Editorial Staff
The Guardian
P.E.I.’s Social Services Minister Doug Currie tabled a motion in the house last week drawing attention to Island poverty, and urging the province to work with the federal government to fight the problem.
It was a timely gesture. According to Mr. Currie, an estimated 17,200 low-income Islanders are already struggling to buy the basic necessities.
With the rising prices of gas, home-heating fuel and food, we can expect more Islanders to join the ranks of those facing financial stress. The province should appeal to the feds to work with it on this. Federal parliamentarians over the years have expressed their own concerns about poverty, but no clear action has been taken.
That said, the province doesn’t necessarily have to wait for Ottawa to act. The provincial throne speech offered a sprinkling of measures that could help low-income families — the elimination of certain student fees and better access to services for the working poor. But much more is needed. Islanders can only hope next week’s budget will offer more detail — and more assistance — to the increasing number of Islanders struggling to pay the bills.
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