One in 10 Canadian children living in poverty: report card

CALGARY – A coalition of anti-poverty groups says Canada has made little progress in the past two decades when it comes to poverty reduction. 

The latest report card by Campaign 2000 says the number of children living in poverty has dropped 20 per cent in 20 years. Meanwhile, the organization says Canada’s economy has more than doubled in size in that same time frame. The report finds one in 10 children lives in poverty, and the proportion jumps to one in four for children living in First Nations communities.

In Alberta, child poverty has increased 40 per cent from approximately 53,000 kids in 2008 to 73,000 in 2009.

Advocates say the recession was the biggest driver behind the increase; however, Alberta’s low minimum wage and high cost of living are also to blame, meaning even for working families, basic items like healthy foods can be out of reach.

Sean Helfrich’s family is one example; they are struggling to buy their two-year-old daughter Sacha clothes and food.

“Sometimes it can be very hard and mind melting just to think how am I going to make it to the end of the week?”

Sean and his girlfriend say they’re embarrassed they can’t support their children. Both are out of work and unable to find full time employment.

“Frankly, it’s shocking that in a rich province like Alberta, that so many people are living below the low income cut off,” says Joe Cesi, “Action to End Poverty in Alberta.”

Currently, the poverty line for a single adult in Alberta is $18,400 annually. A family of four would need to bring in a net income of $34,800 to be above the poverty line.

The national anti-poverty coalition is calling for a federal action plan to slash poverty in half by 2020.

In 1989, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to seek to eradicate poverty in children by 2000.  

Read more on Campaign 2000’s report here.