The Province of Quebec was the first Province to enshrine a poverty reduction plan in legislation. In December 2002 the National Assembly in Quebec unanimously adopted a new anti- poverty law to “combat poverty and social exclusion”. The bill is a framework that includes a National Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion. In April of 2004 the Government Action Plan to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion was released Entitled “Reconciling Freedom and Social Justice: A Challenge for the Future”, it outlines measures to implement the provisions of the Act. The measures reflect Quebec’s key priorities: individual and community health, increased personal income, support for families, and facilitation of the integration of young people into the labor market. In May 2007 the Province released the document entitled, ‘Fighting Poverty and Exclusion in Quebec”.

On December 13, 2007, an Act to establish a Poverty Reduction Working Group was passed unanimously by the House of Assembly. A series of public consultations meetings were held over several months that were designed to gather the communities input on how best to tackle poverty in Nova Scotia. On June 26 of 2008 the Poverty Reduction Strategy Working Group presented its recommendations to government. The government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Interdepartmental Committee began meeting in July of 2008 to move forward on the development of the strategy, which is expected in 2009..

In June 2006 the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador released the document entitled, “Reducing Poverty: An Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador”. This made Newfoundland and Labrador the second province in Canada to adopt a poverty reduction strategy. The Province’s Poverty Reduction Strategy is a Government–wide integrated approach based on the principles of social inclusion and collaboration. A formal consultation process was carried out to ensure all interested parties could contribute to the strategy. Stakeholders included individuals living in poverty, community-based groups, business, labor and governmental officials. A Ministerial Committee was established to guide the work of the strategy and will be supported by a Deputy Minister’s Committee and an Interdepartmental Working Group..

The Province of Ontario announced in its 2008 Budget that it is committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable. A Special Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction was established to develop a focused poverty reduction strategy by the end of 2008. The key areas of the strategy will include, early learning, education, skills training, affordable housing, minimum wage increases and increased social assistance rates. The Province has conducted 14 public consultation forums across Ontario to attain stakeholder input..