The poverty wealth gap is growing in the majority of the 30 OECD countries. In fact, two thirds of the countries have seen an increase in poverty and income disparity. A recent report by the OECD shows that inequality is growing in Canada, Germany, Norway and the United States. But incomes in Greece, Mexico and the United Kingdom became more equal. Poverty is having its largest impact on young people and families with children.
Enlisting architects, animators and more importantly residents, an NFB film titled One Millionth Tower, provides ideas for revitalizing Toronto's aging highrises. Some of the ideas include eliminating first floor apartments to make room for cafes and businesses, creating a marketspace, and networks and paths linking to the towers to parks and community gardens.
For the eighth consecutive year BC has the worst child poverty rate in Canada, after taxes. Over 137,000 BC children live in poverty and the number is climbing. Nearly 74% of children in poverty live in two-parent families. The report highlights who is faring the worst; including recent immigrant families, female lone-parent families, racialized families and families with a child with a disability.The report also provides solutions from implementing living wage policies to providing affordable child care.
A report published by the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates, titled "Canada Must Do Better," is being submitted to the United Nations. The United Nations will consider the report in evaluating Canada's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The statistics included in the report paint a dire picture. Higher infant mortality rates, poorer nutritional status, higher rates of diabetes and chronic disease are just some of the problems the report identifies.
Since 1976 household incomes for BC families in the 25-35 demographic have dropped by 6% after adjusting for inflation, while home prices have increased by 149%. The addition of mothers in the workforce has not made life more affordable. A study by Paul Kershaw of the University of B.C.'s Human Early Learning Partnership, makes 3 recommendations to help families afford to spend more time together:
1)Extending parental leave to 18 months from 12, generally reserving the extra six months for fathers (except in the case of same-sex couples or single parents)
Income inequality is on the rise across the country, but Vancouver, viewed by many as Canada's most livable city, holds the title of being the "Poverty Capital of Canada."BC has the lowest income rates and the highest child poverty rates in all of Canada. This combined with a crisis in affordable housing means that Vancouver is a challenging, stressful place to live for many of its citizens. An excellent article in Crosscut, discusses inequality and the affect on society as a whole.
The CCPA's report "Fighting Energy Poverty in the Transition to Zero-Emission Housing," examines the impacts increased energy costs are having on low income households. The term "energy poverty" is used to describe households who are not able to meet their basic energy needs due to rate increases. The report's recommendations include: keeping a two-tier system in billing, with rate increasing affecting only those with larger incomes, targeting older housing stock and multi-unit dwellings for retrofits, and investing in green jobs training.
A new report by the National Council of Welfare, a government advisory committee "uses hard numbers to link poverty to the cost of productivity, health care and the justice system."The report finds that a long term investment in preventing poverty would save taxpayers billions in dollars. For example, providing a shelter bed for someone who is homeless costs $42,000 per year while providing affordable housing would cost about $18,000 per year.
At Vancouver's Seymour Elementary poverty has hit students hard. Many children come to school hungry, with no socks, holes in their shoes, feeling stressed, tired and worn out. The school's teachers are scrambling to address basic needs through soliciting donations for snacks and clothing, but what they'd really like to be focusing on is teaching. In a letter written by teacher Carrie Gelson she asks for donations and for affordable housing and for people to care about children living in poverty.
A new video from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) on the cost of poverty in BC. It turns out it costs more to allow poverty to continue than it does to implement solutions. Read the CCPA's full report, "The Cost of Poverty in BC" here.
