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Full-time work at minimum wage is not an escape from poverty.

No matter where you live in Canada, the minimum wage does not bring a full-time, year-round minimum wage worker up to the poverty line.

In 2006, 2.1 million workers across Canada - full and part-time - were low wage workers earning less than $10/hour.

Working poor parents are stuck behind a "low wage wall" in poorly paid jobs with few, if any, benefits or opportunities for education, training and advancement.

Almost 2 out of every 5 jobs - 37% - are considered "precarious", that is part-time, temporary, contract or self-employed. These jobs are unlikely to provide families with health and dental benefits or pensions.

2007 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada

Media Advisory

November 20, 2009

Campaign 2000 to Release 2009 Report Card on Child Poverty in Canada

Toronto - Campaign 2000 will release its annual Report Card on Child and Family Poverty on Tuesday, November 24th in Ottawa. This year marks 20 years since unanimous House of Commons’ resolution to end child poverty in Canada by 2000.

The 2009 report, entitled Keep the Promise: Make Canada Poverty-Free, reviews the trends of the past two decades, presents the latest statistics on child and family poverty, and makes recommendations for all political parties. Itwill be released November 24th, 10:00 a.m. in the Charles Lynch Press Conference Room (130S) on Parliament Hill. Federal party leaders have been invited to respond to the report card.

Speakers at the press conference:

Laurel Rothman - National Coordinator, Campaign 2000;
Ed Broadbent – Public commentator and former leader, New Democratic Party
Peggy Taillon – President, Canadian Council on Social Development (porte parole francophone)
Sid Frankel – Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

The report will be available at www.campaign2000.ca on November 24. Provincial report cards on child poverty are also being released on November 24th in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Other activities on November 24th:

Breakfast for MPs and Senators 7:30 – 8:45 am; Room 200 West Block; contact Laurel Rothman for more information (see contact information below)
Rally at Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill 9:00 am
Find out about events across the country at www.campaign2000.ca – click on “Take Action on November 24”

For further information, please contact:
Laurel Rothman – National Coordinator, Campaign 2000, 416-595-9230 Ext. 228 or 416-575-9230 (cell)
Liyu Guo – Program Assistant, Campaign 2000, 416-595-9230, ext. 244 or 416-624-1885 (cell)

Provincial Report Card contacts: -
B.C. – First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition - Adrienne Montani 604-873-8437
Alberta – Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Public Interest Alberta 780-420-0471
Saskatchewan -- Paul Gingrich - University of Regina 306-352-0253
Manitoba – Rob Marriott - Social Planning Council of Winnipeg 204-943-2561 (office) or 204-793-3289 (cell)
Ontario – Jacquie Maund, Ontario Campaign 2000 (416) 595-9230 ext. 241
New Brunswick – Randy Hatfield, Human Development Council 506-636-8540
Nova Scotia – Pauline Raven, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, N.S. 902-670-2949

Other contacts:
Ottawa - Adje van de Sande – Carleton University School of Social Work: 613-520-2600 ext. 3542

Porte parole francophone
Newfoundland & Labrador – Penelope Rowe - Community Services Council Newfoundland & Labrador: 709-753-9860