Programs & Services
Population and Public Health
Health Promotion Department
There is More to Poverty

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• 115,000 people in Saskatchewan live in poverty. Children, seniors, low wage earners and people with disabilities are among those most highly affected.

• Child poverty rates in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the highest in Canada.

• More than one quarter of Canadian seniors live at or near the poverty line.

• Almost half of low-income households include at least 1 working adult. Full time minimum wage pays almost $16, 000 below the poverty line for a family of four.

• Canadians with disabilities face 53% higher unemployment rates. In Saskatchewan, 7 out of 10 long-term social assistance clients have a disability.

• Many factors can contribute and keep people trapped in poverty.

Poverty can be effectively reduced

Comprehensive poverty reduction strategies have shown strong success. Newfoundland’s poverty rate has dropped by almost half in less than 5 years.

The Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership is working on a Community Action Plan to Reduce Poverty (PDF).

Reducing poverty creates a better and stronger community for everyone:

• a brighter future for our children.
• enough money for everyone to meet basic needs
• support and opportunities for children, seniors, lower wage earners and people who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged
• reduced costs for health care and other services
• a community we can be proud of

“...Thousands of accumulated studies have come to the same basic conclusion: The incidence of poverty is a severe, if not the most severe, threat to the health and quality of life of Individuals, communities, and societies in wealthy industrialized societies such as Canada.”   

Dennis Raphael, 2007

Learn more

• Child and Family Poverty in Saskatchewan: November 2010 (PDF)

• Let’s Do Something about Poverty (PDF)

• Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership Community Action Plan to Reduce Poverty (PDF)

• The Cost of Poverty

• More poverty links and resources

More that we can do to make a difference:

• Support groups working to reduce and eliminate poverty, such as the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership and the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition - Facebook page
• Check back for local anti-poverty events to be posted soon and plan to attend!
• Challenge myths and stereotypes about poverty.
• Discuss poverty solutions with others.
• Support policies that help to address poverty.
• Share your story about poverty or poverty reduction.

For More Information

Contact the Health Promotion Department, Saskatoon Health Region, at 655-4601.

Campaign Material

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Poster 3:

Poster 4: