(Niagara At Large is pleased to post the following notice from the Social Assistance Reform Network of Niagara on an upcoming forum on finding solutions to poverty for our readers information.)
The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty Forum
The Social Assistance Reform Network of Niagara (SARNN) is pleased to announce its annual spring forum “The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty”. It will include a presentation followed by a question and answer period.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 11th, 9:00-11:00am, registration starts at 8:30am
Location: Niagara Region Headquarters, Council Chambers, 2201 St. David’s Rd., Thorold
Presenter: Sheila Regehr, Executive Director of the National Council of Welfare (NCW)
The National Council of Welfare (NCW) is an advisory group that reports to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, The Honourable Diane Finley. The NCW released a report last fall called the Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty. The report is about the high dollar cost we are currently paying for the consequences of poverty and why investments to end poverty make better economic sense. Many Canadians are concerned that reducing poverty means more spending on people living in poverty, leaving others worse off. The growing body of research and experience in the past few years tells a different story. It shows that investing to reduce poverty benefits everyone.
“About one in 10 Canadians live in poverty – that’s over three million people, including 634,000 children”, says Lori Kleinsmith, a health promoter at Bridges Community Health Centre in Port Colborne and a member of the Social Assistance Reform Network of Niagara. “Addressing poverty requires thoughtful, multi-sectoral, collaborative discussions and solutions. We invite Niagara residents from all sectors to attend the forum and learn more about ways we can end poverty.”
A post-forum conversation to discuss how Niagara can use the information from the report will take place on Thursday, April 19th from 1:30-3:30pm at Niagara Region Headquarters.
The forum is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. For more information, please contact Lori Kleinsmith at 289-479-5017 X2445 or lori.kleinsmith@bridgeschc.ca
Recommended reading: The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty Report www.ncw.gc.ca
(Niagara At Large invites our readers to comment on this post. Remember that NAL only posts comments from individuals who are also willing to share their real first and last names.)
Niagara At Large 
It is unfortunate that members of the public would rather blame the poor for being poor and bureaucrats place more obstacles in the way of the poor from ever escaping poverty, than anybody is interested in actually resolving poverty. Resolving poverty is a win-win-win situation. There will be more tax revenues coming from those who have been able to escape poverty and less costs through health care (as people tend to be healthier and happier when they have enough income). The middle and working classes can be alleviated somewhat of their tax burden as it spreads to more people as more people will be paying into the pot. For everybody, we will be running fewer deficits and our society as a whole would be more productive, safe, healthier, prosperous and there would be less hatred of those at the top and those at the bottom. If you believe people at the bottom today are not subject to hate crimes and personal attacks, read the online comment section of any newspaper – particularly those that allow anonymous comments, and tell me if you would feel good being somebody at the bottom through no fault of your own being blamed for your own circumstances.
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