Our obligation to our children
Times Colonist Editorial
November 25, 2009

Let us start discussing child poverty in a new way. Let's assume that no politician -- no sensible British Columbian -- believes it is desirable, acceptable or inevitable that children live in poverty.

And let's also accept that far too many children in this rich province now live in substandard conditions. Forget the bickering about income cutoffs or whether things were worse five or 10 years ago.

Then we can focus on the real task of developing a plan to reduce child poverty, with targets, specific actions and timelines.

Yesterday's report on child poverty should embarrass British Columbians.

The report found that in 2007, the province -- for the sixth year in a row -- had the highest proportion of children living in poverty in Canada. Progress has been made in reducing the numbers, but more slowly than in other provinces. And the numbers are still far too high.

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