Poverty advocates are urging the government to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to developing a national poverty reduction strategy.
Adam Vasey with the Downtown Mission says the government has committed to creating a national strategy, but it needs the proper funding to make a difference.
"Now that they've said yes we're going to initiate a plan we want to make sure it has teeth, we want to make sure that it allows everyone in this country to live with dignity," says Vasey.
He says the strategy needs to address systemic issues and fundamental human rights, like the right to food and adequate housing.
Vasey is urging people to write to their member's of parliament as part of the "Chew On This" campaign to get a poverty reduction plan fully funded in the 2018 budget.