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First Call sent out a press release last week highlighting that, according to newly-released figures from Statistics Canada, the child poverty rate in BC rose from 10.5 percent in 2010 to 11.3 percent in 2011, using the most conservative measure, the LICO after tax.

This rate puts BC in a tie with Manitoba for the worst in Canada. This also means the child poverty rate in BC has been the worst of all provinces for 9 out of the last 10 years (all but 2010, when we moved to second worst).

The number of poor children was up from 87,000 in 2010 to 93,000 in 2011. For children living with lone-parent mothers, the poverty rate jumped from 16.4 percent to 24.6 percent, representing 27,000 children.

"The 2013 provincial budget contains no policy measures or significant investments that will help families struggling with inadequate incomes now," said Montani. "The number one priority in the Premier's directives to even the child-oriented ministries is to contain costs, rather than meet needs."

Related links:

BC ties Manitoba for highest child poverty [3],The Tyee, 5 Jul 13

Daphne Bramham: B.C. is the worst place in Canada to be a kid [4], Vancouver Sun, 8 Jul 13