Child Poverty Still High in Canada

OTTAWA -- Canada must make a serious effort to eliminate child poverty, says the Green Party of Canada in the wake of a UNICEF report card released by the Innocenti Research Centre.  Canada scored a six overall, placing it in the middle of the pack along with Poland and Portugal, behind countries such as Denmark and Finland but ahead of the US.  Among OECD countries, Canada scored average for health well-being and above average for education well-being but below average for material well-being.

“We cannot let our children fall behind,” said Rebecca Harrison, Green Party Poverty Elimination Critic.  “Although we think of Canada as an affluent nation, there is a great deal of inequality in family income and it is the children that bear this burden. Poverty is a systemic problem that requires intervention in all spheres of public policy. We need to develop a comprehensive plan to improve our social safety network so that it eliminates child poverty.  And this program needs to be spearheaded by the Federal Government.”

The Green Party’s call for a Poverty Commissioner to develop a national poverty elimination strategy is echoed in the UNICEF report card’s recommendations for Canada.  UNICEF also calls for a national Children’s Commissioner who would ensure children’s best interests are considered in policy development and that services across the country are better coordinated.

“It is time for action on child poverty,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.  “This is an urgent issue that we cannot put off any longer.  We should be looking to the countries that are more successful in eliminating child poverty and asking what lessons could we bring to Canada.  We need to consider a comprehensive strategy ensuring that every family has an income level sufficient to allow every child to develop to their full potential.”

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Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
Green Party of Canada
c: 613.240.8921
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca