Thank you so much for the editorial in the Jan. 2 edition of the Shuswap Market News on the topic, “Child poverty needs action year-round.”
Every year we get the report in November on the status of children living in poverty. On the 25th anniversary in 2014 of the House of Commons’ unanimous decision to bring an end to child poverty by 2000, we found there has been no progress. Instead the problem is even worse.
As you point out so well, this issue cannot be solved through the philanthropic efforts of community groups. It must be solved by senior governments.
At this point, neither the federal nor B.C. governments, have a plan for solving the problem. This should surely be an issue for the next federal election, and an issue to raise with our MLA.
In a country so fortunate as Canada, it is a disgrace that our level of child poverty in Canada is higher than 14 other countries, mostly in Europe. I encourage all citizens to question federal election candidates to tell us what their party will do to solve this problem.
Janet Pattinson
