The International Labour Organization’s
2003 report on “Working Out of Poverty”
found that participation and inclusion are
central to poverty reduction and that
co-operatives are an ideal instrument for
local development initiatives. In its 2007
brief on Revitalizing Canada’s Economy,
the Canadian Co-operative Council called
for the co-operative model to be part of a
national poverty reduction strategy within
low-income communities and
neighbourhoods.