It takes a nation to raise a generation
Vancouver Sun
July 15, 2008
By: Laurel Rothman, Family Service Toronto; Penny Irons, chief development officer of the Aboriginal Mother Centre Society; and Adrienne Montani is provincial coordinator of First Call: B.C. Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition.

We're writing to urge the provincial premiers meeting in Quebec City to make poverty reduction central to their discussions of environmental and economic sustainability.

Using a conservative measure, nearly three-quarters of a million children -- about 760,000 -- and their families still live in poverty in Canada despite prosperous times -- that's one out of every nine children. The substantially higher rate for first nations, Metis and Inuit children is disgraceful. We can, and must, do much better.

Children's poverty is family poverty. And some families are more vulnerable than others. Poverty rates are disproportionately high for children in mother-led families, visible minority and recent immigrant families, and those with children with disabilities. For children of aboriginal identity, regardless of where they live, poverty has persisted for too long. This is not the Canada that Canadians want.

There are good reasons why poverty reduction must be part of the sustainability agenda for Canada. Canada's child population is not growing. By 2020, the number of children and youth under 25 is expected to decline to 9.3 million from 10 million. At the same time, first nations, Metis and Inuit populations are growing rapidly with a birthrate that has outstripped that of the non-aboriginal community over the past decade. One out of every two aboriginal people is under 23 years old. All of our young people deserve nurturing and support now, as they will be the citizens, parents, workers and leaders of tomorrow.

Child and family poverty in Canada is not going away. At 11.3 per cent the child poverty rate (most recent 2006 data based on after-tax income) remains stubbornly high and about the same as it was in 1989 when the House of Commons voted unanimously to seek to end child poverty in Canada. By the same measure the B.C. child poverty rate is 16.1 per cent, a situation that begs for action to bring this number down.

Poverty reduction makes social and economic sense and will benefit us all. European countries are successfully cutting their child poverty rates through coordinated plans. Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are actively pursuing poverty reduction while others, including Ontario, are developing strategic plans.

An effective poverty reduction strategy will not be "one size fits all" but must ensure: Sustaining employment; livable incomes, including for those unable to work; and strong community supports such as affordable housing; early learning and child care services, well-resourced public education and training programs. Specific policies and investments that address systemic barriers are needed.

This is a crucial time for our premiers to act. Why not show leadership by agreeing to the basic tenets of a poverty reduction strategy to be implemented in every province and territory?