News release

Provincial and Territorial Ministers Committed to Quality Social Services for Canadians

Community Services

Provincial and territorial ministers responsible for social services met today, July 31, in Halifax to discuss key social policy issues including: income security for Canadians and reducing poverty; improving outcomes for Indigenous children and youth; and improving supports for families and children with autism spectrum disorder.

Ministers highlighted the importance of providing effective and innovative social services to Canadians to meet their distinct needs. The meeting was an opportunity for provinces and territories to discuss how best to continue working together on areas of common interest.

Provincial and territorial ministers had a thorough conversation about their respective approaches and initiatives to prevent and reduce poverty. Ministers agreed that, although their approaches might differ, they “are united in their vision of a Canada where all individuals are included, can develop to their full potential and can participate fully in social and economic life”. Ministers agreed to the statement below about poverty reduction, “Meeting the Challenge: Provincial-Territorial Vision Statement on Poverty Reduction”.

Ministers noted the federal government’s intentions to release a federal poverty reduction strategy. Ministers are keen to review that strategy to see how it aligns with existing provincial and territorial poverty reduction efforts.

Ministers are committed to transforming child welfare to improve outcomes for Indigenous children and youth. Change is underway and will take time and require continued, intensive effort on the part of the provinces and territories and their partners, including Indigenous leaders, communities, and families.

Ministers will continue to maintain an open dialogue and engage their respective First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners in the ongoing work in their jurisdictions to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in care.

Ministers look forward to receiving more information from the federal government about its plans to develop federal Indigenous child and family services legislation and plans to address the requirements of Jordan’s Principle. It is critical to ensure that these federal directions will work effectively with provincial and territorial initiatives already underway. Ministers highlighted the importance of respecting the responsibilities of each order of government, most of all the constitutional and fiduciary responsibilities of the federal government toward Indigenous peoples.

The meeting was chaired by Kelly Regan, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Community Services.

“I was pleased to welcome my provincial and territorial colleagues to Nova Scotia,” said Ms. Regan. “We had a valuable opportunity to discuss issues that impact our communities, families, and children. We were able to develop a shared understanding of the ways these issues affect our jurisdictions and set the stage for further discussion and collaboration. I am pleased with the progress we have made together on issues such as supporting families and children with disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, child intervention, poverty reduction, and income security.

“We agreed to a shared vision statement about poverty reduction and acknowledge we cannot meet the challenges we face in isolation. There is much we can learn from each other, from other government and community partners, and especially from people with lived experience. I look forward to continuing to work with provincial, territorial, and federal colleagues to ensure we meet the needs of Canadian families.”


Meeting the Challenge: Provincial-Territorial Vision Statement on Poverty Reduction Vision:

All Canadians have the opportunity to live with dignity and realize their full potential. Provinces and territories are united in their vision of a Canada where all individuals are included, can develop to their full potential and can participate fully in social and economic life. This can be achieved by working in collaboration to address the social and economic disparities that exist today, and by creating the innovative and responsive solutions required to meet the challenges of the future.

Principles:
It is important that all Canadians are supported to develop to their full potential. Preventing and reducing poverty, as well as alleviating its impacts, are ongoing priorities for Provinces and Territories. A long-term, collaborative effort from all governments is needed, as is the involvement of communities, community-based groups and individuals. We must find more effective ways to support those living in poverty and to protect those who are at risk, while recognizing the need for prevention and being able to respond to the changing nature of Canadian society.

Provincial and territorial governments have a responsibility to listen to those with lived experience of poverty and to work collaboratively to reduce poverty. Social change, emerging technologies, demographic shifts, and the evolving nature of work and labour markets present new challenges for our country and for reducing poverty. Provincial and Territorial ministers responsible for social services are united in recognizing the need for innovative responses; we cannot meet these challenges while working in isolation and we can learn and build on experiences from across Canada.

Our poverty reduction efforts must also acknowledge the diverse circumstances in different parts of the country. The voices of those with lived experience, and the unique needs of rural and remote regions, urban areas, Indigenous communities, recent immigrants and refugees, children, youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities, as well as the gendered nature of poverty, must be central to poverty reduction work.

Poverty reduction must recognize the historic and ongoing impacts of government policies on Indigenous peoples and poverty in Indigenous communities. In the spirit of reconciliation and renewed relationships, poverty reduction must support and empower Indigenous peoples, communities and leaders. Respecting their distinct roles and responsibilities, provincial and territorial ministers are committed to working collaboratively with the federal government and other partners in the development and implementation of meaningful and effective solutions that build upon the work of provinces and territories.

Priorities: Provincial and territorial ministers are committed to working with each other and the federal government to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty. Approaches to transformative change could include developing the tools, strategies, and policies, including:

  • Future-proofing: responding to the changing nature of work and other social changes, including ensuring that our social and income security systems reflect today’s realities and are prepared for the trends and challenges of the future
  • Alignment: better co-ordinating programs, services and policies to avoid duplication, maximize cumulative impact, and improve ease of access for individuals and families living in or vulnerable to poverty
  • Measurement: developing, sharing, and using information to identify trends and gaps, and as appropriate, establishing common measures and indicators
  • Prevention-focused approach: recognizing the multiple dimensions, causes and consequences of poverty and its intergenerational nature, ensuring an approach that is consistent with human rights principles and is focused on preventing poverty