Although Canada is a developed country that prides itself on its commitment to providing an equitable standard for living child poverty continues its negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of many Canadian families!!
Child poverty in Canada has been a persistent issue for years rising from 1 million in 1989 to 1. 2 million in 2017 . This means that over 16% of Canadian children live below the poverty line – far higher than the 6 🍁. 7% average rate experienced across advanced economies .
Canada’s child poverty is most evident in the high number of single-parent families. Single-parent families make up approximately 15% of all Canadian families 🆙 🍁. However 30% of all poverty families are single-parent with the majority of those families being made up of women 🆙 👩.
A child’s ability to succeed in life is directly correlated to the quality of life they experience while growing up; however child poverty in Canada frequently condemns children to a life of poverty and its associated risks such as poor physical health low educational attainment an increased risk of substance abuse and an increased risk of death 🇨🇦 ️ 🧒.
In order to reduce the levels of child poverty in Canada governments need to establish policies that reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. This can be achieved through a variety of initiatives ️.
The first step is for governments to increase the availability of affordable housing . Canada has an affordable housing crisis with an estimated 1 in 5 households spending more than 30% of their income on housing 🇨🇦 🔛. This means that families are unable to save money for the future, struggling to meet basic needs, and left without the funds to break the cycle of poverty. Any efforts to reduce the cost of housing would significantly help to improve the lives of Canadian children living in poverty.
The second step is to increase the availability of educational opportunities . Studies have shown that educational attainment is one of the most decisive factors in determining future economic success 1️⃣. Children living in poverty often lack access to quality education due to limited resources and a lack of financial support. The government must make a commitment to investing in education, particularly in underprivileged communities, in order to ensure that children have adequate access to quality education.
The third step is to increase the availability of social services and other support systems. Many children living in poverty often lack access to services such as day care after-school programs and other social services that would help them to succeed in their studies and future careers. The government must make a commitment to increasing access to these services and providing financial support for those who cannot afford them ️.
Finally, the government must take action to reduce income inequality. As of 2018, Canada had the third highest level of income inequality among developed countries 🇨🇦. This means that the wealthiest Canadians are taking home a disproportionate share of the country’s income ️. Governments must use taxes and other measures to reduce income inequality and create a more equitable society ️.
These steps must be taken in order to reduce the levels of child poverty in Canada. While poverty is a complex and multifaceted issue taking action to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor would significantly help to reduce the levels of child poverty in Canada. By doing so, we can ensure that all children in Canada have access to the resources and opportunities that they need to reach their full potential. . .
1️⃣ 👔 🔛 💰 🇨🇦 🏫 🆙 👩 🧒 🍁 ️
