Back in 1989, federal politicians from all parties promised to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. The latest report card from Campaign 2000 tells us that, nineteen years later 760,000 children are still living in poverty in Canada.

Send Prime Minister Stephen Harper a message to end child poverty

Campaign 2000 has been tracking the numbers since the promise in 1989. What’s the big change since then? Virtually no change at all. Canada’s child poverty rate is 11.3% - almost 1 child out of every 9 – just about as high as it was in 1989.

What have the politicians been up to for the past 19 years?

And why haven’t more of us been reminding them loudly of their promise?

Countries in Northern Europe have child poverty rates less than 5%. The United Kingdom has a Poverty Reduction Strategy in place that cut their child poverty rate. We can do the same. Learn more about the issue here.

It’s time to send our politicians a message – we can Make Child Poverty History in Canada.

Read more about the Campaign 2000 child poverty report below:

One in nine kids in poverty (Canadian Press)

1 in 9 Canadian kids still live in poverty: Report (canada.com)

Little progress on child poverty, threat increasing: Campaign 2000 report (CBC)

B.C. records worst child-poverty rate for fifth consecutive year (Georgia Straight, Vancouver)