What Are The Root Causes of Poverty In Moncton?

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Some sobering statistics have been unveiled by the City of Moncton’s poverty and social inclusion committee.

The group split up into six subcommittees in August which focused on areas like food security, housing affordability and poverty.

Craig Storey, who chairs the poverty subcommittee, presented poverty rates (from the 2016 census) to Moncton City Council on Monday which are higher than the provincial and national figures.

“One in five Monctonians lives in poverty… 28 percent of children in Moncton live in poverty… that is a staggering number,” he noted.

Generally speaking about poverty, Storey said there is a correlation to literacy, employment and numeracy.

Storey believes it will take a village to combat poverty noting that the municipal, provincial and federal governments, the community or businesses can’t do it alone.

He thinks the pandemic has undoubtedly made the situation worse.

Storey feels it’s time to take a new approach to combat the problem.

“The current solutions aren’t… aren’t winning the battle. So it’s time to start to change what it is we’re focusing on and addressing some root causes.”

He adds the poverty and social inclusion committee wants to raise awareness about the issue before coming up with an action plan and will then return to city council seeking support.