A recent report by an anti-poverty advocacy group shows that northern Saskatchewan has the second highest child poverty rate in the country.
“The Sask. Party has known for years that action is needed to address poverty, but they just won’t act,” said NDP Social Services Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Instead of making the smart investments we need to reduce poverty, we’re seeing shortsighted cuts to supports for the vulnerable, like the Rental Housing Supplement, that are only going to make this unacceptable problem even worse.”
The report also reiterated calls made in recent reports from the Provincial Auditor and the Saskatchewan Children’s Advocate for better access to mental health supports in Northern communities.
“There is so much more that needs to be done to address poverty in Saskatchewan and this report makes it crystal clear that now is not the time to be cutting the Rental Housing Supplement – a needed support for so many in our province,” said Wotherspoon.