When this year's budget was presented on February 28th, 2000, there was much to talk about. Finance Minister Paul Martin announced a five year tax plan that would lower the income tax of low and middle class families by 18%. Amid the excitement of these much needed tax cuts, some people remembered the promises our government made ten years ago. In 1990, just over one million Canadian children were on or below the poverty line. The government gave out hundreds of millions of dollars to combat this problem and in a unanimous vote, our government made a pledge to end child poverty by the year 2000. What is the situation like a decade later?. Good Afternoon ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Speakers, Knights, and honourable Judges. I am here this afternoon to speak to you about child poverty in Canada.

                         To be considered poor in a country that the United Nations fell is the best place to live, a family would have to spend more than 55% of it's income on the bare necessities such as food and rent alone. how can we say that we are the best place to live when over 2000 families don't have a home to call their own and food, for some people, is becoming more of an unattainable luxury than the commodity the rest of us take for granted. But this is the reality for the nearly 1.5 million children who currently live in poverty today.

                       While conducting research for his book "Pay the Rent or Feed the Kids", prominent Canadian nationalist Mel Hurtig met many children who came from situations that you would not want to see a young child go through. in Edmonton, there is a seven year old girl who sneaks her younger siblings into her school's Hot Lunch program. She does this several times at the end of each month when food runs out at home. Their mother had been sick in bed for months and there is no father to take care of them. On top of that, if the utility bill wasn't paid that month, Child Welfare would take the children away from their mother.

                        Mr. Hurtig also saw fist hand the shame some parents fell when they see the effects that poverty has on themselves and their families. A young mother who has AIDS told him about what happened when her daughter made a simple snack. She had been sick in bed one day when her daughter came home from school and made a piece of toast. The mother became angry because the bread was meant for lunch the next day. " I blew up over a piece of toast" She said " I never thought I would raise my kids in poverty. I am so ashamed.".

                        In a time where the status of a country depends on the skills and abilities of it's people, every citizen deserves to flourish. But poverty can rob children of their chance to contribute and this robs us all of their contribution. The early childhood development programs that help children get a head start in life are beyond the reach of most low income families and soaring medical costs also prevent these families from receiving adequate medical attention. Tests have shown that these children are least likely to be healthy and twice as likely to have low levels of hearing, speech, and vision. They are also most likely to do bad in school and get involved with Juvenile crime.

                      If you turn on the T.V., you will see what today's media believes is an accurate perception of our current society. It's an easily obtainable world filled with designer clothes, lots of money, and no one has to worry about where the next meal will come from. But It's the exact opposite that exists in the real world. young children have a hard time accepting this. There is an automatic "I see, I want" reaction. They see the hottest toy and they want it now. the difference is, the children from higher income families will get that toy. Teenagers on the other hand, realize that they probably won't get what's hot right away, most of them accept this. However, every time they read a magazine, turn on the T.V., or even go to school, they are reminded of just how much they don't have. It is out uncaring behaviour towards people of lower incomes, whether intentional or unintentional, that is hurtful and many will try to hide their poverty to spare themselves from the ridicule of others.

                      Just before Christmas, a businessman bought six pairs of warm boots and donated them to a Winnipeg school. This was great, but 150 children out of the 240 at the school needed winter boots badly. it was decided that the recipient would be chosen through a draw. One seven year old girl just lit up when she found out that she had won a pair. For months, she had been walking to school through deep snow drifts in -30 degree weather in old, flimsy running shoes. But a week later, teachers reported that the girl would not take off the boots, even for gym class. When approached, she started to cry. Do you know why she wouldn't take off the boots? she was embarrassed because she didn't' have any socks to wear.

                      Acts of generosity like this fill in the holes that the government can not seem to reach. They make a world of difference for four or five families, but there are hundreds more like them who are falling through the cracks and the situation is not getting any better. Therefore, if we want to make a strong impact on poverty, we must first give of ourselves. Donating food, money, and clothing are popular choices for many. But as individuals, we need to consider the very people we choose to represent us in government. Our politicians not only need to acknowledge the wants of the high income families, they must also recognize the needs of the lower income families who would otherwise be ignored. And if the Canadian public and the government work together, only then will we see and end to child poverty in Canada.
 
 

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