Dryden calls Canadians to action in tacking 'unacceptable levels of poverty' Liberal MP travelling country with plan to cut numbers living in poverty
WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
Ken Dryden, MP for York Centre and a former Liberal leadership
hopeful, and Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy walk into The Guardian building in Charlottetown for a meeting with the paper’s editorial board. Dryden is on a cross-Canada tour to pitch his plan to cut the number of Canadians who live in poverty. Guardian photo
Ken Dryden is on a mission, one that he hopes will end with a plan to cut the number of Canadians who live in poverty.
The Liberal MP and retired hockey great is travelling across Canada to engage Canadians in what he calls a national call to action to address the “unacceptable levels of poverty” that affect Canadians of all ages and all walks of life.
The Liberal plan would see a 30 per cent reduction in poverty across the board, increasing to a 50 per cent reduction in child poverty.
“None of us have done very well in addressing poverty,” Dryden said during at meeting with The Guardian’s editorial board Thursday in Charlottetown.
Dryden also held a public forum Thursday night, the first of 16 that will be held across the country in the month of January.
Dryden is short on details. He also won’t disclose how much the 30-50 plan to reduce poverty will cost, saying that will be outlined during the next federal election.
Still, the party says part of its plan would include lowering the welfare wall to encourage and reward work, as well as supporting working families by making the non-refundable child credit into a refundable credit and expand and improve
the Canada Child Tax Benefit, so that even people who do not pay taxes receive a benefit.
For seniors, the Liberals propose to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement payments for the lowest-income seniors, ensure that the loss of a partner does not drive the surviving spouse below the low-income threshold, and encourage and reward those seniors who choose to participate in the workforce.
Another element of the plan is to honour the promises made in the Kelowna Accord, a new plan for Canada’s aboriginals signed by the Liberals and the province but later scrapped by the Conservatives.
Dryden said one-income families, aboriginals and new immigrants are among the poorest of the poor. He said it’s time the federal government seriously took on the issue of poverty.
“Taking on poverty is hard, takes time, has lots of ups and downs,” he said.
“It means you truly have to believe that taking a big bite out of poverty really matters. It takes an entire country to fight this fight and it needs to be fought because we’re better than this. Canada is better than this.”
The Guardian is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a semi-moderated or reactively moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes directly to the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
Way To Go from PEI writes: Way to go Ken and Shawn.Now someone is on the right track.Leave the Gst rate where it is and use the money to help our low income families ! The 1% gst cut means nothing to most canadians financialy, it just sounds good to pay less tax. I'm not in the low income bracket, but at times it is still hard to make ends meet, so I can imagine how difficult it must be. If we can't help out our neighbors in need of a little help now and then, what kind of a country are we.We as individuals can't do it all, but as a collective group we can do alot.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
RP. from Summerside, PEI writes: This is the same kind of bull crap they were saying in 1993. Why didn't they do it the 13 years they were in power? Social justice and the environment are priorities for Liberals only before elections. It's the same snare every time, to try and snag the so-called progressive vote. And then, nothing, or worse.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
bill from ontario writes: It's kind of a weak arguement to say because they didn't solve the poverty problem in 1993, they won;t do it in the future. the country was in massive debt when they took over in 1993- now we have a surplus. And dryden is a bridge builder- he did what was said to be impossible: brokering agreement with all 10 provinces on a day care deal before harper cancelled it. Dryden isn't in politics for fame or money- he really believes in fairness and to criticize him for the past actions of others is patently unfair. I'm glad people like Ken still run for office in this country. its so much easier to snipe from the sidelines....
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
littledove from Pownal, Pe writes: If anybody knows about poor families and how much of it is out there is Mr.Ken Dryden. He has seen many children who could have done well for themselves but lacked the support of others to help his or,her, parent or, parents in the sports and family settings during his career as a hockey great!
This gentleman wants to give back to Canada and we can help him and ourselves by making sure we dont become dependent on any other country because of poverty. Mr. Ken Dryden is a teamplayer and Canada needs his vision and expertise brought to the centerstage in the next election. Mr. Dion and Mr. Dryden are both passionate man for Canada as was Mr. Trudeau. If we give them the chance to realize this dream we will become the more richer for it as the economy will thrive better and there will be great harmony and respect of all peoples of Canada no matter where we live. We cant all live in the boomtown , so therefore the boomtowns and Companys with deep pockets can invest more in families and children who will be the next leaders of this beautiful country we live in for generations to come. We must help each other and be less divided if we are to thrive and grow on the world stage. Take a hard look at the US economy if we dont help take care of our poor or, disadvantaged people who are in a situation through know fault of their own .
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Krista from Ontario writes: There is more to poverty than just undernourished children and families. Poverty is at the core of many other social issues. Curbing the levels of poverty will help to take the burden off of other social programs, such as health care and will allow children to grow up and reach their full potential. Studies have proven that well-fed youth perform at a higher level in school and thus can have greater opportunity to realize their maximum potential.
It is politicians like Mr. Dryden, who have the ability to make a change in the political discourse of the nation, that must step up and help others realize the devastating effects of poverty in Canada. Thanks to him for proving that our politicians are not blind to this issue, at the very forefront of Canadian public policy.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
JOE from PEI writes: Hey, everybody, what speaks louder than the threat to employees that want to choose not to work on Sunday, and, whether we believe they have that right or not; is this news article dutifully helps us miss a major point! Wal-Mart, Zellers are Prince Edward Island’s major employers ??? And that the working people of Prince Edward Island fear losing their sub- quality part-time jobs ??? And, this is a job that entails; stocking shelves with cheap shoddy Chinese products made for a Chinese penny and selling these cheap shoddy Chinese products made for a Chinese penny to Prince Edward Island consumers for many strong Canadian dollars. This points out very clearly to Prince Edward Islanders the fact that all our PEI government ‘s -conservative and liberal- have been complete failures in regards to bringing economic vitality to this island.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
JOE from PEI writes: JOE from PEI writes: TRACYVILLE, N.B. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced his intention to return $1-billion dollars a portion of the$50 billion taken from over tax Canadians to establish a welfare package to help single-industry towns suffering economic hardship because of volatile commodity and financial markets. Caused by Stephen Harper's Bush light neoliberal thoughtless economic jingoism.
The money will be used for a Harper conservative government plan to cover up failed economic and trade management policy blunders that have devastated Atlantic Canada
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Larry from pei writes: I like Dryden- maybe an honest Liberal. I vote Liberal because my great grandfather, grandfather, and father do.
PEI where a nurses union president runs for a conservative party. Does conservatisim not go against what unionist believe. Not in PEI. Ha Ha. Keeo voting liberal or conservative and you get the same. But i like Ken Dryden.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
