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November 20th, 2018

NDP Statement on National Child Day

Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP critic for Families, Children and Social Development issued the following statement:

“Today we celebrate National Child Day, but we don’t have much to be proud of. Child poverty is a real problem in Canada. Thirty years ago, in response to an NDP call to action, all parties in the House of Commons unanimously committed to eradicating child poverty by the year 2000.
But here we are, eighteen years later, and the problem is far from being resolved. In fact, the situation is even worse. Recent statistics show that over 1.4 million children in Canada live in poverty. That’s one in five children! Even more alarming is the fact that four out of ten Indigenous children are in low income families.
Eliminating child poverty means implementing public policies aimed at improving the lives of children and their parents. A fairer Canada will result from real change – change that will come from initiatives like implementing affordable childcare, greater access to Employment Insurance for the six out of ten families who do not qualify even though they contribute to the system, a universal pharmacare and dental system, and a 15$/hr minimum wage.
These measures would demonstrate that the Liberal government is truly committed to creating a fairer Canada, and really is concerned for future generations."