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News alertsCampaign 2000 - 23 Mar 04 Another Layaway Plan: Budget 2004 Stalls Progress on Child PovertyThe 2004 Federal Budget lacks the resolve to address the pressing needs of today’s one million children and their parents who are living in poverty. This stand-pat approach to fiscal prudence leaves vulnerable families still struggling to pay the rent and feed the kids.“The government’s child poverty strategy is stalled. As Canada approaches the 15th anniversary of the 1989 unanimous resolution by Parliament to end child poverty, we need bold and substantive action to make real progress toward this goal. Instead, the budget provides no further investments in the Canada Child Tax Benefit, no additional funds for affordable housing, and a modest increase of $75 million in each of the next two years in funding for Early Learning and Child Care,” comments Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000. Early learning and child care services are the foundation of a lifelong learning strategy. “If children in Canada are to have maximum opportunities for early learning and child care, we need significantly more funding linked to a strategic plan with specific targets and timetables. We will be looking for real money with a real plan in the next federal election,” added Martha Friendly, Coordinator of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, University of Toronto. “It is positive that the budget acknowledges that high tuition fees are a significant barrier to accessing a post-secondary education. Grants for first-year students who are in need are a first step toward a national grants program that ensures all qualified students in low and modest income families can access post-secondary education. We also need safeguards against sky-rocketing tuition fees and we need to support our post-secondary institutions,” added Michael Goldberg, Research Director, Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia. The plight of children is urban Aboriginal communities deserves immediate attention. “It is positive that the budget doubled spending on the Urban Aboriginal Strategy to $50 million. But this initiative has not successfully reached those cities with significant urban Aboriginal populations. To succeed, the federal government must meaningfully involve Aboriginal groups based in urban communities in the decision making process about community priorities. It is also critical that new funds be allocated proportionately according to the populations and needs in these cities.” said Wayne Helgason, Vice-President of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development. "We need political resolve more than fiscal caution if we hope to make progress on child poverty," says Greg deGroot-Maggetti of Citizens for Public Justice. "Mr. Goodale promises debt reduction will help all Canadians. He likens his debt reduction plan to the fiscal foresight used to shore up Canada's public pensions system. The comparison does not fit. The government raised premiums to put the pension system on a firm footing. Likewise, we need to raise more revenue to fund a full fledged national strategy to end child poverty. Debt reduction won't end child poverty." Campaign 2000 proposes a comprehensive approach to family policy which includes an enhanced child benefit of $4,900 for all low, modest, and middle- income families; a universal system of quality, affordable early childhood education and care services which meets the needs of communities across Canada; a stable, affordable housing strategy to assist low and modest income families; as well as a labour market strategy which ensures that parents have access to family friendly jobs with good wages to support their families. Campaign 2000 is a diverse coalition of over 85 national, provincial and community organizations dedicated to eliminating child and family poverty in Canada. For more information visit our website at www.campaign2000.ca For more information contact: - Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000, 416-595-9230/228
Contact: Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000 - - tel: 416-595-9230/228 | |||||||||
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