment to address poverty.
"When I hear that the province has money, it actually excites me because I know that the province is going to want to step in and help where things are hardest, where things are most needed," said Karen Ramchuk, president and CEO of the Women In Need Society (WINS).
In a statement, the province said affordability assistance is already in place.
"We know increased inflation and costs for day-to-day necessities are affecting Albertans. That’s why Alberta’s government has already committed more than $2 billion in relief that includes the elimination of the fuel tax, electricity rebates, natural gas rebates, and affordable childcare," said Paul Hamnett, press secretary for the Alberta minister of Finance.
It continued, "Albertans pay less in overall taxes with no PST, no payroll tax or health premium, as well as a low provincial income tax that almost 40 per cent of Alberta tax filers don't pay. A couple earning $75,000 with two children would pay $1,400 more in B.C. and $3,800 more in Ontario."
"Alberta has some of the lowest housing prices and rental costs among Canadian urban centres. A smaller share of income is spent on home ownership costs – 27 per cent in Edmonton and 35 per cent in Calgary vs. the Canadian average of 54 per cent. We are making rent more affordable for Albertans who don’t qualify for traditional affordable housing programs with the recently announced expansion of the Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit to over 80 communities. Alberta’s redesigned Rent Supplement Program, which includes the Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit, serves around 11,600 households, 3,800 more than were served under the original program.
Anti-poverty advocates said more action is needed.
"The government of Alberta must send a message that every person counts, not just the wealthy, but everyone," said Gwynn.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.