A House of Commons Committee met in Saint John to talk about poverty reduction.
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long has made reducing poverty his top priority. One idea being floated is a guaranteed minimum income. Long likes the idea but concedes it will not be forthcoming before the next federal election.
Former Conservative Senator Hugh Segal proposed people between the ages of 18 to 65, who are living under the low income poverty line in Ontario, receive a basic income of at least 13 hundred and 20 dollars a month. People who are disabled would receive 500 dollars more.
Long says changing the Canada Child Benefit program will be a big help for low income families but the long term solution is education which he calls the great equaliser.
