REDUCING CHILD POVERTY

Released on June 8, 2001

A study by the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) provides more

evidence that Saskatchewan's Building Independence program reduces child

poverty.



"In their analysis, the CCSD noted that Saskatchewan's success in child

poverty reduction is, in their words, 'striking' when compared to Alberta

and Ontario," Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen said.



Van Mulligen was responding to a submission by the CCSD to the House of

Commons Committee on Children and Youth at Risk. In their submission, the

CCSD provided a preliminary analysis of the National Child Benefit (NCB)

and comparison of provincial child poverty reduction initiatives in

Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario.



"This study is yet more evidence that the Building Independence approach

works, but we also recognize that more needs to be done," Van Mulligen

said. "The findings confirm the results of Campaign 2000's 1999 Report

Card on Child Poverty which showed we were the first province to reduce the

incidence of child poverty since 1989. In the Report Card for 2000, we

became the first province to reduce the incidence of child poverty two

years in a row."



"Building Independence continues to receive national and international

recognition," Van Mulligen said. "Other provinces have come here to study

our programs. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

(OECD) has called our approach the best way to help people off welfare and

into meaningful employment. Last year, a visiting delegation of members of

parliament from the United Kingdom remarked that Saskatchewan is known as

far away as Europe and Australia as the place to come to observe

innovative, progressive and effective social programs at work."



Introduced in July of 1998, Building Independence consists of four

programs: The Saskatchewan Child Benefit, the Saskatchewan Employment

Supplement, Family Health Benefits and the Provincial Training Allowance.

Since its introduction, Building Independence has helped 3,800 families,

including 8,100 children, leave social assistance. The program has also

reduced the median length of time families receive social assistance by 25

per cent.



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For more information, contact:



Doug Wakabayashi

Social Services

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-8689