UNICEF’s recent report, Child Poverty in Rich Countries 2005, paints an unflattering portrait of Canada’s lack of progress in reducing child poverty. With a child poverty rate of 14.9%, Canada ranks 19th out of 26 OECD nations. Read more »
The remarkable outpouring of donations to the tsunami relief by Canadians has left some asking how we could respond so swiftly and energetically to that disaster while the disaster of child poverty in Canada has become old news. I have heard this question asked by community activists and high school students. Most recently I heard Ed Broadbent of the NDP ask it again, this at a national forum marking the 15th anniversary of the all-party resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Read more »
Who is poor in Canada? That is a controversial question for some. According to any of the poverty measures available in Canada, poverty has been on the rise in recent years. But not everyone agrees on what measure to use and what degree of concern poverty should receive. Read more »
There’s a double boom happening in my community – and we’re not alone. The head of a local emergency relief group tells me, "We have been busier then ever." Volunteers with the Out of the Cold program closed the winter season trying to understand why their business of feeding and sheltering those without had tripled over the past winter. Read more »
