It has been over twenty years since the 1989 pledge to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000 was announced in the House of Commons. Women and children have consistently been at the top of the list for those either living in or vulnerable to poverty. Canadian advocacy groups, coalitions and public service providers that work with women and children have continued to push for poverty reduction plans from both the federal and provincial government that include increased investments in early learning and child care. ELCC is a critical component in any plan to address child poverty because it provides benefits both to the children through quality programs and to their parents by allowing them to continue participating in the labour force while their children are properly cared for.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation's comprehensive report Starting Strong II (2006) identifies child poverty as one of the challenges policymakers face while focusing on the task of enhancing the well-being and learning of young children. Addressing child poverty not only meets the broader goal of social equity but is also essential to developing good early childhood policies:
The reduction of child and family poverty is a precondition for successful early childhood care and education systems. Early childhood services do much to alleviate the negative effects of disadvantage by educating young children and facilitating the access of families to basic services and social participation. However, a continuing high level of child and family poverty in a country undermines these efforts and greatly impedes the task of raising educational levels. (pg. 206)
More specifically, the OECD recognizes that ELCC services alone can not reduce child poverty. Rather, it recommends reducing child poverty and exclusion through upstream fiscal, social and labour policies while increasing resources within universal programmes for children.
Although providing care and education to children from "at-risk" backgrounds, early childhood programs cannot substantially address issues of structural poverty and institutional discrimination... The challenge of reducing child poverty needs also to be tackled upstream by governments through energetic social, housing and labour policies, including income transfers to low-income groups, comprehensive social and family policies, and supportive employment schemes and work training. Preventive, anti-poverty measures can significantly reduce the numbers of children arriving at early childhood centres with additional learning needs. (pg. 213)
More than twenty years after the House of Commons pledge, child poverty remains a persistent problem in Canada. In 2010, Campaign 2000 reported that 1 in 10 children in Canada lives in poverty; amounting to 610,000 children and their families nationwide. 1 in 4 children in First Nations communities live in poverty. Furthermore 1 out of every 3 mother-led lone parent families lives in poverty. In this Issue file online readings and resources related to and connecting children and women's poverty and early learning and child care are listed.
This Issue File is composed of four sections:
Through their publications and advocacy, Campaign 2000 [8] has always placed a great emphasis on universal child care as a key part of a poverty reduction strategy for children and their families. Many of their publications include discussion of child care and the need for a national child care plan to address child poverty in Canada.
Revisting family security in insecure times. 2011 report card on child and family poverty in Canada [9]
Summoned to stewardship: Make poverty reduction a collective legacy [12]
by Novick, M. (2007)
Reducing child poverty to increase productivity: A human capital strategy brief to the Standing Committee on Finance pre-budget consultation [13]
by Rothman, L. (2005)
The impact of poverty on the health of children and youth [14]
by Singer, R. (2004)
Pathways to progress: Structural solutions to address child poverty [15]
by Freiler, C. Rothman, L. & Barata, P. (2004)
Diversity or disparity? Early childhood education and care in Canada: The ECEC Community Indicators Project [16]
by Campaign 2000 (2003)
Political parties called to act on poverty [17]
Campaign 2000, 27 Sep 2011
Poverty and Inequality: opposition gets it but government doesn't [18]
Campaign 2000, 6 Jun 2011
Addressing child and family poverty in Canada: Where do the parties stand? [19]
Campaign 2000, 29 Apr 2011
The budget: Measuring-out in coffee spoons for families [20]
Campaign 2000, 22 Mar 2011
It's time for the Federal Government to do its part [21]
Campaign 2000, 17 Mar 2011
Five years after cancelling the national child care program: High cost, little choice for parents [22]
Various Authors
CUPE on Marketwire, 4 Feb 2011
Eradicating poverty good for the economy, premiers told [23]
Campaign 2000, 6 Aug 2010
New poverty figures show poverty eradication must be part of recession recovery [24]
Campaign 2000, 17 Jun 2010
Women and children still last: No thank you, Mr. Flaherty! [25]
Campaign 2000, 5 Mar 2010
Ontario government moves forward on early learning [26]
Campaign 2000, 27 Oct 2009
Ontario pointed in the right direction on early learning [27]
Campaign 2000, 17 Jun 2009
Campaign 2000 asks Prime Minister Harper to keep interests of children on the agenda for fall session of Parliament [28]
Campaign 2000, 17 Nov 2008
The dollars and sense of solving poverty
National Council on Welfare, 2011
How Canada performs: Income inequality
Conference Board of Canada, 2011
Invest more in children: Submission to the Federal Pre-Budget 2012 Consultation
First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, 2011
Hennessy's Index: A number is never just a number -- Inequality
by Hennessy, Trish
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2011
Federal poverty reduction plan: Working in partnership towards reducing poverty in Canada
House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA), 2010
Welfare incomes 2009
National Council on Welfare, 2010
HungerCount 2010: A comprehensive report on food bank use in Canada and recommendations for change
Food Banks Canada, 2010
Taking action against poverty: Supporting education and building Canada through the elimination of child poverty
Canadian Teachers' Federation, 2010
In from the margins: A call to action on poverty, housing and homelessness
Senate of Canada.The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, 2009
Women's poverty in the recession: Fact sheets
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2009
Child care, essential to poverty reduction: Presentation to HUMA Standing Committee in their study of the federal role in poverty reduction
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, 2009
Tackling women's and children's poverty- Early learning and care services are part of the solution. Presentation to HUMA Standing Committee in their study of the federal role in poverty reduction
by Prentice, Susan
Childcare Coalition of Manitoba, 2009
Report Card on child poverty
Conference Board of Canada, 2009
Poverty policy
by Torjman, Sherri
Caledon Institute of Social Policy, 2008
Greater trouble in Greater Toronto: Child poverty in the GTA
Children's Aid Society of Toronto, 2008
Politics, political platforms and child poverty in Canada. Policy Options, 27 (6)
by Raphael, Dennis
Institute for Research on Public Policy, 2006
Poverty Profile, 2002 and 2003
National Council of Welfare, 2006
Measuring child poverty: New league tables of child poverty in the world's rich countries [29]
Innocenti Report Card 10
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2012
The children left behind: A league table of inequality in child well-being in the world's rich countries [30]
Innocenti Report Card 9
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2010
The childcare transition: A league table on early childhood education and care in advanced countries [31]
Innocenti Report Card 8
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2008
Child poverty in perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries [32]
Innocenti Report Card 7
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2007
Child poverty in rich countries 2005 [33]
Innocenti Report Card 6
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2005
Inspiring change: An early education and care study visit to Sweden and Poland [34]
Cohen, Bronwen & Pay, Nicola (2011). Children in Scotland & King Baudoin Foundation
Making work pay- the childcare trap [35]
Daycare Trust & Save the Children, 2011
Effectiveness of early educational intervention [36]
Barnett, W. Steven (2011). Science, 333 (6045)
State of America's Children [37]
Children's Defense Fund, 2011
Increasing choice or inequality? Pathways through early education in Andhra Pradesh, India [38]
Streuli, Natalia; Vennam, Uma & Woodhead, Martin (2011). Bernard van Leer Foundation
No small matter: The impact of poverty, shocks and human capital investments in early childhood development [39]
Alderman, Harold (Ed.) (2011). World Bank
Quality of early childhood development programs in global contexts: Rationale for investment, conceptual framework and implications for equity. [40] [41]
Rebello Britto. P., Boller. K., & Yoshikawa. H. (2011). Social Policy Report, 25(2)
Combating poverty and inequality: Structural change, social policy and politics [42]
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 2010
The foundation years: Preventing poor children from becoming poor adults [43]
Field, Frank
Government of Great Britain, 2010
Growing unequal? Income distribution and poverty in OECD countries [44]
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2008
- Canada country note in pdf [45]
Starting Strong II: Early childhood education and care [46]
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2006
(The link above takes you to the OECD's general website of Starting Strong II.)
Early childhood interventions: Proven results, future promise
Karoly, L., Kilburn, M.R. & Cannon, J.
Full document [47] or summary [48]
RAND, 2005
Child care and early childhood development programmes and policies: Their relationship to eradicating child poverty [49]
by Penn, H.
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre, 2004
Early childhood education and care for children from low-income or minority backgrounds: Discussion paper for the OECD Oslo workshop [50]
by Leseman, Paul
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2002
What we know and don't know about the costs and benefits of early childhood interventions [51]
by Karoly, Lynn A.; Greenwood, Peter W.; Everingham, Susan S.; Hoube, Jill; Kilburn, M. Rebeccas; Rydell, C. Peter; Sanders, Matthew & Chiesa, James
RAND, 1998
Ottawa lacks plan to fight child poverty, coalition says [52]
Monsebraaten, Laurie
Toronto Star, 23 Nov 11
Struggles of the next generation [53]
Kershaw, Paul
Vancouver Sun, 26 Sep 2011
Should new research on under-fives reshape our approach to development? [54]
Alexander, Gordon
Guardian, 23 Sep 2011
Income inequality is a problem for everyone [55]
Yalnizyan, Armine
National Post, 21 Sep 2011
The debate: Confronting poverty [56]
The Agenda
TV Ontario, 13 Sep 2011
Do we care that Canada is an unequal society? [57]
Simpson, Jeffrey
Globe and Mail, 20 Jul 2011
Latest OECD figures confirm Canada as a public health laggard [58]
Raphael, Dennis
Hamilton Spectator, 18 Jul 2011
Youth Nation question of the day: Do you support the creation of a national child care system in Canada? [59]
Various authors
Toronto Star (blog), 20 Apr 2011
Youth Nation question of the day: What would you do to combat child poverty? [60]
Various authors
Toronto Star (blog), 08 Apr 2011
Poverty, child care should top political agenda [61]
Smith, Christopher and Bisanz, Jeff
Edmonton Journal, 30 Mar 2011
Gap between rich and rest puts society at risk [62]
Kotarski, Kris
Times Colonist, 12 Jan 2011
Rich countries let poorest children fall behind [63]
Monsebraaten, Laurie
Toronto Star, 2 Dec 2010
Gap between rich and rest puts society at risk [64]
Kotarski, Kris
Times Colonist, 12 Jan 2011
Rich countries let poorest children fall behind [65]
Monsebraaten, Laurie
Toronto Star, 2 Dec 2010
Aboriginal children face terrible poverty in Canada: report [66]
CBC News Online, 24 Nov 2006
Editorial: Let's stand up to fight poverty [67]
Toronto Star, Oct 14, 2006
A widening gap in our midst [68]
Barata, Pedro & Ladd, Deena
Toronto Star, 28 September 2006
Public policy fuelling poverty [69]
Raphael, Dennis
Toronto Star, 6 September 2006
Daycare for poor should be priority [70]
Toronto Star, 10 July 2006
Daycare helps poor infants [71]
Montreal Gazette, 14 February 2006
National child care: Important part of fight against child poverty [72]
SooToday.com, 13 Oct 2005
Don't forget plight of poor children [73]
Rothman, L. & Grinspun, D.
Toronto Star 27 July 2004
Affordable day care can ease child poverty [74]
Mulroney, C.
Toronto Star, 13 January 2003
Links
[1] https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/child-poverty-and-early-learning-and-child-care/campaign-2000-reports
[2] https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/child-poverty-and-early-learning-and-child-care/other-canadian-documents
[3] https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/child-poverty-and-early-learning-and-child-care/international-reports
[4] https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/child-poverty-and-early-learning-and-child-care-canada/news-articles
[5] https://childcarecanada.org/category/tags/economics
[6] https://childcarecanada.org/category/tags/poverty
[7] https://childcarecanada.org/category/tags/funding
[8] https://campaign2000.ca/
[9] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/11/revisting-family-security-insecure-times
[10] http://campaign2000.ca/reportcards.html
[11] http://campaign2000.ca/reportCards/provincialReports.html
[12] http://campaign2000.ca/resources/papers/SummonedToStewardship.pdf
[13] http://campaign2000.ca/resources/briefs/ReducingChildPovertyToIncreaseProductiivitySep2005.pdf
[14] http://campaign2000.ca/resources/letters/Poverty_healthbackgrounder.pdf
[15] http://www.campaign2000.ca/resources/papers/PathwaytoProgressFullPaper.pdf
[16] http://ruralteammanitoba.cimnet.ca/cim/dbf/DiversityorDisparitydf.pdf?im_id=234&si_id=170
[17] http://campaign2000.ca/election2011/MediaRelease27Sept2011.pdf
[18] http://campaign2000.ca/whatsnew/releases/2011PRfedBudgetJune%206.pdf
[19] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/05/addressing-child-and-family-poverty-canada-where-do-parties
[20] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/04/budget-measuring-out-coffee-spoons-families
[21] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/04/its-time-federal-government-do-its-part
[22] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/02/five-years-after-cancelling-national-child-care-program-hig
[23] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/10/10/eradicating-poverty-good-economy-premiers-told
[24] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/10/10/new-poverty-figures-show-poverty-eradication-must-be-part-r
[25] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/10/03/women-and-children-still-last-no-thank-you-mr-flaherty
[26] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/09/11/ontario-government-moves-forward-early-learning
[27] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/09/06/ontario-pointed-right-direction-early-learning
[28] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/08/11/campaign-2000-asks-prime-minister-harper-keep-interests-chi
[29] https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/660-measuring-child-poverty-new-league-tables-of-child-poverty-in-the-worlds-rich-countries.html
[30] https://www.unicef-irc.org/files/documents/d-3796-The-Children-Left-Behind-.pdf
[31] https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/507-the-child-care-transition-a-league-table-of-early-childhood-education-and-care-in.html
[32] https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc7_eng.pdf
[33] https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/repcard6e.pdf
[34] http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/docs/pubs/kingbaudouinfoundation.pdf
[35] https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/?utm_source=domain%20redirect&utm_content=daycaretrustorguk/data/files/Research/making_work_pay.pdf
[36] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/09/effectiveness-early-educational-intervention
[37] http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/state-of-americas-2011.pdf
[38] http://www.bernardvanleer.org/Increasing-choice-or-inequality-Pathways-through-early-education-in-Andhra-Pradesh,-India?pubnr=1357&download=1
[39] http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTEDUCATION/0,,contentMDK:22838405~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282386,00.html
[40] https://www.srcd.org/?option=com_docman&amp%3Btask=doc_download&amp%3Bgid=1229
[41] https:///C:/DOCUME~1/Student/LOCALS~1/Temp/SPR25-2-1.pdf
[42] http://www.unrisd.org/unrisd/website/document.nsf/%28httpAuxPages%29/92B1D5057F43149CC125779600434441?OpenDocument&panel=additional
[43] https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110120090128/http://povertyreview.independent.gov.uk/media/20254/poverty-report.pdf
[44] http://www.oecd.org/document/53/0,3746,en_2649_33933_41460917_1_1_1_1,00.html
[45] http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/44/48/41525292.pdf
[46] http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,2340,en_2649_34511_37416703_1_1_1_1,00.html
[47] https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG341.pdf
[48] https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG341.sum.pdf
[49] http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php/action=documentfeed/doctype=pdf/id=88/
[50] http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/15/1960663.pdf
[51] https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR898.html
[52] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/11/ottawa-lacks-plan-fight-child-poverty-coalition-says
[53] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/09/struggles-next-generation
[54] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/09/should-new-research-under-fives-reshape-our-approach-development
[55] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/09/income-inequality-problem-everyone
[56] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/09/debate-confronting-poverty
[57] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/08/do-we-care-canada-unequal-society
[58] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/07/latest-oecd-figures-confirm-canada-public-health-laggard
[59] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/05/youth-nation-question-day-do-you-support-creation-national-strategy-
[60] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/06/youth-nation-question-day-what-would-you-do-combat-child-poverty
[61] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/03/poverty-child-care-should-top-political-agenda
[62] http://pages.childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/01/gap-between-rich-and-rest-puts-society-risk
[63] http://pages.childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/01/rich-countries-let-poorest-children-fall-behind
[64] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/01/gap-between-rich-and-rest-puts-society-risk
[65] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/11/01/rich-countries-let-poorest-children-fall-behind
[66] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/06/11/aboriginal-children-face-terrible-poverty-canada-report
[67] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/06/10/editorial-lets-stand-fight-poverty
[68] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/06/09/widening-gap-our-midst
[69] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/06/09/public-policy-fuelling-poverty
[70] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/06/07/daycare-poor-should-be-priority
[71] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/06/02/daycare-helps-poor-infants
[72] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/05/10/national-child-care-important-part-fight-against-child-poverty
[73] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/04/07/dont-forget-plight-poor-children
[74] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/03/07/affordable-day-care-can-ease-child-poverty