Media Centre > C2000 2008 National Report Card
Poverty Reduction a Strategic Move in Downturn
OTTAWA – The federal government would make a timely strategic move if it invested now to reduce stubborn poverty rates in Canada, says a new report by Campaign 2000.
The 2008 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada shows the nation’s child poverty rate is almost what it was in 1989 when Parliament unanimously resolved to end child poverty by the year 2000.
“Canada has enjoyed more than a decade of strong economic growth yet child poverty is essentially the same, based on the latest data available, as it was in 1989,” says Laurel Rothman with Campaign 2000. “As Canada heads into a period of economic uncertainty, the most strategic decision the federal government could make would be to lower the poverty rate.”
Among the study’s key findings:
- Canada’s after-tax child poverty rate appears stalled at 11.3 per cent;
- Nearly one out every nine Canadian children lives in poverty;
- A startling 40 per cent of low-income children live in families where at least one of their parents works full-time year round – they’re the working poor;
- Children in racialized, new Canadian and Aboriginal families as well as children with disabilities are at greater risk of living in poverty.
"Child poverty rates remained far too high in the good years, and things are about to get much worse for low income families" says Andrew Jackson of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We need major job creating public investments and improvements to EI to stop an economic downturn from becoming a disaster for those most in need."
An October 2008 Environics poll shows an overwhelming majority (92 per cent) of Canadians say that if nations like the UK and Sweden can make significant progress on reducing poverty, then Canada can too. Eighty-six per cent say governments should take concrete action, reducing poverty by 25 per cent in five years.
“These findings echo my experience across the country,” says Peggy Taillon, President of the Canadian Council on Social Development. “Canadians are looking for leadership.”
“Support for poverty reduction is growing across the country,” said Joe Gunn, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Justice. “Several provinces are implementing poverty reduction strategies. We need the federal government to take leadership too.”
For more information please contact: Laurel Rothman, (416) 595-9230, ext. 228, by cell 416-575-9230 or Liyu Guo, 416-595-9230, ext. 244)
BACKGROUNDER
Additional highlights from Family Security in Insecure Times: The Case for a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Canada.
- Child poverty is persistent across Canada. Rates of child and family poverty are double digits in five out of ten provinces.
- Families live deep in poverty. Low income two parent families, on average, would need an additional $7,300 per year to reach the poverty line. For lone parent mother-led families, the average depth of poverty is $6,500.
- Government programs have an impact on poverty reduction. Without government transfers including the GST credit, Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and Employment Insurance, child and family poverty would have been 10% higher in 2006.
- Poverty rates are a formidable barrier in Aboriginal communities. Almost one in two Aboriginal children (49%) under the age of six (not living in First Nations communities) lives in a low income family.
- Canada is a laggard on social spending. Canada spends less money on benefits for families and the unemployed than other countries. Canada is now 25th out of 33 OECD countries in the percentage of GDP spent on social programs.
Provincial Report Cards on Child and Family Poverty were also released today in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. Nova Scotia will release fact sheets. All reports available at www.campaign2000.ca.
Campaign 2000 is a non-partisan, cross-Canada network of 120 national, provincial and community partner organizations committed to working to end child and family poverty in Canada. www.campaign2000.ca
For further comment please contact:
National:
Laurel Rothman: Campaign 2000 and Family Service Toronto (416) 595-9230, ext. 228
or by cell 416-575-9230 or Liyu Guo, 416-595-9230, ext. 244
Joe Gunn: CPJ, 613-232-0275 or 1-800-667-8046, ext. 224
Andrew Jackson: CLC, 613-526-7445
Peggy Taillon: CCSD, 613-769-5499 (cell)
Regional:
BC -- Adrienne Montani and Rebecca Siggner, First Call, (604) 873-8437
Alberta – Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Public Interest Alberta (780) 420-0471
Saskatchewan -- Sue Delanoy (306) 241-4952 or Fiona Douglas (306) 585-4117
Manitoba – Sid Frankel, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (204) 474-9706
Ontario – Jacquie Maund, Ontario Campaign 2000 (416) 595-9230 ext. 241
New Brunswick – Randy Hatfield, Human Development Council (506) 636-8540
Nova Scotia – Pauline Raven, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, N.S. (902) 542-3085
