Senator proposes smarter spending on poverty issues

Paul Martin appointed Senator Art Eggleton is reported to have a better vision for addressing poverty in Canada.  In a TJ article on the issue of poverty, Eggleton is quoted as making economic arguments for policy changes, saying that poverty is not solely an issue of ethics.

The Ontario Senator’s website has a lot of information on his position.

An article published in 2008 by Eggleton’s Subcommittee on Cities of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology says on housing:

“Like poverty, unaffordable and/or inaccessible housing and homelessness are complex issues, with many causes and a panoply of proposed solutions.” (p. 38)

The report discusses federal tax policy as a tool for addressing inadequate increases in rental housing supply (p. 43).  An option discussed in the report is to encourage private investment in social housing referring to a witness’s suggestion that “involving the private sector is critical to meeting the housing needs of low-income Canadians in particular.” (p. 48). 

The report also discusses that different housing needs can be addressed with different solutions (p. 57-58).

Obviously poverty and housing issues are complex, and I hope the Senator is able to be involved in making our responses to these issues more effective and responsible.