Day Two: Highlights from the conference floor... The day began with OECD Head of Social Policy Mark Pearson offering an optimistic prognosis of the success of social policies in this time of changing social needs. Some of the "new social risks" which Dr. Jane Jenson had outlined yesterday are, he says, beginning to yield to new policy approaches in Europe. In Denmark and the UK, for example, welfare to work packages have quite dramatically reduced poverty. Pearson was critical, however, of Canada’s approach to the problem. "Cutting welfare drastically is not quite so effective as actual welfare to work packages," he responded drily to a participant who believed he was being optimistic about Canada. Pearson called Canada’s child poverty rates "unacceptable," and said that Canada does "spectacularly badly" on lone parent child poverty. Don Gray, an Associate Chief Executive in the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development, presented his Ministry’s strategy of focusing on social outcomes. These are monitored in a Social Report which is published, publicized widely, and used as a reference by all government departments. The Social Report puts social goals higher on the entire government agenda. Two sessions of workshops allowed participants to more fully explore the gaps between Canada’s social policies and contemporary realities. Literacy worker Tanis Atkinson summed up the troubles faced by so many who live that gap everyday in their social development work. "There is a huge disjunct between what people in the field know and what policy acknowledges. The kind of support people need to make the transition to meaningful work is much greater than policy-makers are willing to admit." The Weiler award, which celebrates outstanding contributions to community development and social justice, was presented to Michael Goldberg of Vancouver at a luncheon in his honour. Goldberg is noted for tireless advocacy work on behalf of children and youth. In an emotional acceptance speech, Goldberg attributed his success to hard work, the great people he worked with, and sheer luck. Embodying his commitment to put social policy into action, he made a pitch for everyone in the room to participate in the Make Poverty History Campaign and lend their voices to its call to eradicate poverty in Canada and around the world.