Three groups working to reduce poverty in Saint John getting a helping hand through a $300,000 investment from the province.
The funding is being provided to the Early Learning Centre project, PALS and First Steps through the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative. Chair Tom Gribbons tells us they lobbied for the funding on behalf of the groups and says the only way to move people up and out of poverty is through education.
Gribbons calling the investment vital, saying if we’re going to get all of our children reading by grade 2 at proper standards then we need extra innovation, incentives and money to put these things together.
Saint John has the dubious distinction of being tied with Toronto as having the highest rates of child poverty in the country.
The announcement being made at at St John the Baptist-King Edward School with Saint John Harbour MLA Ed Doherty and Premier Brian Gallant in attendance.
