Psychiatrists Call Upon the Government to Act on Poverty Report

OTTAWA, Sept. 30 /CNW/ - The CPA calls upon the Government to live up to the commitments made less than one year ago today to establish a plan to eliminate poverty in Canada.

Yesterday, the Government of Canada listed its accomplishments in reducing poverty in Canada yet did not directly comment on a single recommendation contained in the report, In from the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness.  Earlier this year, the Senate of Canada unanimously endorsed this landmark report which contained 74 recommendations to help lift Canadians out of poverty.

November 24, 2009 Parliament voted unanimously to support the Government of Canada in the development of an immediate plan to eliminate poverty in Canada.  This motion was brought forward on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the 1989 resolution by The House of Commons to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000—a goal that was not achieved. 

"You can't effectively build a response to poverty without dealing with the recommendations of the In from the Margins report.  People with mental illness often live in chronic poverty. Conversely, poverty can be a significant risk factor for poor physical and mental health. Safe and affordable housing is pivotal to a person's recovery,"  says Dr. Nizar Ladha, President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association.

The Canadian Psychiatric Association is the national voice for Canada's 4,100 psychiatrists and more than 600 psychiatric residents.  Founded in 1951, the CPA is dedicated to promoting an environment that fosters excellence in the provision of clinical care, education and research.

For further information:

Hélène Côté, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Tel: [phone] or [email protected]