Current Issues
Campaign 2000 releases the
New Report Card on Child & Family Poverty in Canada
November 2011 marked 22 years since the House of Commons adopted an all-party resolution to end child poverty in Canada. On Nov. 23-24, Campaign 2000 will release its 20th National Report Card on Child/Family Poverty at two separate events in Toronto and Ottawa.
Read media release - English and French.
Following the release of the report in Toronto on Nov. 23, Campaign 2000 and Family Service Toronto hosted a roundtable: A Campaign 2000 Retrospective, Breaking the Barriers: Working to Eradicate Poverty in Canada. Read the presentations at the Report Card launch and Campaign 2000’s Retrospective Roundtable -- Nov. 23, 2011:
Download our new Report Cards:
- Revisiting Family Security in Insecure Times (2011 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada) in English and French
- 2011 BC Report Card - English
- 2011 Alberta Report Card - English
- 2011 New Brunswick Report Card - in English and French
- 2011 Nova Scotia Report Card - English
Ontario Report Card will be released in the New Year prior to the provincial budget announcement.
Manitoba Report Card is already released: Visit Social Planning Council of Winnipeg’s home page http://www.spcw.mb.ca/ to read it.
Ontario Election 2011
Toronto, Sept. 26: Ontario Campaign 2000 released a political commitment grid which evaluates the commitments of each of Ontario's four major political parties on helping people living on low income. The grid, posted below, shows that even though most parties have mentioned or discussed their poverty reduction strategies, the political anti-poverty dialogue remains limited, with some parties failing to make extensive commitments on anti-poverty work.
The grid is accompanied by and informs a Call to Action letter from the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction. To find out where each party stands on issues of poverty and other related areas, click on the links below:
Media Release on Sept. 27, 2011
Political platform grid (brief version)
Political platform grid (long version)
Call to Action on Poverty in Ontario
List of endorsers for Call to Action on Poverty in Ontario
The Federal Budget
Poverty and Inequality: Opposition Gets It but Government Doesn’t
Campaign 2000 Responds to the new Federal Budget, June 2011.
The June 6th federal budget ignores the fact that poverty and inequality are a major drag on the economy and makes no proposal to do anything about it, says Campaign 2000. This raises major doubts about the government’s ability to manage the economy. There is nothing for the most vulnerable families – especially the 610,000 low income children and their mothers – who feel the double burden of job loss at the workplace and increased economic stress at home. Read Media Release.
Moving Forward on a Poverty-Free Canada
A New Parliament and Hard Work Ahead
Now that the federal election is over and we have a new parliament in the House of Commons, we must continue our work to move forward for a poverty-free Canada.
During the election Campaign 2000 sent a letter with 10 key questions on poverty to the leaders of all parties. Based on the responses received, Campaign 2000 put together a summary of the answers in a grid:
Short grid of party platforms on poverty-related issues
Summary of party platforms on poverty-related issues
Read the questions (English or French)
The budget: Measuring-out in coffee spoons for families
Campaign 2000 Responds to the Federal Budget, March 22, 2011
The Mar. 22nd federal budget measures out tidbits for families and children in coffee spoons rather than putting forward urgently needed social support.
There is nothing for the most vulnerable families – especially the 610,000 low income children and their mothers – who feel the double burden of job loss at the workplace and increased economic stress at home. And there is nothing at all that even hints at a vision for the future to support modern-day families.
Read full media release
March 17: Community Forum on Poverty - It’s Time for the Federal Government to Do Its Part
A community discussion on how to work in partnership towards reducing poverty in Canada, as recommended in a recent Parliamentary committee report & Bill C-545, an Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada.
Watch and listen to the forum discussions on YouTube.
Download the slide presentation about panelists.
Read Liyu Guo's reflections after the forum.
Are you a woman in Ontario struggling to make ends meet?
Are you a mother raising kids on your own?
If so, click here to take our quick survey 
and
visit our project page for ways to get involved.
Help reverse funding cuts to immigrant and refugee serving agencies
On March 2, the motion to reverse the $53 million in funding cuts to immigrant and refugee serving agencies is being debated in Parliament and will be voted on in the next few days. Read how you can help
Help Make A Breakthrough on Poverty in Canada
Join Make Poverty History and Campaign 2000 in calling for the federal government to immediately commit to a federal action plan to reduce poverty in Canada. Send a message now to the Canadian government that we need immediate action to end poverty in Canada. Click here to take action and send a message to Diane Finlay, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
Campaign 2000 and Partners Released 2010 Report Cards on Child/Family Poverty
Poverty Eradication Key to Canada’s Economic Recovery
Canada’s economic recovery hinges on federal leadership to pull recession victims out of the poor house and prevent Canadians from plunging into deeper poverty, says Campaign 2000’s new report card on child and family poverty.
Reduced Poverty = Better Health for All looks at the nation’s most recent child and family poverty rate compared to 21 years ago, when Parliament unanimously resolved to end child poverty by 2000, and finds that 610,000 children (2008 LICO after-tax) and their families lived in poverty even before the recession hit.
Read National Report Card in English or French
Read full press release in English or French
Provincial Report Cards on Child and Family Poverty were also released in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.
On Nov. 25th, 2010, Campaign 2000 and its partners held an MP Breakfast on the Hill in Ottawa. Four keynote speakers spoke eloquently about the link between child poverty and the social determinants of health. Click here to view select photos of the event, and click below for the presentations:
- Reduced poverty = better health for all, by Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000
- Impact of Poverty and Income Inequity on Child/Youth Health in Canada, by Dr. Lindy Samson, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario & Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Ottawa
- Medicare isn’t an excuse for letting children live in poverty, by Dr. Michael Rachlis, MD, MSc (English and French)
- Canada can do much better, by the Hon. Monique Bégin, (former Minister of Health and Welfare), Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus (Health Sc.), Telfer School of Management
Newly-released:
Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
FEDERAL POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN: WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TOWARDS REDUCING POVERTY IN CANADA NOVEMBER 2010 40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION
Campaign 2000 and its partners responded to the report at a News Conference on Nov. 18th, 2010.
Read the Report in English and in French.
Ongoing Efforts with MP Meetings
Campaign 2000 and its community partners across the country continue to meet with MPs and press them to take action to eradicate poverty. Although the House is back in session after the summer break, we've decided to continue lobbying. It's a good warm-up for what is likely to be a spring election!
If you are interested in finding out more or are keen on setting up a meeting with your MP, please email Liyu at: liyugu@familyservicetoronto.org.
You can download or read the full Lobby Kit (backgrounder, letter template, evaluation form) online. Together, we can make sure that MPs from coast to coast to coast know that poverty needs to be a key issue in Parliament and in the possible up-coming federal election!
What Is Our Message?
Canada can do much better and the federal government must resume its leadership. We are urging MPs in all parties to
- SUPPORT Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada;
- VOTE for Bill C-304, An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians; and
- ENSURE that his/her party has a plan to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty in its election platform.
What Resources Are Available to You?
Campaign 2000 Comments on the Latest Government’s Response to the Senate Report on Poverty
Sep 28, 2010: The Government of Canada has turned its back on low income people in Canada, the diligent work of the Senate and the majority will in the House of Commons for serious action on poverty. In its response to the 2009 Senate report In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, the government of Canada rejects the comprehensive recommendations in the report. It is noteworthy that all parties in the House of Commons excepting the minority Conservative government party support aggressive policies to drive down the poverty rate.
The Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released its landmark report on poverty, housing and homelessness in Canada, In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness. Among the 74 recommendations of the report, the following echo C2000 positions:
- That the federal government adopt as a core social policy poverty eradication goal that all programs dealing with poverty and homelessness are to lift Canadians out of poverty rather than make living within poverty more manageable and that the federal government work with the provinces and territories to adopt a similar goal [Recommendation 1];
- That the federal government establish with the provinces a goal that individuals and families, regardless of the reasons for their need, receive incomes totaling at least after-tax LICOs [Recommendation 4]
- That in recognition of both Canadian obligations under international human rights law, and their importance in claiming access to appropriate programs and services, explicitly cite international obligations ratified by Canada in any new federal legislation or legislative amendments relevant to poverty, housing and homelessness [Recommendation 31]
- That the National Child Benefit be raised, incrementally and predictably, to reach $5,000 (in 2009 dollars) by 2012 [Recommendation 34].
Read our Media Release in English and French
Read the Senate Report: In from the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty
Read the Government’s Response to In from the Margins
Read the Toronto Star article addressing the Government Response
The Council of the Federation “will continue to promote . . . reducing poverty”
Premier Selinger on the left receives the Winnipeg statement from Wayne Helgason, E.D. of Social Planning Council of Winnipeg
The August 4th Roundtable on Poverty Eradication, sponsored by Campaign 2000 and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg in collaboration with the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and Canadian Council on Social Development ratified the Winnipeg Statement:
The Provincial and Territorial Road to Poverty Reduction, which Premier Greg Selinger, Chair of the Council of the Federation, received on Aug. 5.
The Winnipeg Roundtable participants included representatives from business, labour, faith groups, and civil society groups. Members of Parliament from the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Québécois took up an all-party invitation to attend.
The Winnipeg Statement is a comprehensive strategy for poverty eradication and calls for government leaders to demonstrate commitment and to work together to eradicate poverty in Canada during the next decade.
Read more about the event
Campaign 2000 Responds to the March 2010 Federal Budget
--Women and children still last: No thank you, Mr. Flaherty!
The March 4th, 2010 federal budget doesn’t even remotely make a dent in Canada’s abysmal rate of child and family poverty. The Throne Speech claims that “Canada is the best place in the world to raise a family.” Sorry, Mr. Prime Minister, Canada is nowhere near the podium! says Campaign 2000, the national coalition of over 120 partners working to end child and family poverty in Canada. There is no new support for our most vulnerable families – especially the 637,000 low income children and their mothers – who feel the double burden of job loss at the workplace and at home. Read it in full in English and French here.
Canada’s New Senate Report Keeps Poverty High on the Political Agenda
The Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released its landmark report on poverty, housing and homelessness in Canada, In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness, on Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 2009.
Among its 74 recommendations, the Committee proposes:
- That the federal government adopt as a core social policy poverty eradication goal that all programmes dealing with poverty and homelessness are to lift Canadians out of poverty rather than make living within poverty more manageable and that the federal government work with the provinces and territories to adopt a similar goal [Recommendation 1];
- That the federal government establish with the provinces a goal that individuals and families, regardless of the reasons for their need, receive incomes totaling at least after-tax LICOs [Recommendation 4];
- That in recognition of both Canadian obligations under international human rights law, and their importance in claiming access to appropriate programs and services, explicitly cite international obligations ratified by Canada in any new federal legislation or legislative amendments relevant to poverty, housing and homelessness [Recommendation 31];
- That the National Child Benefit be raised, incrementally and predictably, to reach $5,000 (in 2009 dollars) by 2012 [Recommendation 34];
The report is available at http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/2/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/citi-e/rep-e/rep02dec09-e.pdf
House of Commons Unanimously Resolves to End Poverty for All
As a direct result of months and years of efforts and collaboration between MPs and Campaign 2000 partners, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) submitted a new motion, which was unanimously passed by the House on November 24th 2009; it reads:
That, with November 24th, 2009 marking the 20th anniversary of the 1989 unanimous resolution of this House to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000, and not having achieved that goal, be it resolved that the Government of Canada, taking into consideration the Committee’s work in this regard, and respecting provincial and territorial jurisdiction, develop an immediate plan to eliminate poverty in Canada for all.
We urge you to write to your MPs, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and all the federal opposition leaders and request their immediate action to develop a poverty reduction strategy for Canada.
Follow the links below to email your MP: http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/en/time-to-act-on-child-poverty (English)
http://www.abolissonslapauvrete.ca/fr/il-est-temps-dagir-sur-la-pauvrete-des-enfants (Français)
Report from the June 1, 2009 Town Hall Meeting on the Federal Role in Poverty Reduction
On June 1, Campaign 2000 and the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction (Ontario) held a Town Hall Meeting to get community input on what the federal role should be in reducing poverty in Canada.
The event coincided with the Toronto hearings of the Federal Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and
the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA).
This Town Hall provided an opportunity for community groups and people with lived experience of poverty to speak about issues affecting people in Ontario: employment equity, racialization of poverty, employment insurance, income supports, affordable housing, childcare, aboriginal issues, support for newcomers, support for people with disabilities, and more. Read full report [pdf] >>
Campaign 2000 urges all federal parties to work together, in collaboration with the provinces and territories to adopt a Poverty
Reduction Strategy for Canada (PRSC) that includes:
• targets and timelines;
• dedicated fiscal and human resources;
• accountability including public reporting;
• consultation with Canadians, in particular, with those who have lived experience of poverty; and
• in coordination with First Nations and other Aboriginal communities, Campaign 2000 urges the development of appropriate poverty reduction targets, timelines and indicators for Aboriginal families, irrespective of where they live.
