Category: ESPC Press Releases

(Edmonton) One of the city’s most visible spokespersons and advocates for addressing the root causes of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking is this year’s recipient of the Edmonton Social Planning Council’s (ESPC) Award of Merit for Advocacy of Social Justice.

Kate Quinn, the executive director of the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), was recognized during the ESPC’s AGM on May 6 for more than two decades of community activism.  Some of her accomplishments include:

• Co-chair of the Communities For Changing Prostitution volunteer group in the early 1990s that focused on increasing community safety, decreasing the demand generated by “johns” and pimps plus advocating for resources to assist vulnerable children, youth and adults who were exploited.
• This community advocacy led to the creation of the Prostitution Offender Program (“john” school) in 1996.  Over 2,300 offenders have attended.  CEASE, then called PAAFE, was incorporated to disburse the funds.  Kate was hired to facilitate the “john school” and lead the organization.
• One of the creators of the CEASE Men of Honour awards program celebrating positive male role models in the community
•  Community partner in a University of Alberta initiative promoting the use of text messaging as a new outreach tool to offer help and support to sex trade workers posting online ads.

“Kate has been an advocate for over 20 years for women, men and children who have experienced sexual exploitation and sex trafficking,” said Janice Melnychuk, a former city councillor and school trustee who nominated Quinn.  “I met her in the early 1990s when she began this work as a concerned member of the McCauley neighbourhood.”

The award is presented annually to individuals or groups who have not turned away from controversy when seeking social justice impacting the city or one of its communities over a considerable period of time.

ESPC is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan social research organization, with registered charitable status with a focus on social research, particularly in the areas of low income and poverty.

For more information:

Susan Morrissey

ESPC Executive Director

(780) 423-2031 x353 or (780) 218-7395 cell

susanm@edmontonsocialplanning.ca

A photo of Ms. Quinn is available upon request.

Media Release
November 26, 2013

Public Interest Alberta, the Edmonton Social Planning Council and the Alberta College of Social Workers, released a new report today, entitled From Words to Action: Alberta Can Afford a Real Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The report shows that despite an improving economy, in 2011 there were 84,000 children, 29,800 of who were under the age of 6, living below the low-income measure (LIM- After Tax).

“Premier Redford’s 2012 election promise to eliminate child poverty by 2017 will not be achieved unless the words in the government’s soon to be released poverty reduction strategy, will be backed up with real action and investment in programs that prevent, reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “Social programs and public services are instrumental in supporting families, and the government will certainly not eliminate child poverty unless it stops cutting budgets and starts investing in real solutions.”

“Given that an all time record 59.2 per cent of children in poverty had at least one parent working full-time, full year, we propose a number of recommendations that would reduce poverty among working poor families including; a provincial child tax benefit, increasing the minimum wage and a living wage policy for contracted services,” says John Kolkman, Research Coordinator, Edmonton Social Planning Council. “The report shows that inequality is growing rapidly in Alberta so unless the government commits to targeted investments to support those who are not benefiting from our strong economy, their poverty reduction will not succeed.”

“The recommendations we have identified in this report would go a long way to reaching the target of eliminating child and family poverty, and our proposed $1 billion in investments is only a fraction of the costs of poverty to people’s lives and our economy,” says Lori Sigurdson, Professional Affairs Manager and Chairperson of Public Interest Alberta’s Human Services and Poverty Task Force. “In a province that collects $10.6 billion less in taxation than the next lowest taxed province, we outline how the government could raise from $1.2 – $2.0 billion by establishing a progressive tax and increase corporate taxes. We are calling upon Albertans to encourage the government to invest in a real strategy so that children and families are supported to reach their full potential. Now, this is a commitment worth making!” To download a copy of the report, go to www.pialberta.org or www.edmontonsocialplanning.ca The provincial report is being released on the same day as a national report by Campaign 2000 and other provincial reports on the state of child and family poverty across the country. Go to www.campaign2000.ca to see the reports. 

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The report is being released at 2 media conferences at 10:30 AM, November 26th:

• In Calgary: CUPS – 1001-10 Ave SW, Room 206
• In Edmonton: The Bissell Centre (East) 10527 – 96 St. (Basement) – On street parking

Both venues will have certain children in programs that can be filmed and have their pictures taken.

To view the entire document CLICK Here.

Media Contacts:

• Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director, Public Interest Alberta
• John Kolkman, Coordinator of Research, Edmonton Social Planning Council www.edmontonsocialplanning.ca
• Lori Sigurdson, Professional Affairs Manager Alberta College of Social Workers and Chairperson of Public Interest Alberta’s Human Services and Poverty Task Force

Media Release
October 1, 2013

The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) today released the 2013 edition of its flagship publication Tracking the Trends.   The 118-page publication provides a detailed analysis of social and economic trends in Edmonton.  Information is provided about population demographics, education and employment, living costs & housing, income & wealth, and poverty trends that together comprise the social health of Edmontonians.

“Whether planning programs or developing policies, timely accurate information is critical to informed decision-making,” said Susan Morrissey, the ESPC’s Executive Director.  “The objective of Tracking the Trends is to be a one-stop resource for identifying and analyzing a broad range of social and economic trends in Edmonton,” she added.

Morrissey noted that this year’s edition complements the release of the first edition of Vital Signs which the ESPC co-published with the Edmonton Community Foundation.  While Vital Signs is intended to appeal to a broad audience, Tracking the Trends is tailored for those who are seeking more in-depth information and data.

“If there’s an overarching message in this year’s Tracking the Trends, it’s that Edmonton’s economy has roared back strongly from the 2009 recession. Yet the renewed prosperity has benefitted those with the highest incomes the most.  Edmonton’s economy is lifting the yachts more rapidly than the row boats,” said John Kolkman, ESPC’s Research Coordinator and report co-author.

Kolkman highlighted several key trends that are concerning:

• Between 1990 and 2010, the share of the top 1% of Edmonton income earners rose by almost 3 percentage points to 8.9% after-tax (p. 44).
• 39,000 children living in poverty in the metro Edmonton area in 2011, more than double the 16,000 in 2006 (p. 58);
• A record 59.2% of poor children live in families where at least one parent works full-time for the full-year. A job is not necessarily a ticket out of poverty (p. 59);
• While homelessness is down 29.4% over all age categories since 2008, there was a sharp 68% increase in the number of homeless youth in the 2012 count (p. 34); 
• A 1.2% rental vacancy rate in April 2013, tied with 2006 as the lowest on record. Rents are up 4.2% compared to a year earlier with further increases to be expected (p. 30); and
• While seniors had the lowest overall poverty rates of all age groups, female seniors are twice as likely to live in poverty as male seniors (p. 59).

Kolkman said the report also finds many positive trends:

• The steady improvement in educational attainment as measured by high school completion continues. However, over one in five young adults still fails to complete high school within five years showing room for further improvement (p. 16);
• Strong employment growth, with the number of employed Edmontonians increasing by 31.5% between 2002 and 2012 (p. 19);
• In 2011, government income transfers reduced by 49.4% the number of children that otherwise fall below the poverty line (p. 67);
• Women are narrowing the earnings gap with men (p. 40);
• The differential in unemployment rates between Aboriginal people and Edmontonians overall is narrowing. But Aboriginal people are still twice as likely to be unemployed (p. 22); and
• Reductions in the number of people receiving Alberta Works (social assistance), employment insurance, and food bank use (pp. 69-70, 35).

Tracking the Trends 2013 combines 23 key indicators grouped into 5 categories into a Social Health Index (p. 94-95).  Categories where Edmonton does well are financial security and personal & family stability.  Edmonton is doing more poorly on population health and participation & environmental indicators.

“The bottom line is a 27.6% improvement in Edmonton’s social health since 1993. However, this is significantly lower than the 45.5% per person increase in Edmonton’s real GDP,” Kolkman concluded.   

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To view the entire Tracking the Trends 2013 CLICK Here.
For more information contact:
John Kolkman, Research Coordinator
(780) 423-2031 x350 or (587) 989-4442

website: www.edmontonsocialplanning.ca

Media Release
June 17, 2013

“STEP was a cost effective partnership between the Province and community organizations providing needed community programs to children and families across Alberta, and to post-secondary students looking for valuable on the job training for their future careers.  In exchange for a $7.00 per hour provincial contribution typically for 12 weeks, community organizations would top up salaries and often extend the number of weeks of employment at their own expense,” ESPC Executive Director Susan Morrissey noted.

A survey released today by the Inter-City Forum on Social Policy (ICFSP) and Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) found significant impacts on children and families and post-secondary students due to the elimination of the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) in the 2013 provincial budget. The ICFSP represents 19 cities across Alberta.

“Municipalities have long valued STEP because – for a modest investment by both the municipalities and province – tens of thousands of children and families were able to participate in meaningful activities and programs when school is out,” said Councillor Ben Henderson, who chairs ICFSP.

ICFSP partnered with ESPC to conduct an online survey in late March and early April 2013.  A total of 234 surveys were completed by 27 municipal governments and 207 not for profit organizations throughout Alberta.  Major impacts due to the loss of STEP include:

• On average per year, survey respondents provided employment for 508 students who in turn provided services to 89,088 Albertans many of whom were children and from low income groups;
• 49% of respondents will hire fewer students and 36% will not hire students at all in 2013;
• 56% of respondents will not be able to maintain programs and services, 30% planned to maintain services and the balance are were unsure;
• 58% of survey respondents said fewer people would be able to access their programs, and 44% said vulnerable low income children and families would not be able to access free summer programming.

“The Social Policy Framework goal of enabling collaboration and partnership was achieved by STEP.  Our survey demonstrates the consequences of its elimination.  We are urging the Government of Alberta to address this lost opportunity.  STEP has been a partnership between government, municipalities and not-for-profits and we hope to work together to come up with a viable solution,” Councillor Henderson concluded.
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For more information:
Susan Morrissey, ESPC Executive Director
(780) 218-7395

To view the entire survey results CLICK Here

Media Release
November 20, 2012

A new report on child and family poverty outlines the challenge Alberta faces if we are going to eliminate child poverty in five years and reduce poverty for everyone in ten years, as promised by Premier Redford during the recent provincial election.

The report, entitled “Achieving the Promise: Ending Poverty in Alberta”, was published on National Child Day, November 20th by the Edmonton Social Planning Council, the Alberta College of Social Workers and Public Interest Alberta. This report is one of many reports being released across the country by the national coalition, Campaign 2000. Some of the main findings of the report include:

John Kolkman, Research Coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council and lead author of the report says, �The latest data shows that while government transfers and a strengthening economy is helping to lift some children out of poverty, it is clear much more needs to be done to address the barriers that result in 91,000 Alberta children living in low income.�

“The Premier’s promise to eliminate child poverty in five years is a bold commitment that will only be achieved if it is matched with an equally bold and comprehensive approach to address the root causes of poverty,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “Unfortunately, the provincial government seems to not want to invest any new funding to achieve this goal, so it will be up to citizens and civil society organizations to keep pressing for a real commitment to eliminate poverty in Alberta.”

“Social workers see the suffering of children and families living in poverty every day.  Alberta is a rich province with vast resources.  We can end poverty in Alberta.  Let’s invest in our richest resource of all, our citizens,” says Lori Sigurdson, Manager, Professional Affairs, Alberta College of Social Workers.

The report was launched at simultaneous forums in Edmonton and Calgary that were video linked together and live streamed over the internet. A number of people from various sectors of society presented their views on what solutions need to be included in the Social Policy Framework that Minister Hancock has just completed public consultations into. These forums were sponsored by the Alberta College of Social Workers, the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, Public Interest Alberta, The United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and were also supported by many other civil society groups.

“This forum provides the opportunity for a broad discussion of the impacts of poverty and real solutions for ending poverty”, said Jackie Sieppert, Dean of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary.  “I hope the conversation started here creates momentum for educating people about the issue of poverty and concrete social policy changes to support poverty reduction.   Both are essential to the people of Alberta.”

The Child Well-Being Initiative of the Women of the United Church of Canada are holding a rally at the provincial legislature at 12:30 where they will have tens of thousands of paper dolls on display representing the number of children living in poverty. A Calgary member of the group, Carolyn Pogue said, “When we see that more than half the homeless who come to our church for a bed our children, we think this is an emergency. Charity is not enough. This is our third time back to the provincial legislature and we want action now.”

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Media Contacts:
Bill Moore-Kilgannon (780) 993-3736
Jackie Sieppert (403) 220-5945

To view the entire document CLICK Here.

Media Release
November 23, 2011

The Edmonton Social Planning Council, Public Interest Alberta and the Alberta College of Social Workers released a new report today entitled In This Together: Ending Poverty in Alberta. This report shows the number of children living in poverty rose dramatically from 53,000 to 73,000 in just one year (from 2008 to 2009).

“Almost half (47%) of these children living below the low income cut off (LICO After Tax) are living in families where the household works full time hours for the entire year, yet they are still living in poverty, ” says John Kolkman Research Coordinator at the ESPC and the main report author. “The recession has plunged thousands more families with children into poverty. While existing government transfers have helped many families, we see far too many people falling through the cracks.”

“With one in four employed people in Alberta making less than $15/hour, we are seeing increased levels of poverty as many families are not able to keep up with increasing cost of living,” says Lori Sigurdson, Professional Affairs Coordinator, Alberta College of Social Workers. “Women in particular are being hit hard by poverty in both two parent households (poverty increased to 8% of two parent households from 3.4%) or as single parents where 16% of all lone parent families are in poverty.”

“This report should be a very serious wake up call to the Redford government that they can’t just sit back and expect the economy alone to support Alberta families,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “We know that Alberta has the means to invest in a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy that can prevent, reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty in Alberta. What has sadly been lacking is the political will to support Alberta’s families.”

The In This Together: Ending Poverty in Alberta report also presents many recommendations that would benefit not only those individuals and families living in poverty, but will have a very positive impact on strengthening our communities and our economy.

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Media Contacts:
John Kolkman – Edmonton Social Planning Council, 780 423-2031 (ext 350)
Lori Sigurdson – Alberta College of Social Workers, 780 421-1168
Bill Moore-Kilgannon – Public Interest Alberta, 780 993-3736 (cell)

The full report is available hereand on all three websites:
www.pialberta.org             www.acsw.ab.ca             www.edmontonsocialplanning.ca