Poverty remains stubbornly high

From EndCanadianPoverty.ca

• Date: January 6, 2007
• Source: Toronto Star
• Link to article: Poverty remains stubbornly high

" Targeted strategy can uproot poverty

Editorial, Jan. 2.

Kudos to the Star for consistent, well-informed leadership on poverty issues in the tradition of Joseph E. Atkinson. We agree wholeheartedly that a focused campaign is needed and our cross-Canada coalition of more than 110 organizations has been proposing many of the approaches that you outline.

Despite strong economic growth, Canada's child and family poverty rate remains stubbornly high at 17.7 per cent – that's one in every six children. The average low-income family lives in deep poverty and would need an additional $10,400 a year of income just to reach the poverty line. Yet, low-income families are working harder than ever – one-third of all low-income children are in families where the parent or parents work full-time, all year. A job is not an assured pathway out of poverty, although most Canadians believe it should be. "