You're invited to the 2010 POVERTY OLYMPICS in Vancouver on February 7th, 2010!

A year ago, the Ontario government gave poor families an early Christmas present: a promise to reduce poverty by 25 per cent in five years. The province began sketching a path to lift 90,000 Ontario children and their families out of poverty by 2013.

One year after unfurling the map, it's time to get our bearings. According to the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, which tracks poverty in Ontario, we've pointed ourselves in the right direction but we desperately need more fuel to get us to our destination.  You can download a copy of 25 in 5 Network's report of Ontario's first year of its poverty reduction strategy here.

BY ALEXANDRA MANDELIS
Master of Social Work Intern
Campaign 2000

Thank you to all those who made Campaign 2000's Day of Action on November 24 a success! Another example of how your actions - both big and small make a difference.

Nov. 24th 2009 marked 20 years since the House of Commons unanimously voted to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000.  Over two decades, the rate of child and family poverty has gone down slightly, despite unprecedented growth since 1998.  Because the current figures do not reflect the impact of the 2008-2009 recession, Campaign 2000’s Steering Committee conceived of an alarm clock theme for its National Report Card (PDF) and placards to alert the federal government that “It’s alarming… No progress since 1989!” on the all-party resolution. 

Make Poverty History has been encouraging the development of Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) across the country. So far, Québec, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario have implemented their provincial strategy. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have strategies in the works. The federal government has been slow on developing a national strategy to support provincial and local initiatives, although they are currently conducting a study on the Federal Role in Poverty Reduction.

Meanwhile, some communities are working hard to reduce poverty. Since I live in Ottawa, I am very exited that our community has taken up this challenge!

Over 200,000 Canadians Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty!!

When?  It hasn’t happened yet.  STAND UP and TAKE ACTION on Oct 16-19 is a three day global mobilization to demonstrate support for the fight against poverty and the Millennium Development Goals – www.standagainstpoverty.org  STAND UP can be as big or little as you make it.  For it to count as a STAND UP event all you have to do is read the “pledge” and then those who agree stand up and then you report your numbers. 

…but here in Canada, many children are. Although there have been some improvements in global child health since the signature of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 20 years ago, Canada lags behind when it comes to the health of our aboriginal children.