Canada is a prosperous country, yet in 2015 roughly 1 in 8 Canadians lived in poverty. The vision of Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy is a Canada without poverty, because we all suffer when our fellow citizens are left behind. We are all in this together, from governments, to community organizations, to the private sector, to all Canadians who are working hard each and every day to provide for themselves and their families.
Overall, Opportunity for All brings together new investments of $22 billion that the Government has made since 2015 to support the social and economic well-being of all Canadians. These actions will help lift about 650,000 Canadians out of poverty by 2019, with more expected as the impacts of these investments are realized in the years to come.
Opportunity for All also sets the foundation for future government investments in poverty reduction. It is based on three pillars to focus Government actions to reduce poverty:
- Dignity: Lifting Canadians out of poverty by ensuring basic needs— such as safe and affordable housing, healthy food, and health care are met;
- Opportunity and Inclusion: Helping Canadians join the middle class by promoting full participation in society and equality of opportunity; and
- Resilience and Security: Supporting the middle class by protecting Canadians from falling into poverty and by supporting income security and resilience.
Published By: Government of Canada
Publication Date: 2018
