Child poverty continues to swell in Canada, report says

Catholic New Times, Dec 19, 2004

More than one million children now live in poverty in Canada, according to Campaign 2000, a non-partisan coalition of 90 national, provincial and community organizations.

The organization's latest report, released in November, shows child poverty rates increased to 15.6 per cent in 2002, after five consecutive years of decline. Today, nearly one in six children can be found in low-income families.

Fifteen years after Parliament's unanimous all-party declaration to end child poverty Campaign 2000 accuses the federal and provincial governments of "letting parents down." In Ontario, they are calling for an end to the "claw back" of the National Child Benefit from children on social assistance. Although the federal government doles out as much as $1,511 per child to fight child poverty, the supplement is deducted from social assistance by the province.

"Despite continued economic growth and rising employment, the high rate of child and family poverty remains Canada's social deficit," said Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000, in a press release. "This country needs a comprehensive, multi-year social investment strategy to break the back of child poverty."

Campaign 2000 is Calling for a multi-year social investment plan that includes a maximum child benefit of $4,900; universal child care; expansion of affordable housing; a renewed social safety net through the Canada Social Transfer, and better jobs with living wages.

The full report is available at www.campaign2000.ca .