The New Brunswick government has finally released its poverty reduction plan: Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan.
Wide inclusion was only part of the first phase of the development of the plan when the public was invited to make their priorities known. During the second phase, the Roundtable phase, only 30 hand-picked individuals were invited to develop options which were never publicly unveiled. The third phase, the Final Forum, regrouped 50 participants who were again chosen by government and not by the organizations who they were supposed to represent. Can such a process seriously be called inclusive?
Presently, six people are responsible for drafting the details of the plan and putting in place the model of delivery of services. No consultations are being done during this important phase. The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Act has also been drafted, which will probably drastically change the way services to social assistance recipients are delivered.
One focus area of the Plan is to shift the delivery of government services from the public sector to the community non-profit sector. I know there are a number of people who feel that our government is too far removed from citizens. However, we have to ask ourselves several questions if we shift the delivery of essential services to the non-profit sector: Who will pay for all these services? Will delivery of services in rural areas be guaranteed? Will the community sector be able to deliver the services in the language of choice of the client? Will the downloading of public services mean widespread inequity in the long run?
I am in favour of a Poverty Reduction Plan that has teeth with enough money allocated to it for it to be effectively executed. The December 1st, 2009 budget earmarked only $15 million dollars for this Plan. It is clear that the provincial government is not serious about reducing poverty in this province.