Dear Editor:
In 1989 the House of Commons resolved to eradicate child poverty by the year 2000. It is now more than three decades later and little has changed.
Out of a group of 17 economically developed countries, the Conference Board of Canada ranks us 15th in terms of child poverty. That translates into one in seven Canadian children who are inadequately housed, clothed and fed.
Needless to say, where there is a poor child there is a poor family.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that poverty among Canadian seniors increased in the period 2007-2010.
In sharp contrast, during the same period the rate of senior poverty declined in other comparable nations. Significantly, Canada provides only 39 per cent of retirement income (CPP, OAS and GIS) to its seniors compared to an average of 59 per cent in other countries with similar economies.
Obviously, with child poverty at one end of the age scale and senior poverty at the other end, somewhere in the middle would be a comfortable place to be, economically speaking.
The thing is, however, if both ends continue to grow we should expect that comfort zone to get smaller and smaller.
And there are signs that that's exactly what is going to happen if something isn't done to counteract the trend.
There are steps we can take to reduce poverty. At the senior end, an enhanced CPP will provide an increase in retirement benefits for future retirees.
As for youngsters, an immediate step would be for the province to implement breakfast-lunch programs. A hungry child does not learn well.
But it doesn't stop there. As the Conference Board of Canada notes: "Countries that have reduced poverty rates have turned away from passive, benefits-only poverty reduction approaches in favour of national anti-poverty strategies," including, for example, policies that "help people overcome obstacles to get jobs through a combination of funding jobs training, providing child care, introducing tax incentives for lower-paid workers."
In other words, reducing poverty cannot be done piece-meal.
And that, I think, pretty well explains the failure of our federal and provincial governments to effectively address poverty in Canada.
Bill Brassington, Burnaby
