New Democrats urge government to eradicate child poverty

OTTAWA – Twenty years ago, on November 24, the Leader of Canada’s New Democrats Ed Broadbent sounded the alarm bell on the tragedy of child poverty in Canada. Since then, every day in the House of Commons and out in the communities across Canada, New Democrats have been working tirelessly to push for an end to poverty.

It is now 2009, and there is still much to be done to eradicate the scourge of child poverty in Canada. This is a collective failure and shows a lack of political will on the part of successive governments.

“For twenty years there has been a lack of political leadership to reduce child poverty – that’s a national shame and tragedy," said New Democrat child poverty critic Olivia Chow. “New Democrats have a plan, we need a government with political will to make it a reality so children can grow up in a poverty-free Canada."

In Canada, only one in five children have access to early childhood education and care and the country does not have a universal food program for kids.

We are committed to build a Canada that will include everyone, a Canada that leaves no one behind," New Democrat poverty critic Tony Martin said. "It is time to keep the promise, to make Canada poverty free."

Martin has traveled across Canada to push for a national plan to make Canada Poverty-Free. The New Democrat platform includes a higher investment in Canada Child Tax Benefit, an increase to the minimum wage, making Employment Insurance fair so unemployed workers can access them, building affordable housing, establishing a public and universal non-profit and high quality early childhood education and care services.

This year, 2009, also marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.