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On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty — themed “Ending social and institutional maltreatment by ensuring respect and effective support for families” — we reaffirm our commitment to building a society rooted in dignity, fairness, and compassion.
Poverty is never just about income. It’s about systems that neglect, isolate, and punish those who need support the most.
Too often, families experiencing poverty are treated with contempt rather than empathy — facing barriers in housing, health care, education, and social services that deepen inequality instead of addressing it.
This year’s theme reminds us that respect must be at the heart of every institution and policy. Families deserve support, not judgement.
Every parent should have access to affordable child care, paid leave, and stable employment. Every child should grow up with secure housing, food on the table, and access to quality education and health care.
Ending poverty means confronting the maltreatment that comes when systems fail to value care work, underfund public services, or deny people their rights.
It means strengthening social safety nets, investing in community-based supports, and ensuring families have the resources they need to thrive.
Respect for families begins with decent work. Through collective organizing and action, labour unions have long been, and continue to be, the primary drivers ensuring that workers are paid fairly, labour laws are strengthened and protected , and public programs are adequately funded to promote healthy communities and economic and social justice.
Poverty is a policy choice — and so is justice.
We call on all levels of government to act with urgency: to expand access to income supports, improve housing affordability, and end the punitive practices that harm those already struggling.
On this day, we stand in solidarity with families everywhere, demanding a Canada where no one is left behind and every family is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
