As a result, children are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of high unemployment and an unstable labour market. In particular, children living in lone-parent families and families headed by parents under 30 years of age are more likely to live in poverty. Addressing child poverty requires that Canadian families have access to stable employment, appropriate training or post-secondary educational opportunities, and adequate income and social support. This is only a first step. A comprehensive approach to eliminating child poverty must combine a range of income support, social support and full employment strategies.
Research points to the unparalleled benefits of a healthy start for all children.
Experiences that fill the first days, months and years of life have a decisive impact on healthy development. All children have the right to adequate nutrition, responsive, community-based care, and the opportunity to build secure attachments with adults in a safe and nurturing environment. Poverty denies many children access to these essential building blocks. When governments are serious about achieving a goal, they make plans and set targets. In 1989, the Government of Canada committed to the goal of eliminating child poverty - a target was set for the year 2000.