$300 million for the fight against poverty

Québec's healthy economy has enabled the government to mobilize considerable resources to improve the standard of living of the most disadvantaged members of our society. The government is currently preparing a new strategy to fight poverty, and the Supplement to the 2002-2003 Budget announces major initiatives that will be integrated into the strategy. These measures, which represent over $300 million for fiscal 2002-2003 and the two subsequent fiscal years, bring the government's efforts in the fight against poverty to nearly $1.4 billion for the three fiscal years concerned. The Supplement provides for:

• Automatic annual indexation of social assistance benefits at the rate of inflation, as of January 1, 2003, for some 360 000 households receiving social assistance. This measure represents a cost of $156 million for fiscal 2002-2003 and the two subsequent fiscal years.

• Enhanced social assistance for housing as of January 1, 2003, through the elimination of the penalty for sharing a dwelling and the elimination of the penalty for low housing costs. This measure will benefit over 82 000 households at a cost of $115 million for fiscal 2002-2003 and the two subsequent fiscal years.

• Confirmed investment of $50 million over three years through a $40-million injection for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 fiscal years to support community organizations through deployment of the Policy on the Recognition and Support of Community Action adopted in July 2001.

• A new support program for collectively laid-off workers in the resource regions. The program represents an investment of $6 million for fiscal 2002-2003 and the two subsequent fiscal years.