Along with Action to End Poverty in Alberta I thank Premier Redford for her commitment to ending poverty in Alberta and the Premier and the Ministry for Human Services for their initiative and engagement of Albertans in a conversation on a Social Policy Framework. I am encouraged that the Premier and the Ministry have identified a strategy to end poverty as a key outcome of this framework.

I call on the Government of Alberta to make ending poverty a priority and to work with all levels of government, the community and especially with people experiencing poverty to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy and action plan. I feel strongly that government spending in this area is actually an investment that benefits all Albertans and will ultimately reduce the government's cost base

With a strategy in place we can improve the lives of individuals and families in our communities; decrease provincial spending on effects of poverty; increase literacy, education and skills training - leading to increased work opportunities for individuals and companies; and increase the economic productivity of Alberta.

There is nothing inevitable about poverty in a society as wealthy as ours.

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