Introduction
Canada faced high poverty rates, especially during the pandemic, so the government took steps to improve the situation and implement an anti-poverty policy. In 2021, the poverty rate in Canada was 7.4%, a figure that predates the pandemic (Government of Canada, 2023). The main factor that helps to reduce high poverty rates is a well-developed anti-poverty strategy. The first strategy, called Opportunity for All, was launched in 2016; as a result, over the course of four years, these actions were transformed into the Poverty Reduction Act (Government of Canada, 2023).
Furthermore, the Manitoba Poverty Reduction Act helps decrease poverty rates and respond to potential crises. This Act serves as a legislative framework with the primary goal of addressing poverty locally in the province of Manitoba, and it is part of a more comprehensive Poverty Reduction Act. The full name of this Act is Pathways to the Better Future, established in 2019 (Government of Canada, 2023). The strategy is based on a collaborative and comprehensive approach to poverty reduction, incorporating social inclusion to identify and address poverty. This policy consists of 13 indicators to measure poverty. As a result, focus is made on the most critical areas.
Objectives
To analyze the ideological perspective of the Manitoba Act, its success in 2022, and plans for 2023, a comparison is warranted. In 2022, the plan’s primary objectives focused on supporting the most vulnerable populations, including marginalized families and individuals who were in the greatest need of assistance (Government of Manitoba, 2022). Moreover, the implementation of the Manitoba Act in 2022 was based on the significant collaboration and cooperation between Manitoba and the federal government. In this case, the government launched essential investments aligned with the Pathways to a Better Life plan to achieve the pre-pandemic poverty rates. This cooperation demonstrated the importance of collective work and responsibility in maintaining the economic condition of the province and country.
Additionally, the success in 2022 helped establish goals for 2023. As a result, for 2023, it is planned to continue working on improving the quality of life and building on the progress already achieved (Government of Manitoba, 2023). Lastly, the measurement framework was improved to get more accurate results.
Steps of the Intervention
The strategy, launched by Manitoba and the federal government, is based on different steps to reduce poverty. Primarily, the plan’s basis was derived from the Poverty Reduction Plan, which includes poverty metrics, sets goals, establishes the National Advisory Council on Poverty, and provides governments with practical tools to manage poverty (Government of Canada, 2019). As a result, the Manitoba Poverty Reduction Act aligns with the principles of reconciliation. This Act offers opportunities for economic inclusion and the successful establishment of life. The 13 indicators were chosen to achieve these goals, and key targets and measurement frameworks were included.
Additionally, the government plans to reduce poverty rates among children by 25% by 2025 compared to 2015 (Government of Canada, 2019). The main steps outlined in the strategy include investments in Manitoba’s future, supporting children, active collaboration, economic inclusion, and promoting community-based organizations, as well as implementing positive changes through social innovation. The underlying values of the Act are active collaboration and participation by each person, with a structural focus on addressing poverty and improving economic outcomes in the province and country.
Results
The results of the Manitoba Poverty Reduction Act, as reported in 2020 and 2022, show that the government is on the right track. It is reported that the poverty rates in Canada have remained unchanged since the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating the effectiveness of the chosen plan. As of March 2023, more than 865,000 Canadians were employed, a notable increase compared to pre-pandemic rates (Government of Canada, 2023).
However, there are a few issues, including inflation, from which many Canadians suffer and cannot make ends meet. In addition, the decreased rates of child poverty compared with 2015 – 19.3% in 2020 – 6% demonstrate that the government is on the right track and should refine its policies and Act (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2022). This issue requires immediate attention, as it also significantly contributes to the issue of poverty. On the other hand, the goals set by the government to be achieved by 2025 were already exceeded in 2020, which demonstrates the significant benefits of the program and the Act.
Reliability
The chosen approach appears to be reliable enough to address the poverty rates in Canada. The government’s investments in the priority areas enable them to develop and provide people with jobs. The focus on early learning and child care addresses the key factors contributing to increased poverty, including mental health, addictions, and income assistance(Government of Canada, 2023).
Moreover, the chosen approach for a collaborative response to the COVID-19 challenges demonstrates the awareness of governments about the core of the issue and local problems, ensuring that vulnerable populations are protected. In this case, the Act addresses the negative impact of COVID-19, which had a significant impact on people’s financial lives. Lastly, using 13 indicators to reveal, analyze, and address poverty makes Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Act a reliable strategy that includes various aspects of the causes of poverty in Canada. Therefore, the chosen approach to cooperate and analyze the causes of poverty and ways to address them appears reliable and efficient.
Limitations
Despite the promising results of the Poverty Reduction Act, a few concerns remain, including the role of inflation and its impact on poverty. As previously mentioned, many people in Canada struggle to make ends meet due to increased inflation, and this issue is not addressed in the Act. In this case, significant investments may have a limited impact due to increased inflation. In addition, focusing primarily on children and youth can hurt other populations, so attention and efforts should be effectively balanced for each inhabitant in Canada. In this case, conflicts and misunderstandings can be reduced.
Recommendations
Lastly, despite the success of the Poverty Reduction Act, there are a few recommendations to establish in further projects. Firstly, sustainable efforts can be implemented through collaboration with the federal government and various stakeholders. In this case, much more support and initiative can be created and conducted.
Secondly, the specific factors that contribute to poverty should be identified and addressed. As a result, the core causes of poverty can be identified, thereby reducing the time required to address these challenges. Thirdly, one of the most disturbing things is homelessness. In this case, this issue should be analyzed and addressed by creating special shelters for these people (Citizens for Public Justice, 2019). As a result, their quality of life can improve, and poverty rates could decrease.
Lastly, the ongoing evaluation of the causes, reasons, and factors that significantly contribute to poverty is needed, as well as an evaluation of the interventions and their effectiveness. This evaluation enables us to observe changes in the poverty rate and align them with future anti-poverty policies.
References
Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ). (2019). Election 2019: Ending Poverty in Canada.
Employment and Social Development Canada. (2022). Poverty Reduction.
Government of Canada. (2019). Poverty Reduction Act.
Government of Canada. (2023). Canada’s poverty rate remains below pre-pandemic levels. Employment and Social Development Canada.
Government of Manitoba. (2022). Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – Budget 2022.
Government of Manitoba. (2023). Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – Budget 2023.