Alberta’s response to poverty is below the national average: Food Banks Canada

Alberta is slightly below the national average when it comes to addressing poverty, according to Food Banks Canada’s first-ever poverty report released Tuesday.

The report looked at how governments are addressing poverty, how effective current policies are, and how people perceive their financial situation.

With Alberta scoring a ‘D,’ the province is just below the national average of ‘D+.’

“Alberta is not immune to what’s happening across the country in terms of affordability,” said Meaghon Reid, executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, said. “I think the difference we have in Alberta is that we have more money than some other provinces to really be tackling the situation.”

Alberta is failing people receiving social and disability assistance, according to the report, saying the funding puts them below the poverty line.

The rate of people turning to food banks in Alberta has increased more than twice the national rate and is the highest in the country.

An average of D+ shows the entire country is struggling to address poverty.

With a problem so vast, the federal government needs to act.

“At the national level, we need really urgent focus on housing- affordable housing,” Reid added. “And we need the right income support in place while those houses are being built so that people who are currently housed don’t lose their housing.”

An area where Alberta is slightly above the national average is in the legislative process addressing action taken to reduce poverty.

With a grade of ‘C,’ Food Banks Canada says Alberta’s affordability action plan, which includes things like fuel tax relief, and payments to seniors and families, is a promising step.

However, it adds time will tell how effective those programs remain.