Adding our voices to help end child poverty in Canada – Make Poverty History Campaign

 

Make Poverty History (MPH) is a global social movement dedicated to educating citizens about local and global poverty and mobilizing support to end poverty! Canada’s MPH campaign calls for urgent and meaningful policy change for:

  • MORE AND BETTER AID.
  • TRADE JUSTICE.
  • CANCELLING THE DEBT.
  • ENDING CHILD POVERTY IN CANADA.

How is Canada doing?

Sadly it is 15 years since the House of Commons unanimously resolved to eliminate child poverty in Canada. Yet:

  • 1 in every 6 children lives in poverty in Canada: that’s over one million children.
  • 45% of all Canada’s low-income children live in families where the parent(s) worked all year, yet still could not rise above the poverty line.
    (Campaign 2000)

ENDING CHILD POVERTY – The MPH call — Canada can take action!

We must continue to call on our governments to make key investments that will make a difference:

  • “more money for low income families”
  • “affordable housing and creation of decent jobs with a higher minimum wage” and
  • “universal, affordable early learning and child care.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. You can “Click into ACTION” and send an e-mail to Prime Minister Martin and urge him to take action to make poverty history when world leaders meet in September.

2. You can MARCH WITH US on Sept 10th, the day the world’s most powerful nations are meeting at the historic United Nations General Assembly Special Summit on the Millennium Development Goals – If you are in the lower mainland, YOU CAN join the Coalition of Child Care Advocates, the Capilano College Students Union and the Global Stewardship Program, anti poverty activists, trade union members, faith groups and other concerned people from all walks of life in a MARCH TO BRIDGE THE POVERTY GAP.

WHERE: The march will begin at Peace Flame Park – Burrard and 1st Avenue and proceed to the Vancouver Art Gallery where there will be speakers, entertainment and exhibits (visit us at the CCCABC table).

WHEN: Meet us at 12 noon, under the Coalition of Child Care Advocates banner (we will assemble near Burrard and 1st). The march begins at 12:30.