Our Children, Our Future Opportunity denied in childhood too often means chances lost as an adult. Children are our future, so there is no better place for Canadians to invest. For decades, researchers have been documenting the effects of low family incomes on childhood development.
Controversy persists on how to define and measure poverty.
But there is no debate about the consequences for children. Children need to be properly supported so they can lead happy lives and arrive at school ready to learn. Now that governments in Canada are making good progress in controlling their deficits , we are in a position to increase our investment to improve the prospects for poor children. Right now, the combined effect of federal and provincial programs is to reduce the child benefits of parents who leave welfare to enter the workforce. Parents should not be put in the position of penalizing their children in order to take a job.