Province Begins Work on New 10-Year Poverty Reduction Strategy

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has begun developing a new 10-year Poverty Reduction and Prevention Strategy aimed at lowering poverty rates to the lowest in Canada by 2036.

The province says the strategy will focus on practical, forward-looking solutions, supported by collaboration across multiple government departments and community partners.

A ministerial committee has been established to guide the initiative. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being and Minister of Housing, and includes ministers responsible for health, Indigenous relations, education, economic development, finance, seniors, and justice.

Government officials say a newly created Healthy Communities branch within the Department of Social Supports and Well-Being will play a key role in advancing the work. The branch will focus on poverty reduction and prevention, as well as the broader links between poverty, well-being and social determinants of health.

Public consultation is expected to be a central component of the strategy’s development. Over the coming months, the province plans to engage with community groups, Indigenous governments and organizations, service providers and residents through a range of activities, including focus groups, surveys and regional symposiums.