HELP THE POOR TO HELP THE NATION: Poverty reduction is the best cure for an ailing economy

Canadians are looking to their federal and provincial governments to protect them from the repercussions of the global financial credit crunch. Among the necessary measures our legislatures should take perhaps even the most effective - would be a determined joint effort to reduce Canada's scandalously high rate of poverty.

A recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) disclosed that the gap between rich and poor in Canada widened far more than in most other OECD-member countries over the past 20 years. Canada now stands in a dismal 18th place among OECD countries ranked from best to worst on income inequality.

"After 20 years of …