Ed Broadbent on child poverty and the gap between rich and poor

The gap between the rich and poor is a growing problem in Canada. It affects the general well-being of Canadians and especially that of more vulnerable groups in our society, including children.

Ed Broadbent, former leader of the NDP (1975-1989) and long time MP (over 20 years) is challenging Canadians to work towards narrowing this gap. While involved in politics, Broadbent constantly advocated for causes such as this in the House of Commons, gaining much admiration from supporters across the political spectrum.

Since his resignation a few years ago he has continued to speak out about issues of poverty and social justice. Speaking at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton on October 19, Broadbent outlined some of his proposals for narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

In narrowing the gap, Broadbent is concerned with the well-being of Canadians in general as well as the inequality caused by such a gap. What is even more troubling is the fact that the gap continues to grow. This is a problem for Canadians because unequal societies are more likely to become dysfunctional. If we ignore this gap, the level of inequality will continue to rise.

Broadbent is especially worried about this growing gap in relation to the issue of child poverty.

In November 2009 it will be 20 years since all MPs committed to bring an end to child poverty in Canada by 2000. Broadbent played a major role in orchestrating this movement in 1989, introducing the motion to the House of Commons which received unanimous support. However, we are almost ten years past the deadline and there is still so much to be done in the area of child poverty.

According to a report from the Conference Board of Canada last month Canada ranked 13th in comparison with 16 other industrialized countries in the area of child poverty. Approximately one in seven children in Canada, just over 14%, lives in poverty. Campaign 2000, an organization dedicated to monitoring child poverty in Canada, reported that last year, the number of children living in poverty was at almost the same level as in 1989.

In order to address the issue of child poverty, Broadbent suggested raising taxes for Canadians in the top bracket of annual income (250,000 and up) from 29 to 35 percent. This will mean an extra 3.7 billion dollars. If invested in children, such an amount would double the funding designated for the national child care benefit program.

Broadbent’s statements are important as organizations and individuals continue to speak out about the importance of well-being in Canada and the ever increasing gap between the rich and the poor.

He was invited to speak in New Brunswick by the Department of Social Development where just last week the Minister, Kelly Lamrock, spoke out against his own government about the lack of progress on the issue of poverty. In response Premier Shawn Graham promised to put more funding into improving social assistance programs.