Government names poverty reduction panel
- EFN Staff | December 22, 2014
The
Government of Saskatchewan has named an 11-member Advisory Group on Poverty
Reduction. The group of 11 was announced in Saskatoon by Social Services
Minister Donna Harpauer.
“This group will be responsible for reviewing all of the work we’ve done to address
poverty in Saskatchewan and identify any gaps where more work is needed,”
Harpauer said. “I look forward to seeing their recommendations this
spring as we continue to make life better for all Saskatchewan people.”
"I am honoured to act as a co-chair for the Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction,” Saskatoon Food Bank Director of Community Operations Alison Robertson said. “I look forward to bringing the community voice to the conversation in development of a poverty reduction plan that makes sense for Saskatchewan.”
The members of the advisory group will consist of six representatives from the community and five representatives from various government ministries. The members of the group are:
- Dr. Cory Neudorf – Chief Medical Health Officer, Saskatoon Health Region
- Alison Robertson (co-chair) – Director of Community Development, Saskatoon Food Bank
- Dr. Ryan Meili – Physician, WestSide Community Clinic and Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH)
- Russ Mirasty – Retired RCMP Commanding Officer in Saskatchewan
- Steve Compton – Chief Executive Officer, Regina Food Bank
- Dr. Jo-Ann Episkenew – Director, Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre
- Constance Hourie (co-chair) – Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Assistance and Corporate Planning, Ministry of Social Services
- Alastair MacFadden – Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour Market Development, Ministry of Economy
- Greg Miller – Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education
- Ron Anderson – Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Safety Outcomes and Corporate Services, Ministry of Justice/Corrections and Policing
- Karen Lautsch – Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health
Ryan Meili, a Saskatoon Family Physician and Executive Director for Upstream, a partner organization on the Poverty Costs campaign that advocated for the implementation of a Poverty reduction Strategy, is one of 6 community members on the committee. “The Government’s announcement today shows a commitment to consulting the expertise of our community, and gives me reason to hope that this plan will truly contribute to a more healthy and equitable society,” says Meili.
In addition to their research, the advisory group will be holding a poverty roundtable with community groups and the public and will provide their recommendations to government in May of 2015. The group’s recommendations will help inform the development of the Saskatchewan Poverty Reduction Strategy.
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