11-member Advisory Group looks at poverty reduction

An 11-member Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction was announced in Saskatoon by Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer.

“This group will be responsible for reviewing all of the work we’ve done to address poverty in Saskatchewan and identify any gaps where more work is needed,” Harpauer said. “I look forward to seeing their recommendations this spring as we continue to make life better for all Saskatchewan people.”

“I am honoured to act as a co-chair for the Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction,” Saskatoon Food Bank Director of Community Operations Alison Robertson said. “I look forward to bringing the community voice to the conversation in development of a poverty reduction plan that makes sense for Saskatchewan.”

The members of the advisory group will consist of six representatives from the community and five representatives from various government ministries. The members of the group are:

Dr. Cory Neudorf – Chief Medical Health Officer, Saskatoon Health Region

Alison Robertson (co-chair) – Director of Community Development, Saskatoon Food Bank

Dr. Ryan Meili – Physician, WestSide Community Clinic and Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH)

Russ Mirasty – Retired RCMP Commanding Officer in Saskatchewan

Steve Compton – Chief Executive Officer, Regina Food Bank

Dr. Jo-Ann Episkenew – Director, Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre

Constance Hourie (co-chair) – Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Assistance and Corporate Planning, Ministry of Social Services

Alastair MacFadden – Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour Market Development, Ministry of Economy

Greg Miller – Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education

Ron Anderson – Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Safety Outcomes and Corporate Services, Ministry of Justice/Corrections and Policing

Karen Lautsch – Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health

In addition to their research, the advisory group will be holding a poverty roundtable with community groups and the public and will provide their recommendations to government in May of 2015. The group’s recommendations will help inform the development of the Saskatchewan Poverty Reduction Strategy.

For more information about the Advisory Group or the Poverty Reduction Strategy, please email [email protected].