VANCOUVER– In an important speech on social policy issues presented to local advocates and social service providers at the Vancouver YWCA today, Liberal Leader Bob Rae delivered a clear message that Liberals will fight for shared, sustainable prosperity and equality of opportunity for all Canadians.

“At the heart of the Liberal ideal is the belief in shared prosperity,” said Mr. Rae. “Addressing social barriers like poverty, mental illness and a lack of affordable housing is crucial to ensuring that Canada has a strong, sustainable economy.”

While the Conservatives would have Canadians believe that economic and social policy are mutually exclusive, Liberals understand that the two are intrinsically linked.

“On a recent visit to Attawapiskat, I met Caley, a beautiful baby girl living with her family in a freezing cold one-bedroom shack with no access to clean running water or a toilet,” continued Mr. Rae. “What the Harper Conservatives fail to understand is that if we neglect our responsibility and fail to end the cycle of poverty in which many Aboriginal people are trapped, people like Caley will not have the opportunity to contribute to – or share in – our sustainable prosperity.”

In the upcoming Parliamentary sitting, Liberals will prioritize several key social policy issues in the House of Commons, including mental illness, healthcare, affordable housing and aboriginal issues.

“The federal government has a fundamental responsibility to create conditions in which all Canadians have an opportunity to succeed,” concluded Mr. Rae. “So we will relentlessly raise these issues in the coming months and ensure they top the federal agenda. That’s our mandate and I’m not going to let Stephen Harper forget it.”

Background:

To watch Liberal Leader Bob Rae’s social policy speech live, please click here.