Toronto Star
June 26, 2011
Highlights:
The evidence is in. A lot of people in Canada took a real hit during the recent recession. Figures from Statistics Canada show that poverty became a reality for more Canadians between 2007 and 2009. No surprise there, really. It’s hard to imagine poverty falling in the worst global recession in recent history. But look a little closer and something more interesting appears. In Ontario, child poverty actually fell between
2008 and 2009, inching down from 15.2 per cent to 14.6 per cent. That means 19,000 Ontario children and their families were moved out of poverty, despite very tough times. Granted, the change is small, but it’s a stark contrast to other provinces that were also hit hard by the recession. In Alberta, for example, child poverty soared by 25 per cent in the same period.
2008 and 2009, inching down from 15.2 per cent to 14.6 per cent. That means 19,000 Ontario children and their families were moved out of poverty, despite very tough times. Granted, the change is small, but it’s a stark contrast to other provinces that were also hit hard by the recession. In Alberta, for example, child poverty soared by 25 per cent in the same period.
What’s the difference? Ontario took concrete action to reduce child poverty. Provinces like Alberta didn’t.
Now is the time for all parties in Ontario to talk about their poverty reduction policies and plans. We need to know what action they plan to take to make sure all Ontarians, adults as well as children, will experience less poverty.
