Article
4 November 2025
Michelle James, director of policy at Vibrant Communities Calgary, said her organization wants to see sustained or increased investments in poverty reduction. “We know that in Canada overall, poverty is steadily increasing since the pandemic. So what we’re really looking out for are those initiatives that will really help the most vulnerable,” said James.
Michelle James, the director of policy at local non-profit Vibrant Communities Calgary, said she’s pleased to see social programs, including $10-a-day child care and the Canada Disability Benefit maintained in the 2025-26 federal budget. “I'm hopeful to see that there's still commitment at the federal level to support low-income Canadians and Calgarians," she said, "and we are really hopeful to see as well that all orders of government can come together and do what they can as well to make sure that people are lifted out of poverty and their well-being is supported.”
Housing funds were also a priority for Vibrant Communities Calgary, a poverty reduction non-profit in the city. Its policy director, Michelle James, said she is encouraged to see “important social programs” were maintained in the budget like the Canada Disability Benefit, Canada Worker Benefit, and Canada Child Benefit.
Calgary Social Policy Collaborative’s new report exposes the pressures facing Alberta’s gig workers and the policy tools that could better support them
VCC’s advocacy to Calgary City Council on key social issues was covered by the Calgary Herald and Sun, and LiveWire Calgary.
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