A 1989 government promised to eliminate child poverty. 30 years later (2018 data) we still have 1 in 5 children living in poverty in our province. There are 26 concrete recommendations in this report from First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition
Child poverty report card from @FirstCallBC confirms 1 in 5 BC children in poverty as of 2018. That's higher than national average, and higher than the overall poverty rate in the province – 18.5% compared to 18.1% of overall population. 21.7% under 5. This is shameful. #bcpoli
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
2018 is the most recent available data. How has the pandemic impacted children? Poverty reduction was already too slow and now progress may be halted or reversed. https://t.co/RQmsgKcaDH
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
This includes a disproportionate number of Indigenous families, and single parent families. 55% of single parent families have children living in poverty. #KidsCantWait
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
Two thirds of households on social assistance are food insecure #RaiseTheRates
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
Even if both parents worked full time, full year on a $15 minimum wage, they would still be living under the poverty line. #LivingWage
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
Good news is 92,280 kids in BC were kept out of poverty in 2018 due to federal and provincial transfers. We know what we can do that works. #bcpoli
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
Recommendations include a paid sick leave, living wage, #RaiseTheRates with additional bump for for families of kids with disabilities, collab with Indigenous Peoples and comply with CHRT rulings, increase funding for equitable resources for families of children with disabilities
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
#Refugee supports, youth in care, childcare, school food programs, security, eliminate tuition fees, access to tech and internet, an increase to public health initiatives aimed at young families
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
A #bced recommendation: ensure K-12 funding is sufficient to mitigate inequities and ensure inclusion of #disabled learners. See the report for more details. @FirstCallBC
— BCEdAccess (@BCEdAccess) December 9, 2020
