In a discussion about the neoliberal preference for tax reductions in Rosalie Chappell’s (2014: 108) widely read text, Social Welfare in Canadian Society, she makes the following reference to Summoned to Stewardship:
Ms. Chappell uses the quotation in a manner which shows that she understands its importance. These few sentences and the larger document from which they come are carefully framed to change the channel on the neoliberal narrative about taxation imposing a burden, and indeed, punishment on “hard working Canadians.” This narrative was constructed by neoliberals as self-evident and beyond challenge. The state was externalized as an active interest group imposing a burden on defenseless, passive Canadians, for no better reason than to feed the Leviathan and its liberal and socialist friends.
This narrative is challenged at every turn in Summoned to Stewardship. No, the state is not an external force, but a tool that Canadians can use to build a Canada of inclusion and opportunity. So, more than an unfettered market is needed to provide opportunity. No, taxes are not a burden or punishment, but an investment in the kind of Canada we want. Hard working Canadians are not passive recipients of punishment, but active decision makers about how to allocate their resources. Yes, society exists. Canadians are more than a cohort of individuals, each serving his or her self-interest. We have common interests.
Marvyn Novick clearly understood that power can create knowledge, and focused on constructing a counter-discourse, which would de-bunk the neo-liberal orthodoxy. This counter- discourse provided a focus for progressive Canadians to concentrate their power and an opportunity for all Canadians to understand that the neoliberal narrative is not an expression of logic and common sense, but of the interests of the wealthy.
The concept of stewardship is central to this counter-discourse. It means “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care, such as stewardship of natural resources” according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary. This tells us that, as Canadians, we have violated a collective trust in letting so many of our fellow Canadians, and especially children, live in poverty, and that this violation threatens our collective legacy as a country. What is summoning us to responsible care of those children entrusted to us? Our better angels. Marvyn Novick is summoning us to assert that we are better than the atomistic narrowly self-interested individuals who appear in the neoliberal narrative.
In addition to changing the channel, Summoned to Stewardship is important for at least three other reasons. First, it creates a sense of urgency. Second, it demonstrates that significant poverty reduction can, and indeed, has occurred in some jurisdictions. Third, it sets out a program to operationalize the stewardship.
This document was released in what turned out to be the early days of the hardline Harper neoliberal administration. We had just experienced a transition from the soft neoliberalism of the Chretien and then Martin business Liberals, who took some limited action on child poverty. Things could only get worse, as the cancellation of the Liberal child care agreements with provinces showed they would. In this context Summoned to Stewardship was a beacon of hope that was broadly discussed among those interested in poverty reduction. It set out an alternate view that could sustain us through these dark times.
This is why it was attacked by neoliberal editorialists, such as those of the Winnipeg Free Press, who in a September 15, 2007 editorial argued that Summoned to Stewardship did not discuss real poverty because it no longer existed in Canada, and that family breakdown was a bigger concern. It is also why it is widely cited in the progressive academic and professional literatures. For example, writing in the Ontario Medical Review the Ontario Physicians’ Poverty Working Group (Bloch, Etches. Gardner, Pellizzari, Rachlis, Scott, & Tamari, 2008) recounts the policy principles from Summoned to Stewardship.
There are several important lessons that we can learn from this document. The most important focuses on not abandoning our own value-based discourse. Summoned to Stewardship does not make the business case for poverty reduction, but makes the ethical case based on an aspirational image of a Canada of opportunity, inclusion and justice. A second lesson relates to the need to inspire hope through linking the ethical argument with examples of successful implementation and a policy agenda. A third lesson relates to the importance of using language in a precise and strategic manner.
Is Summoned to Stewardship relevant for today? Unfortunately, it is more relevant than we would have hoped. The recently announced poverty reduction strategy of the federal government (Opportunity for all: Canada’s first poverty reduction strategy, 2018) not only measures poverty in too narrow a fashion; but it leaves half of the poor in poverty after 12 years. This is a very stunted application of stewardship responsibilities and must be challenged. The moral vision of this document can help us to mount this challenge.
Beyond this, its policy principles have not been sufficiently implemented and they remain relevant today:
- Every full-time worker with a standard of living above the poverty threshold
- An adequate basic income for persons with disabilities
- Dignified transitional support for children whose parents are available for work
- Available and affordable essential resources to protect family budgets
We have made some progress, but still have not sufficiently exercised our stewardship.
References
Bloch, G., Etches, V., Gardner, C., Pellizzari, R., Rachlis, M., Scott, F., & Tamari, I. (2008). Poverty reduction: policy options and perspectives, Ontario Medical Review, 75(6), 42-48.
Chappell, R. (2014). Social welfare in Canadian society (fifth edition) Toronto, ON: Nelson.
Editorial – poverty and the family. (2007, Sep 15). Winnipeg Free Press Retrieved from http://uml.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.uml.idm.oclc.org/docview/752198275?accountid=14569
Opportunity for all: Canada’s first poverty reduction strategy. (2018). Gatineau, Quebec: Employment and Social Development Canada = Emploi et développement social Canada.
Sid Frankel, PhD, is a social work professor at the University of Manitoba and steering committee member of Campaign 2000.