Ottawa urged to put child poverty pledge into action – Our Windsor

Mar 11, 2015

Activists call on federal politicians to put their February pledge to end child poverty into campaign platforms in the upcoming election.

In the wake of last month’s near unanimous reaffirmation of Parliament’s 1989 pledge to end child poverty, activists are urging federal politicians to show how they would turn this latest promise into action.

In a letter to the four federal party leaders Wednesday, Campaign 2000 is calling for detailed anti-poverty plans to be part of this year’s federal election.

“First, it is the right thing to do for our children and for all of us,” says the network of more than 120 national, provincial and community partners dedicated to fighting child poverty. “Second, poverty is expensive, costing Canada an estimated $72 (billion) to $86 billion annually.” Children who grow up in poor families suffer more illness throughout life, get less education and are more likely to be unemployed, the group notes.

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