March 22-26 is National Social Work Week and the 2010 theme is Social Workers Speaking Up: Poverty Costs. During this week, social workers are calling upon citizens to recognize the impacts of poverty and to support its eradication. The Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada (ASWNC), in partnership with Bachelor of Social Work students of Yukon College, will be hosting a number of events open to the public, highlighting the issue of poverty.

 

Events will begin on Monday, March 22 with the opening of a guerilla photography exhibit by Mark Kelly and friends at the Yukon College Pit. The photos depicting poverty and homelessness within our community will be on display throughout the week.

 

On Tuesday, March 23 Ross Findlater and George Green from the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition will be speaking about issue of poverty in the Yukon in the Yukon College Pit from noon to 1pm. Local musician Joe Bishop will also be performing and light snacks will be provided.

 

ASWNC in partnership with the Canadian Association of Social Workers, will host  a National Educational Webcast,“Social Workers Speaking Up: Poverty Costs,” on Thursday, March 25, 2010 – 9am to 10am in the Board Room. The webcast presentation will include a 30 minute presentation by Brian Adams (MSW, RSW), Paul O’Hara (MSW, RSW), and Eveline Milliken (MSW, RSW, PHD) followed by 30 minutes of questions and answers.

 

 “It negatively impacts well-being. It compromises human rights. It goes against Canada’s image as a fair and equal country. This is what social workers often see and say when discussing poverty,” says Canadian Association of Social Worker’s President Darlene MacDonald. “But, also we look at it from a different perspective – the costs of poverty to individuals, to our country, and to society as a whole.”

 

Poverty has a significant cost for governments and society. Because of the relationship between poverty and poor health, lower productivity, and lower educational attainment, the immediate and long-term costs are many. For example, the elimination of child poverty would produce extra tax revenues nationally of between $3.1 billion and $3.8 billion. Currently, federal and provincial governments across Canada lose between $8.6 billion and $13 billion in income tax revenue to poverty every year. Canadians could save $7.6 billion per year in health-care expenditures by elevating the health status of those in the bottom 20% on the income ladder to that of the next higher group.

 

Social workers daily see the costs of poverty – emotional, physical, social, and financial. These numbers make it hard for others to ignore. If we want to ensure the health and well-being of all people living in Canada, poverty reduction is the best starting point.