This report raises a discussion about poverty in Alberta that has not yet occurred in a serious way. The costs of perpetuating poverty effects all of us, and now there is concrete evidence how this occurs.

There is no ethical rationale for perpetuating poverty, anywhere. Now we not only have tangible evidence how poverty harms us all economically, but also how perpetuating poverty harms all of us in a variety of ways. Poverty is no longer an issue of the few, but an issue impacting everyone in very concrete ways.

Kelly Ernst, Senior Program Director, Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership