Canada has the world's second highest rate of child poverty among industrialized countries, second only to the United States. 500,000 children and their families live in housing that does not meet federal standards for affordability and adequacy. A rapidly evolving labour market means that most Canadian families are experiencing changes in their employment situations. Canada spends less on income security programs for families than most other industrialized countries. Increased immigration means that Canadian children are more ethnically, racially and linguistically diverse than in the past.
Families are smaller than in the past.
The number of common-law relationships is increasing. Today, there are approximately 500,000 common-law couples with children. In spite of all the changes in families today, nearly 80 per cent of children under 12 years of age still live with both of their biological parents. Today, Canadian parents are struggling to balance work and family responsibilities. More mothers are working than ever before and dual-earner families are now the norm.