NDP MP Tony Martin in Saskatoon this Thursday

This Thursday, November 9, 2006, the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition (SAPC) and the National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO) are hosting a forum with federal NDP Social Policy Critic Tony Martin who is bringing his national 'End Poverty' campaign here.

"Our social safety net has become an incoherent, inefficient mess that must be repaired," Martin said. "These Saskatoon statistics point to a human story to tell. We're asking people to give us concrete recommendations to take to this Minority Parliament."

"The depth and persistence of poverty is quite troubling. There are also 650,000 working poor in Canada. Something is terribly wrong in Canada when people working full-time for a full year still cannot make ends meet."

"We need political will and for Canadians to push their politicians to make fighting poverty a priority. The NDP is taking up this fight and we welcome allies."

Organizers want to hear from those now poor or once poor and their advocates. The plan is to raise awareness of poverty and develop recommendations for change. We will all have a better life if we work together to eliminate poverty.

The forum is scheduled for 7.00 pm to 9.30 pm with the dialogue to start at 7.30 pm. This will be located at St Paul 's Hospital (the old nurse's residence) 230 Ave R South, Room G30

For further information: Please contact the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition at 653-2662 or email: antipoverty@sasktel.net or Tony Martin's office (613) 992-8851