Child Poverty in Canada

Term Paper # 102422

Canadian Studies
Canadian Studies > Government and Government Policy
Child, Youth Issues

This paper explores the extent of child poverty in Canada.

1,134 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Canada's problem with poverty in spite of a generally strong economy and social programs to offer aid to those below a certain economic level. The paper discusses how a focus on child poverty is beneficial for families and contributes to a reduction in poverty and other social problems for the next generations. The paper points out that policies such as reducing taxes that do not address the question of child poverty, might be politically beneficial but are essentially short-sighted.

From the Paper:

"The House of Commons in 1989 determined to find a way to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000, but this has not been achieved. Instead, it has been shown that some 1.2 million children, or one in six, live in poverty today. A 2006 report shows that the issue is both a national and a provincial problem, with rates of poverty varying from one province to the next because of different public policies on income security and affordable housing. However, the current data shows that "no province has yet reduced poverty to a single digit figure as UNICEF challenged Canada to do" (Campaign 2000 2). Quebec is the only province showing a steady decline in child poverty since 1997, which is attributed "in part to a package of family support benefits implemented in 1997 including
rapid expansion of affordable early learning and child care services, an expanded child benefit and enhanced parental leave" (Campaign 2000 2)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Campaign 2000 "Oh Canada! Too Many Children in Poverty for Too Long." Campaign 2000 (2006). March 10, 2007. http://www.campaign2000.ca/rc/.
Canadian Council on Social Development. "An Introduction to Poverty in Canada." Child & Family Canada (September 1996). March 10, 2007. http://www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/ccsd/00000323.htm.
Fogden, Scott. "Poverty in Canada: The New Reality Facing Canadians." Mapleleafweb (28 Feb 2003). March 10, 2007. http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/general/poverty/index.html.
Sarlo, Chris. "Measuring Poverty in Canada." The Fraser Institute (July 2001). March 10, 2007. http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=pb&id=216.