April 12, 2007 

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Question asked during Oral Question Period of the 26th Legislature of Alberta, 3rd Session from Dr. Kevin Taft, Hon. Member from Edmonton-Riverview, Leader of the Official Opposition

April 12, 2007

Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albertans care about each other. They recognize that we’re all in this together. The Canada West Foundation last year found that 65 per cent of Albertans felt that reducing poverty should be a high government priority. The Alberta Liberals agree. Yet a report released today by the Edmonton planning council found that there are enough Edmontonians living in poverty to fill the entire cities of both Red Deer and Lethbridge combined. To the Premier: will the Premier admit that his government is out of step with the priorities of Albertans when it comes to addressing poverty?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this government has listened very closely to Albertans. Our five priorities are built on what Albertans have told us. One of the most important priorities, of course, is quality of life for all Albertans, and we’re working very diligently on that priority.

Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government’s income support programs are failing. Only 30 per cent of lowincome families on income support ever get out of poverty. This government’s programs are a poverty trap. They are not a hand up, and they aren’t even a tolerable handout. In the richest province in this country this government shows the least concern for single parents. To the Premier: what will it take for this government to finally take action and address its shockingly low levels of support for single parents and their children?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we took action in this area many years ago by increasing considerably the tax exemptions for low-income earners. I think we have the largest exemption of any province in Canada. The other is that it’s not only supporting families; it’s also giving the skills and the opportunity to participate in the job opportunities available to them in this province. That’s another goal of ours: to upgrade their skills so that they can feel positive about their contribution to the province.

Dr. Taft: Seventy per cent of those people never get out of poverty, Mr. Speaker. Today’s report from the Edmonton Social Planning Council shows that families with children living on social assistance today survive, if you can call it that, on government support worth half of what they received 25 years ago. This is shameful. Children don’t deserve to be poor. Not one child in Alberta should live in poverty. While this government pays the contract of a defeated Tory MLA, it expects a single parent with a child to live on little more than a thousand dollars a month. To the Premier: how does this government tolerate thousands of children in Alberta living in such poverty?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible will inform the House and, obviously, the opposition in terms of the size and the number of programs we have for those requiring assistance.

Ms Evans: Mr. Speaker, you know, it’s ludicrous that in a province that has a Ministry of Children’s Services, that provides more for children in this country than any other place, the opposition, who know full well that we have subsidies – and if my colleague were here, relative to child benefits she would talk about it. But I could also point out, Mr. Speaker, that in 2006-07 – and we share responsibility on health benefits for mothers and children – we spent $637 million on program planning and delivery, employment and training, health benefits, and income supports.

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