Toronto is failing more than a quarter of its children.
A new study concludes that child poverty has reached "epidemic" levels, with 29 per cent of children — almost 149,000 — living in low-income families. Even more disturbing: that figure has actually been on the rise for the last two years.
That's right. After gradually declining to 27 per cent in 2010 from a high of 32 per cent in 2004, the city's child poverty rate has increased once again.
In some areas it's much worse: 15 of Toronto's 140 neighbourhoods have child poverty rates of 40 per cent or more, while 40 have poverty rates of 30 per cent or more.
In fact, among Canada's 13 major cities, Toronto tied with Saint John, N.B., as having the highest poverty rate, according to the analysis of new Statistics Canada data by a coalition of social agencies.
Sadly, while the figures shine a spotlight on the issue and detail the extent of poverty in the city, they aren't telling us anything we don't already know — in general — from earlier studies.
Which is this: despite years of government rhetoric, Canada has a shameful record when it comes to ending child poverty, and Toronto's statistics highlight that failure.
In 1989, the House of Commons unanimously voted to end child poverty by the year 2000. How successful was that? By 2013, the number of low-income kids had actually risen — to 967,000 from 912,000.
Meanwhile, a Conference Board of Canada study in 2013 surveying 17 industrial nations gave Canada a grade of C on eliminating child poverty. As the board said then: "Not only is it socially reprehensible; it also risks being a drag on the economy for years to come."
Many studies have clearly told governments who needs help. For example, 38.2 per cent of Ontario children cared for by single mothers are raised in a low-income environment. And they have laid out clear directions for ending child poverty — provide low-income housing, better child care and targeted (rather than universal) child tax credits.
But as the new statistics for Toronto indicate, that message isn't getting through.
For example, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says increasing child-care spaces eases child poverty by enabling mothers to get a job. But in 2006, the Harper government killed a national child-care program that would have provided 625,000 subsidized daycare spaces and replaced it with a taxable $100 per month child tax credit that actually benefits the well-off more than the poor.
In 2012, Campaign 2000, a national anti-poverty coalition, recommended cancelling the $100 monthly payment, along with two other tax credits beyond the reach of the poor. Directing the money that would be saved to poor people, it said, would put almost $2,000 a year more into their pockets. Of course, Ottawa did no such thing.
To be fair, some action has been taken. One bright light is the Ontario Child Benefit for low-income families, launched at $250 a year in 2007 and which has increased each year to $1,310 now. It has helped to raise thousands out of poverty.
Still, there are almost 149,000 children in Toronto whose families are living on less than half the median household income (after taxes). They don't need more statistics. They need action.
The groups behind the study have invited the mayoralty candidates to address the issue Thursday morning. It's the least they can do to starting dealing with this sad inequity.
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