Our obligation to children is not being met
Abbotsford Times
Nov 27 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.

This week's report on child poverty should embarrass British Columbians.

The report found that in 2007, the province - for the sixth consecutive year - 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.

The report by First Call, the B.C. partner in a national child-poverty study, found almost one in five children here were living in poverty in 2007 - some 156,000 children. The poverty rate in B.C. was 18.8 per cent, versus a national child poverty rate of 15 per cent.

Whether the number of children living in poverty is 156,000, or 56,000, a competent government would have a plan to move toward ensuring all children have a fair start in life.

Six other provinces have introduced detailed plans to reduce child poverty, with deadlines and targets and accountability. The B.C. government refuses to take that basic step.

Earlier this year, Children and Families Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond requested a joint meeting with Premier Gordon Campbell and NDP Leader Carole James to discuss the growing problem of child poverty and find ways to develop a plan. Campbell refused to meet.

Having a plan, and measuring results, is simply a matter of basic management, competence and accountability.

And it is inexcusable that the B.C. government will not take that step.

Solving the poverty problem will require a range of targeted approaches, from a review of the minimum wage to improved access to child care so more parents can work. That's the value of a plan. Our government should create one - ASAP!