2014 National Report Card, Child Poverty, 25 Years Later: We Can Fix This

The 2014 national report card highlights the compelling reasons why the federal government needs to take leadership and develop a national plan to end child and family poverty. It will present the latest statistics on child and family poverty and make recommendations for all political parties.

Key Findings from the 2014 National Report Card, Child Poverty, 25 Years Later: We Can Fix This:

  • Child poverty has increased since 1989: from 15.8% to 19.1% today and 40% of Indigenous children live in poverty.
  • Public policies can reduce poverty. An enhanced child benefit of up to $5,6 00 would lift at least 174,000 children out of poverty.
  • 40% of children in poverty reside in household s with full time, full year employment.
  • Canada needs a good jobs strategy and decent wages: growing trend towards part time, temporary work that is precarious will not revers e the child poverty crisis.
  • Canada still needs that national childcare program . There are only enough regulated child care spaces to cover about 20 .5 % of children aged 0 – 12 years.
  • Poverty affects people differently: Children in racialized, recent immigrant and indigenous families as well as children with disabilities are at greater risk of living in poverty, leading to persistent social and economic inequality.
  • One in seven of those in homelessness shelters are children. 37% of Canadian households have difficulty maintaining housing. Homelessness costs Canada $7 billion per year.
Publication Date: 
2014
Location: 
Canada