This report estimates that the direct cost of poverty for the PEI government is just under 100 million dollars per year — and that these costs account for 6.7% of the 2009/10 PEI government budget. When the costs to government are added to the broader costs to the economy, the total cost of poverty for the province is $315 million dollars, which is equivalent to 7.6% of Prince Edward Island’s GDP. This corresponds to $2,700 per person, per year.
This report underlines the urgency for Maritime governments to act now to eliminate poverty, as investing in a comprehensive plan to alleviate poverty could cost as little as half as much as the quantifiable costs of poverty.
About the authors
Christine Saulnier (she/her) is Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia. She has a doctorate in Political Science from York University. She leads the living wage calculations for communities across Atlantic Canada and serves as a co-author of the annual child and family poverty report cards for Nova Scotia. She has written extensively, and given commentary on a range of other public policy issues including fiscal policy, labour markets, and child care policy. She serves on the Steering Committee of Child Care Now Nova Scotia, and Campaign 2000 (national coalition to end child and family poverty). She served on the Board of the NS Health Coalition and Adsum for 10 years.
