OTTAWA – Green Party leader Elizabeth May today highlighted both the need to eliminate poverty in Canada and promote local food on her first election campaign stop in Ottawa. Joined by Green candidates from Ottawa—Gatineau ridings and local organic farmer Jim McKenzie, Ms. May and the Green Party made a donation of local organic produce to the Ottawa Mission in downtown Ottawa.

“Poverty and hunger are priorities for Greens, but the Green Party will not simply strive to reduce the poverty rates in Canada,” said Ms. May. “We want to wipe poverty out for good. Most Canadians find it unacceptable that in a wealthy country like Canada, 15 percent of Canadian children still endure the hardships associated with inadequate income. No child should be faced with inadequate nutrition or go to bed hungry.

“To eliminate poverty and hunger, the Green Party would look at introducing a Guaranteed Livable Income for Canadians. As a regular annual payment, negotiation with the provinces could allow Guaranteed Livable Income supplements to be set regionally. Setting the payment at a level adequate for subsistence will still encourage additional income generation.

“In the long-term, we will eliminate food banks, but in the short term the Green Party will implement immediate relief measures for those in need. We will increase the availability of local, organic and nourishing food at locations like the Ottawa Mission and help develop relationships between food banks and community supported agriculture organizations.”

Ms. May noted that poverty is the largest factor associated with increased ill health and crime rates and that failing to eliminate poverty in Canada will cost far more to society than would a civilized program to make poverty history in Canada.

“Current welfare and employment insurance policies have failed to eradicate poverty in Canada and we believe it is time for a new, innovative approach. No magic bullet will eradicate poverty overnight, but our plan will break the cycle of poverty in Canada by negotiating a Guaranteed Livable Income, coupled with short-term, targeted programs to help those in need right now.”