The head of Lakehead Social Planning Council believes the city needs to do more to tackle the issue of poverty.
Bonnie Krysowaty insists the inequalities for Indigenous youth must be reduced immediately.
She says there are “a lot of disparities among the Indigenous population as compared to the non-Indigenous.”
Krysowaty notes that is especially true when it comes to earnings and opportunities and thinks job training is an essential part of that, from knowing how to draw up a resume to how a job interview is conducted.
The Social Planning Council researcher is of the belief the new members of council need to be aware of what issues are happening in the city.
Krysowaty suggests that means looking at the data and resources available so they can make more sound decisions at the council table.
She notes some of the data will be available soon on what is considered a living wage in Thunder Bay.
Meantime, the Community Action Plan to Reduce Poverty 2018-2020 is a the latest report from the Lakehead Social Planning Council, the City of Thunder Bay, and Poverty Free Thunder Bay on the problem of poverty and homelessness.
It lays out recommendations to reduce poverty along with the latest statistics on which segments of the city’s population are facing this problem.