Newfoundland and Labrador - Terre-Neuve et Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador
Market Basket Measure (NLMBM)
Thanks to an anonymous newsletter subscriber for pointing out that Newfoundland and Labrador's new customized Market Basket Measure doesn't appear on the Antipoverty Links page of this website. In my haste to share the link to the First Progress Report on the NL Poverty Reduction Strategy (PDF - 4MB, 76 pages, December 2009) last week, I skimmed past the section on the NLMBM in that report. According to my subscriber's email, "... NL has developed their own variation on the market basket measure, the NLMBM, which uses tax data rather than surveys, and therefore purports to capture the entire population. They've also developed a NLMBM of Housing Affordability. Part of what's interesting is that they've got gender analysis embedded in the NLMBM data that's being developed - not a claim that can be made about any of the other poverty measures."
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I can't find any technical information on the NLMBM online at this point in time (Dec. 22/09),
but I've pulled together a few tidbits of information from NL reports that might pique your curiosity if you're interested in poverty measurement.

In the 2006 Action Plan:
[ Reducing Poverty: An Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador (PDF file - 1.6MB, 60 pages), 2006]
...a commitment was made to improve capacity to measure and track progress in poverty reduction.
[Excerpts] A major innovation has been the development of the Newfoundland and Labrador Market Basket Measure (NLMBM). This new measure uses a similar approach to the federal government's Market Basket Measure (MBM). Like the MBM, it compares the incomes of families to the cost of a basket of goods and services necessary to live a productive and socially inclusive life. Unlike the MBM and all other available measures of low-income that use surveys to estimate low-income levels, the NLMBM uses tax-filer data and other sources to provide more accurate income and expense information for all tax-filers. This allows for the reporting of low-income levels in communities and neighbourhoods, as well as results for other subgroups such as different age groups or family types. This is important because it allows for the tracking of progress for different parts of the province as well as for different vulnerable groups so that it can be ensured that PRS is working for all. The NLMBM is available on Community Accounts [ www.communityaccounts.ca]

The NLMBM is developed and maintained by the Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency.
In future years, NLMBM depth, persistence and other indicators of low income will be reported as they become available.

Newfoundland and Labrador
Poverty Reduction Strategy
The Poverty Reduction Strategy is a Government-wide approach to transform Newfoundland and Labrador from a province with the most poverty to one with the least over a ten year period. The strategy includes initiatives and programs which target the groups most vulnerable to poverty.
- includes * Poverty Reduction Initiatives * Guiding Principles * Documents and News Releases * Partner Departments and Agencies
Source:
Human Resources, Labour and Employment

First Progress Report Shows Significant Results in Province’s Fight Against Poverty
News Release
December 14, 2009
Newfoundland and Labrador has realized significant improvement in the overall level of poverty since 2003. In fact, Newfoundland and Labrador has moved from being a province with one of the highest levels of poverty in Canada to the province with the third lowest level. Today, the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and lead Minister for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, released Empowering People - Engaging Community - Enabling Success: First Progress Report on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. This document demonstrates that through the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Williams Government is meeting its commitment to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Empowering People - Engaging Community - Enabling Success:
First Progress Report on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PDF - 4MB, 76 pages)
This report provides a summary of progress achieved towards meeting the goals and objectives of the 2006-10 Poverty Reduction Strategy Action Plan:
1. Progress towards improved access to and coordination of services for people with low income
2. Progress towards a stronger social safety net
3. Progress towards improved earned incomes
4. Progress towards an increased emphasis on early childhood development
5. Progress towards a better educated population

NOTE: for more links to poverty reduction in Newfoundland and Labrador and elsewhere in Canada, go to the Anti-poverty Strategies and Campaigns page of this site:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm

Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
On the home page, you'll find the following links :
* Finding a Job * Planning Your Career * Training * For Employers * Poverty Reduction * Income Support * Immigration * For Students and Graduates * For Persons with Disabilities * Support During Disasters * Frequently Asked Questions * Publications * Forms and Applications * News Releases * About the Department * Quick Links

Policy Manual
- Income Support (no welfare policy manual as such, but the home page of the Income Support Program offers links to more info about the Income Support (Social Assistance) program, including : * Program Overview * Monthly Rates * Applying for Income Support * Child Benefit * Health Related Services * more...

Welfare rates (benefits)
Monthly rates (from Program Overview)
- incl. Family and Individual Benefit Rates + shelter
See Regulations section 13 foll.
NOTE : the former "Newfoundland and Labrador Family Benefit" no longer appears on the Dept. website; instead, the income support rates page refers to a Family and Individual Benefit (to assist with expenses such as food, clothing, personal care, household maintenance and utilities) and a Shelter benefit
Assistance for children in welfare households is provided through the combined Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit paid by the federal government.

Source:
Human Resources, Labour and Employment

NOTE: To avoid duplication as much as possible, I've moved most poverty reduction links
for Newfoundland and Labrador to the Anti-poverty Strategies and Campaigns page of this site:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm

Department of Health and Community Services

Departmental Profile
"The Department provides support services to six Regional Institutional Boards, four Regional Health and Community Services Boards, two Regional Integrated Boards and one Regional Nursing Home Board in St. John's. The actual delivery of programs and services including Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, Child, Youth and Family Services and Community Corrections, Family and Rehabilitative Services, Addictions, Mental Health and Continuing Care are provided by community health boards. The institutional boards deliver hospital services and long term accommodations to persons 65 years and older and persons suffering from chronic debilitating diseases."

Publications - links to departmental reports, discussion papers, health plans, etc. from 2002 and 2003

News Releases - 1996 to date, by year

Government strengthens resources for persons with disabilities
News Release
April 12, 2006
In keeping with its commitment to supporting persons with disabilities, the Williams’ government is investing over $4 million in Budget 2006 to enhance services and support for individuals and families living with disabilities said Health and Community Services Minister Tom Osborne. The investment includes addressing the wait list for home support for new clients; increasing social work positions to assist persons with disabilities; and, changing the Special Child Welfare Allowance (SCWA) program to eliminate RESP/RRSPs from the financial assessment process.
Source:
Health and Community Services

Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency

Income Support Assistance (PDF- 13K, 1 page)
- monthly number of cases (households) and recipients, 1992 to latest month, updated monthly

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Historical Health and Welfare Statistics
of Newfoundland and Labrador
HTML table of contents with links to the individual chapters in PDF format
PDF (18.7MB, 318 pages)
Table of Contents:
Foreword and Preface - Population and Vital Statistics - Health and Welfare* - Labour Force - Wages and Working Conditions - Education - Gross Provincial Product and Personal Income - Provincial Government Finance - Banking and Finance - Price Indexes - Agriculture - Fisheries - Forestry - Mining - Manufacturing - Investment - Construction and Housing - Transportation - Communications - Electric Power - Trade and Services - Politics and Government - Justice
*Health and Welfare (PDF file - 504K, 11 pages) - includes (among other stats) social assistance statistics from 1951 to 1969

Department of Finance

- incl. links to : Minister - Branches/Divisions - Budget 2003 - Fuel Tank Replacement Program - Home Heating Fuel Rebate - Economy - Statistics - News Releases - Publications - Taxes - Tax Credits, Incentives & Benefits - Statutes & Regulations - Pensions Administration Division

News Releases - 1996 to date, by year

Publications On-Line - links to all budgets, throne speeches, special reports, etc.

Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2008
April 29, 2008
- incl. links to all budget papers
Budget Highlights
(...)
- Lifting from Poverty
* Investment of $12 million this year ($17.3 million annualized) for a total of more than $100 million annually in the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Examples include:
* $1.7 million to support youth at risk
* $1 million to improve access to healthy food and community activities
* $1.5 million for the extension of the Make Work Pay Workplace Connections initiative to cover all income support clients who join the labour market
* $2.4 million to index basic income support benefits effective April 1, 2008
* Expanding the Employment Transition Project for single parents through an investment of $128,000
* $470,000 investment in community-based workplace skills training and a micro-lending program
* $1.4 million to improve access to housing, particularly for seniors and those working for low wages
* $40,000 to increase operating grants to eight Status of Women’s centres
* $279,000 to establish a Family Violence Treatment Court pilot project
* $1.5 million in improvements to Income Support benefits
* Funding of $254,900 to expand the Child, Youth and Family Civil Legal Aid Project to the Western region
* $126,300 for civil legal aid support for persons required to make a court appearance under the Mental Health Act
(...)
News Releases - links to 11 news releases related to Budget 2008
..including:
Newfoundland and Labrador Continues to
Invest to Lead the Country in Poverty Reduction Initiatives
The Williams Government continues to act on its commitment to alleviate, prevent and reduce poverty in the province with new measures that focus on improving earned incomes, strengthening the social safety net and supporting youth at risk. Budget 2008 provides an additional $9.6 million in new Poverty Reduction Strategy initiatives and this funding is in addition to the $2.4 million announced April 1 to index basic income support rates. That brings the total investment in the current fiscal year to $12 million and once fully implemented in 2009-10, the Provincial Government’s annual investment in poverty reduction will be more than $100 million.
Related Web/News/Blog links:
Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Newfoundland and Labrador , 2008 budget"
- Web search results page
- News search results page
- Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca
- Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm

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Earlier budgets:
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Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2007
April 26, 2007
- incl. links to : Budget Speech - Budget Highlights - Estimates - The Economy - News Releases

A Vision of Opportunity with New Actions to Address Poverty
News Release
- incl. measures for people with disabilities, low income families, women, youth and seniors (Poverty Reduction Strategy)
Source:
News Releases - links to a dozen releases

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Newfoundland provincial budget 2007, analysis"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador 2006 Budget
March 30, 2006
- incl. links to all budget papers (Budget Speech - Budget Highlights - Estimates - The Economy - News Releases)

Budget 2006 Highlights

Sample news release (one of 13):

March 30, 2006
The Right Choices: Reducing Poverty; Increasing Self Reliance
Departments of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Health and Community Services and Education
- includes a backgrounder with more detailed info
"The Williams government is removing barriers to employment and providing assistance to those who need it most through a sweeping investment in initiatives designed to combat poverty, announced Paul Shelley, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, and the lead minister for government’s poverty reduction strategy. Budget 2006 outlines government’s integrated approach to poverty reduction, unveiling investments of over $30.5 million in 2006-07 and $62 million annually to support an expanded eligibility for the prescription drug program, the elimination of school fees, increases to income support programs, and enhanced Adult Basic Education (ABE) offerings. This initial phase of the poverty reduction strategy is a strong basis for meeting government’s pledge to significantly reduce poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Google.ca News Search Results:
"Newfoundland Budget 2006"
Google.ca Web Search Results:
"Newfoundland Budget 2006"
Source:
Google.ca

- Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm

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Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2005
A New Future. A Renewed Pride.
March 21, 2005
- incl. links to : Budget Speech - Budget Highlights - News Releases - Estimates - The Economy 2005

Building pathways to poverty reduction
March 21, 2005
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
"Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, said today that several Budget 2005 measures help lessen poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador, including funding for the development of a strategic plan on addressing the issue of poverty."
- highlights include a two-part increase in income support (welfare) for couples and single clients without children (1% in July 2005 and 1% in January 2006), a 10% increase in the earnings exemption level and more funds for employment-related activities for people with disabilities, for the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit and for "a second pilot project to assist single parents in receipt of income support prepare for, find and keep employment."

Preparing our youth for success
March 21, 2005
(Human Resources, Labour and Employment)
"Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, says Budget 2005 places a renewed focus on the young people of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially those youth who live in poverty and who rely on income support. 'Low education levels, a lack of a high school diploma and limited work experience are key characteristics of a dependence on income support from one generation to the next and a cycle of poverty,' said Minister Burke. 'In 2003 youth, 18 to 29 years old, represented one-quarter of the income support caseload and almost 50 per cent of all new entrants. These numbers are alarming and are an indication of many complex issues that require a focused, coordinated approach.'"

Google.ca News Search Results : "Newfoundland Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Newfoundland Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

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Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2004

Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2004
March 30, 2004
- incl. links to the Budget Speech - Budget Highlights - News Releases - Estimates - The Economy 2004
Source:
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Google News search Results : "Newfoundland budget 2004"
Google Web Search Results : "Newfoundland budget 2004"
Source:
Google.ca

For info on other Canadian jurisdictions' budgets, go to the Canadian Social Research Links Canadian Government Budgets page

House of Assembly
Includes links to : Today in the House - House Business - Members - Statutes and Regulations - Young People and Educators - Reference Materials - Contact info - Links

Statutes and Regulations (periodically updated)

Department of Justice
- incl. links to : Minister - About Us - Legislation - Publications - News Releases - FAQs - Links

News Releases - 1996 to 2003, by year

Department of Education

What's New

News Releases - 1996 to date, by year

Ministerial Council on Early Childhood Learning established
News Release
February 8, 2005
"Tom Hedderson, Minister of Education, is pleased to announce the formation of a Ministerial Council on Early Childhood Learning as indicated in the 2004 Speech from the Throne. Government is fostering a cross-departmental approach to this important issue. Through the council, Education Minister Tom Hedderson; Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer; Human Resources, Labour and Employment Minister and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Joan Burke; and Tom Rideout, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, will provide strategic direction for provincial early childhood learning programs and services. The council will foster the coordination and development of comprehensive programs that focus on the early learning needs of children and their families."
Source:
Department of Education

Related Links: go to the Government Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm

Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs

Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement-in-Principle signed
June 26, 2001