Our Story

Campaign 2000 is a cross-Canada public education movement to build Canadian awareness and support for the 1989 all-party House of Commons resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Campaign 2000 began in 1991 out of concern about the lack of government progress in addressing child poverty. Campaign 2000 is non-partisan in urging all Canadian elected officials to keep their promise to Canada’s children. Our coalition of 120 partners are committed to addressing the issue of child and family poverty and believe that the federal government has a responsibility to honour the all-party resolution to end child poverty.

Campaign 2000 has consistently stated that child poverty is not inevitable, but that it is a result of choices. Federal politicians pledged to end child poverty in 1989, 2009 and 2015; but it continues to deprive over 1.34 million children of their only childhood.

The House of Commons All-Party Resolution, 1989

This House “seek(s) to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000”.
– House of Commons, unanimous all-party resolution, November 24, 1989

Campaign 2000 Declaration, 1991:

“We are committed to promoting and securing the full implementation of the House of Commons Resolution of November 24, 1989.”
– Commitment by National and Community Partners Campaign 2000, November 24, 1991

Who is involved with Campaign 2000?

Since its inception, Campaign 2000 has grown to become a vibrant network of national, regional and local partner organizations that actively work on child/family issues from diverse perspectives. There are over 120 national, community and provincial partners actively involved in the work of Campaign 2000. Hundreds of other groups across the country work on the issue of child poverty everyday, such as children’s aid societies, faith organizations, community agencies, health organizations, school boards, and low-income people’s groups. For a complete listing of all of our partners, please refer to the Campaign 2000 Partners List.

What does Campaign 2000 do?

Campaign 2000 works to increase public awareness of the levels and consequences of child/family poverty by publishing research on the indicators of child poverty and developing public education resources.

• Campaign 2000 puts out an annual national Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada measuring the progress, or lack of progress, of the unanimous all-party resolution “to seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000”. Many of our partners also produce local report cards. You can order copies of the Report Card on Child Poverty in Canada using Campaign 2000 Online Order Form.
• Our Discussion Papers contain proposals for public policies and social investments based on the life cycle approach to addressing child poverty.

Campaign 2000 is involved in public and government consultations around the issue of child and family poverty and government policy. We also lobby all parties in both federal and provincial governments for improved social policies relating to the national child benefit, social housing, child care, labour market supports, community services and other relevant policy areas.

Build on the deep public concern about this issue by engaging local communities to examine child poverty and children’s well-being through presentations, displays, and forums and our publications.

Advance doable public policy solutions and insist on federal and provincial leadership in income, services, housing, and labour market security for families and children with wide consultation from our partner base.

What Are Campaign 2000’s Goals?

1. We must raise and protect the basic living standards of families in all regions of the country so that no child in Canada must ever live in poverty¹.
2. We must improve the life chances of all children in Canada to fulfil their potential and nurture their talent, and to become responsible and contributing members of Canadian society.
3. We must ensure the availability of secure, affordable, and suitable housing as an inherent right of all children in Canada.
4. We must create, build and strengthen family support, child care and community-based resources to empower families to provide the best possible care for their children.

What You Can Do!

Join Campaign 2000 in eradicating child and family poverty in Canada:

1. Send a letter to your Member of Parliament that calls on the government of Canada to take real steps toward eradicating poverty. Here is a sample letter in English or French. Find your Member of Parliament on the Parliament of Canada website.
2. Campaign 2000 Partners are doing great work with communities experiencing poverty across Canada. Find one in your area to connect with!
3. Join the Make Poverty History or Dignity for All Canada-wide campaigns against poverty.
4. Circulate and sign online petitions aimed at eradicating poverty. Find petitions on websites such as change.org.
5. Host an event or round table discussion about issues of poverty affecting members of your community.
6. Vote in municipal, provincial and federal elections! Voting is an important way to influence decision-making on poverty and other issues.