MAKE POVERTY HISTORY - 2005

News Release

For immediate release: October 13, 2005

Make Poverty History Day of Action to End Child Poverty in Canada

Canadians from Vancouver to Charlottetown will be wearing white bands on October 17 and calling for an end to child poverty in Canada. October 17 is the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the Make Poverty History campaign will be focusing on the sad reality of child poverty in Canada.

More than one million children in Canada - that's one in six - are poor. Every month, 770, 000 people use food banks. Forty percent of those relying on these food banks are children.

"These statistics point to a betrayal of Canada's children," says Dennis Howlett Executive Director of the National Anti-Poverty Organization and Make Poverty History steering committee member. "What makes the persistence of child poverty all the more disturbing is that Canada is a rich country."

More than 15 years ago the House of Commons unanimously resolved to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000. More than 15 years later and five years after the 2000 deadline, they have clearly failed to do so.

"The level of child poverty in Canada is unacceptable" says Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000 and Make Poverty History Steering Committee Member. "Low income children are at higher risk of living in sub-standard housing, having poor health, not enough food, unsatisfactory grades in school and inadequate access to friends and recreation."

On October 17, Canadians will be calling on the government to act now to end child poverty in Canada. In Ottawa a rally will take place on Parliament Hill from 8:00 to 8:30am. In Toronto a poverty breakfast will start at 8:00am followed by the wrapping of St. James Anglican Cathedral. In Yellowknife, MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew will be presented with several large Make Poverty History white banners. She will be asked to bring the banners to Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Make Poverty History is calling for an increase to the Canada Children Tax Benefit bringing it to $4,900 per child, investments in affordable housing and child care, and, decent jobs with a higher minimum wage. The government should also involve groups where poverty is predominant, such as Aboriginal People, women, immigrants, minorities and youth in designing strategies to reduce poverty.

"Canada must strive to end global poverty, and that means ending poverty here at home as well as abroad," says Gerry Barr Co-chair of the Make Poverty History campaign.

The Make Poverty History campaign is calling for more and better aid, trade justice, 100% cancellation of the debt owed by the poorest countries and an end to child poverty in Canada. To date, over 250,000 Canadians have signed on to the campaign.

Make Poverty History Canada is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, the world's largest anti-poverty coalition made up of national campaigns in over 70 countries.

Click here for a list of events across Canada

For more information:

Katia Gianneschi
Make Poverty History
(613) 241-7007 ext. 311
media@makepovertyhistory.ca