Poverty 'road show' derided

Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones has castigated the Newfoundland and Labrador government's anti-poverty consultations as "a road show" that wastes money that could be better spent.

In the legislature Tuesday, Jones said the Liberals learned through an access to information request that the province spent about $85,000 during a three-week period last fall on public consultations for its poverty reduction program.

"I ask the government how they can justify spending $85,000 on a consultation, on poverty consulting, Mr. Speaker, when there are families in this province who are going without?" Jones asked.

"I think I have heard it all today," Premier Kathy Dunderdale responded. "This is offensive on so many levels."

Jones then asked why $50,000 was spent on advertising the consultations instead of going straight to families who needed it most.

"One of the reasons why we have been successful is because we approached this in a very respectful way, knowing but for the grace of God there go the rest of us," Dunderdale said.

"It is important for us to listen to people who have to deal with these issues of poverty on a daily basis and, Mr. Speaker, we will do everything we can to support them, to come forward to talk to us so that our policy and our programs are well informed by the people who use them."

Jones was not moved by the response.

"The premier can stand in this house of assembly and grandstand all she likes," Jones said. "To spend $85,000, Mr. Speaker, without a cent of it going into the pockets of families in this province who need it is absolutely ridiculous."