Common Front for Social Justice

Common Front for Social Justice
96 Norwood Avenue
Moncton, NB E1C 6L9

March 10, 2008

OPEN LETTER

Mr. James K. Irving
300 Union Street
Saint John, NB
E2L 4M3

Dear Mr. Irving:

It is with much interest that we have followed your involvement in poverty issues in Saint John.  Recently, the Globe and Mail published an article on poverty where it said that business leaders were spearheading the fight to end poverty. The author also implied that we should forget public policy makers and turn toward civic leaders like yourself who are taking on the challenge of moving people out of poverty.

However, as you are well aware, poverty has many facets as well as a multiplicity of causes.  Consequently, tackling it will require a diversity of approaches if we are to make a significant difference in the lives of people living in poverty.

We are interested in knowing if you would support the following concrete proposals and join with us to make our fight against poverty an issue of justice rather than one of charity.

One way of reducing poverty is to increase the revenue of people living below the poverty line as defined by Statistics Canada. Between 1994 and 2005, the average income for the poorest 10% of Canadians families with children has increased by $2,576. In contrast the income of the richest 10% has incresed by $50,115, (almost 20 times more) (1). Right now, in New Brunswick, almost 24% of workers are making less than $10 an hour (2). Over 40,000 citizens are on social assistance (3). In March 2007, 16,347 people visited a food bank; 18% of those were employed, while 65% reported social assistance as their primary source of income (4).

Would you be in favor of a government legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour? This would bring an individual working 40 hours per week, during 52 weeks of the year, just above the poverty line.

Would you support a government decision which would give people on social assistance a living income indexed to the cost of living?

Would you support a provincial Pay Equity Legislation in order that women doing work of comparable value to men receive the same pay so that there is no discrimination?

Would you support the modernization of the Employment Insurance Program so that workers, when out of a job, can receive more than 55% of their salary, for a longer period and also get trained or retrained?

Would you support the implementation of a New Brunswick Poverty Reduction Strategy similar to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador which would put in place some immediate concrete actions on poverty reduction, as well as long term solutions.

More than 50% of our working-age population lack the literacy and numeracy competencies that are essential for coping successfully in today’s information-based society (5). This has an impact in finding a job, in knowing which services to access and in fully participating in civil society. It also leads to exclusion and social isolation.

Would you support improved provincial and federal funding for literacy programs? They would then become publicly financed programs, rather than having to rely on private funds which are insufficient, sporadic and inconsistent?

There is a lack of affordable housing for low and medium income citizens. The amount of money which poor people have to pay for a house, an apartment or a room (and to heat it) takes a good portion of their revenue.

Would you support a provincial housing policy that would improve social housing initiatives and allow more funds for home repairs?

Would you support a provincial policy that would limit any rising cost in heating fuel or electricity to the cost of living?

4. Better Public Health Care

There is a strong and growing evidence that higher social and economic status is associated with better health. In fact, these two factors seem to be the most important determinants of health (6).

Currently, there is a trend to privatize certain health services, reduce the coverage under Medicare and increase the amount we have to pay for medication. This is putting people living in poverty in dire straight because they can't afford those extra expenses.

Would you support maintaining and enhancing our Public Health Care system so that everyone has the same access to services and coverage?

Would you support a National Public Pharmacare Program so that drugs are accessible to everyone and not just for those who have money?

In 2006, 16.4% of New Brunswick families are headed by a single parent. A very high percentage (82%) of them are women. In 2005, 37% of female lone- parent families were living in poverty (7). These families have children. It has been proven again and again that children having access to a high quality daycare will perform better than children not going to daycare In our province, only 14% of children have access to a regulated childcare space (8). The parent’s knowledge that children are well taken care of when at work helps to reduces the amount of stress.. Moreover, women who have access to daycare are more apt to find a job.

Would you support a National Daycare Public Program in order to give every child the same chance?

Would you support the adoption of early learning and child care legislation to enshrine the right of New Brunswick children and families to access quality, affordable child care services?

The physical environment is an important determinant of health. At certain levels of exposure, contaminants in air, water, food and soil can cause a variety of adverse health effects. Childhood asthma, a respiratory disease that is highly sensitive to airborne contaminants, has increased sharply over the last two decades, especially among the age group 0 to 5 (9).

Would you support the imposition of stricter emission controls for companies that are polluting our air?

Would support a legislation that would keep water in public hands?

Several recent studies point to troubling new income and taxation trends in Canada. The income gap between the rich and the rest of us keeps growing. Our governments are leading the nation towards a regressive tax system where the rich are asked to contribute less, despite their ability to pay their fair share.

Over the past five years, the revenue that pays for the things Canadians say they want will drop by $60 billion. There are cuts to GST, to personal income taxes and corporate taxes - with the latest dropping from 21% to 15% by 2012 (10). This will deprive the federal government of about 60 billion dollars and will have an impact on its ability to deliver public services and programs (health, education, literacy, affordable housing, etc.) that are making a difference in the fight against poverty.

Would you support a fair taxation system that would based contributions on real revenues?

Would you support an inheritance tax?

M. Irving, we appreciate the time and consideration you will give to our proposal and we hope to receive a positive response to our request.

Sincerely yours,

Linda McCaustlin, co-chair
John Gagnon, co-chair
Common Front for Social Justice

1. 2007 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty, p.3
2. CUPE Economic Brief. November 2007
3. www.gnb.ca/0017/statistics/07-08-e-asp
4. 2007 Hunger Count, p.p
5. Literacy in New Brunswick, Implications and findings from IALSS 2003, Satya Brink (February 2006), p.12
6. Public Health Agency of Canada, Determinants of Health, p.2
7. New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women - Bulletin 2008, p.2 and 6
8. NB Childcare Coalition, News release, November 19, 2007
9. Public Health Agency of Canada - Determinants of Health, p.9
10. The CCPA Monitor, December - January 2008, p.29