Poverty Reduction Plan

On November 8, 2023, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced a new poverty reduction plan that focuses on improving the overall well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The new three-year phased plan is an important element of achieving the province’s goal of becoming one of Canada’s healthiest provinces by 2031, and is aligned with recommendations from Health Accord NL. To help ensure Provincial Government programs better meet the current needs of residents, the plan adds to other work currently underway, such as the review of means and income-tested programs like the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program and the Income Support Program.

The plan is supported by an investment that will grow to $85 million annually after three years. This is in addition to more than $900 million the Provincial Government allocated in Budget 2023 for social programming and support for lower income families and individuals.

This poverty reduction plan was informed by community stakeholders, Indigenous and municipal governments, and experts, including people with lived experience. As a result, the plan has four key focus areas and associated actions to better support the well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. 

Reducing Childhood Poverty

  • We have expanded the Prenatal-Infant Nutritional Supplement up to age five and renamed it the Prenatal-Early Childhood Nutrition Supplement to better reflect its expanded scope;
  • We have increased the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit by 300 per cent; and
  • Providing additional funding to ensure school food programs are available in all Pre-Kindergarten and K-9 schools

Employment Interventions

  • Continuing the Employment Stability Pilot province-wide; and
  • Providing enhanced programming to train and connect non-employment insurance eligible individuals to employment.

Improving Income

  • Streamlining and improving the Income Support program benefits structure beginning with an immediate increase of $50 per month for the comfort allowance to a total of $175 monthly for those individuals staying in temporary accommodations such as emergency homeless shelters.

Supporting Seniors

  • Implementing a second targeted Basic Income Program for people aged 60 to 64 who currently receive Income Support and the Community Supports Program through the Department of Health and Community Services. These same individuals will receive an increase in payments to match federal seniors benefits, which they will receive at age 65. This will allow for more adequate and stable financial supports.
  • A targeted poverty reduction plan for seniors will be released in the coming months. 
    The ongoing work of the Cabinet Committee on Seniors will continue and it is anticipated that further measures to help seniors manage the higher cost of living will soon be released.