The National Housing Council’s review panel known as Neha, which means “our ways” in Kanien’kehà:ka-Mohawk, examines the right to safe, adequate and affordable housing of women, Two Spirit, Trans, and gender-diverse people, and the government’s duty to uphold this right.

Campaign 2000’s submission envisions safe and secure housing for women, Two Spirit, trans and gender-diverse people who are mothers, parents and primary caregivers and offers recommendations for achieving this vision.    

Read Campaign 2000’s recent written submission for the Neha review panel.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

People living in poverty must be central to federal response amidst a tariff war

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Anti-poverty advocates convene in Winnipeg, where some of the highest rates of poverty in Canada are found, amid tariff wars and an impending federal election, to discuss the effects of the current political climate on low income individuals and families. 

“We don’t know the full effects of the trade war on the economy or on people in our communities.  But what we do know is that poverty has been on the rise in Canada since the pandemic.  Our current social infrastructure is unable to support those who are already living in poverty,” said Leila Sarangi, National Director of Campaign 2000.  “With mass job losses on the horizon, and tariffs compounding the current affordability crisis, we expect more people to fall into poverty, which will increase demand for community programs and resources such as rent supplements, food banks, Employment Insurance, social assistance and mental health counselling supports.”

Campaign 2000, a pan-Canadian coalition of over 120 organizations working to end child and family poverty, found historic increases in poverty from 2020 to 2022, with more than 1.5 million people falling into poverty in those two years alone.  6.5 million people now live in poverty, according to taxfiler data, including 830,000 families with children.  Poverty in Canada is disproportionately experienced by groups who are marginalized, and it is concerning that the new federal cabinet, intending to signal a renewed focus on the economy, eliminates dedicated ministers responsible for social development, children and youth, women and gender, disabilities, seniors, diversity and inclusion, all of which are essential to a productive and dynamic economy.

“Today’s convening comes at a pivotal time in the movement to end poverty,” added Sarangi. “The coalition is united in the call to strengthen our communities, particularly in a time of crisis.”

You are invited to join the conversation, hosted by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg with anti-poverty advocates, policy experts and community organizers who will provide perspectives on the current political climate and how it will impact on low income individuals and families. 

WHAT: Fireside Chat (50 mins)

WHO: Hosted by Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and Campaign 2000

• Moderator: Richard Cloutier, Host 680 CJOB
• Michael Redhead Champagne, Helper, Author, Speaker, Host
• Marie Christian, National Advisory Council on Poverty
• Diana Sarosi, Oxfam Canada

WHEN: Friday March 21, 2025, 6:10pm

WHERE: Alt Hotel, 310 Donald St, Winnipeg, 8^th Floor Banquet Hall

-30-

Media contact: Leila Sarangi, National Director of Campaign 2000, [email protected], 647-393-109

Campaign 2000 is a coalition of organizations working to end child and family poverty.  Please visit www.campaign2000.ca for more information.

Download the press release

Campaign 2000 will join speakers from Canada, Jamaica and the United Kingdom next Thursday (March 13) at a free virtual conference exploring themes of intersection and poverty and their relationship to social problems.

Titled Intersectionality: Is Poverty the Missing Link?, the conference will be of interest to people with lived experience of social work and social care services, social work practitioners, social work students, field instructors, practice educators and social work academics.

The conference is being presented by several academic institutions in Canada and Britain and Campaign 2000 will speak on the Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals project.

Register on Eventbrite.

View the Event Flyer.

Conference Speakers

Social Work and Poverty: Realigning to Social Work Values in Education and Practice

Warren Smith

University of Wolverhampton, England

Warren Smith teaches and contributes to social work modules covering sociology, social policy, communities in context, and children & families law and practice across the MA and BA programmes. Smith has experience in a variety of children and family and youth justice social work settings as a support worker, social worker, senior social worker and manager. He is undertaking doctoral studies exploring governance networks at the sub-regional level.

Localizing Poverty Eradication across Canada

Leila Sarangi

Family Service Toronto & Campaign 2000

Leila Sarangi, Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation at FST and National Director of Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty, brings with her over 25 years of non-profit leadership, coalition-building, and government relations experience. She is a seasoned campaigner, community builder and facilitator with a deep passion for connecting lived experiences to social action and public policy development to achieve long-term systemic change using intersectional and trauma informed praxis.

Hannah Barrie

Family Service Toronto & Campaign 2000

Hannah Barrie, Social Action Researcher for FST and Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty, was the Project Researcher for Campaign 2000’s three-year Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals project, which engaged communities across the country to propose a community-based indicator framework for SDG 1: No Poverty. She holds an MA in Gender Studies and Feminist Research from McMaster University, and her interests include community-based participatory research, rights-based and trauma-informed engagement, and social policy analysis.

From social capital to no capital: How alumni from group and residential care in Trinidad and Tobago join the poverty line

Dr. Petra Roberts

Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Petra Roberts, Assistant Professor, School of Child and Youth Care has over 25 years of practical experience in ‘child protection’, child and adolescent mental health, family therapy, rural and northern social work practice. Her main research interests pertain to gendered experiences of residential care and treatment services in the Caribbean, and narrative methodologies with respect to the experiences of people in institutional care over the course of their lifespan.

Examining the Intersection of Poverty, Youth, and Agriculture: How Do Intersectional Identities Affect Access to Agricultural Resources and Opportunities in Rural Jamaica?

Dr. Khadijah Williams

Moneague College, Jamaica

Dr. Khadijah Williams is a researcher, educator, psychotherapist and consultant. With a career spanning over three decades, she is dedicated to bridging academia with real-world applications to foster innovation and drive social change. Her research focus includes crime and violence prevention, women and youth in agriculture, HIV/AIDS, family violence, residential care, natural disasters, migration impacts, eco-social work and more. She currently heads the Research and Development at Moneague College and co-founder of a rural residential school in Jamaica.

On December 3 – the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Disability Without Poverty and Campaign 2000 released the 2024 Disability Poverty Report Card, a critical evaluation of Canada’s failure to address disability poverty. Read the press release

This year’s report highlights the stark realities faced by over 1.5 million Canadians with disabilities, with poverty rates twice as high as those for the general population. Despite the recent passage of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), the report finds that the federal government’s efforts fall drastically short.

Key findings include:

• 16.8% of people with disabilities live in poverty.
• Poverty rates for people with disabilities are twice as high as for those without disabilities.
• People with disabilities would need an average of 30% more income to reach the poverty line.

The 2024 Disability Poverty Report card assigns Canada a failing grade for inadequate action and calls on all levels of government to strengthen the Canada Disability Benefit to ensure it can truly help reduce poverty for people with disabilities.

What can you do to make an impact?

• Read and share the 2024 Disability Poverty Report Card and infographic with your networks.
• Share key findings on social media – please tag @Disability_WP and @Campaign2000 and use the hashtag #DisabilityPovertyReportCard2024.
• Write to your federal government representatives to urgently adopt the recommendations in this report.

Visit https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/2024-disability-poverty-report-card/ to read more and take action today!

Please join us for “Localizing the SDGs:  Community Perspectives and Knowledge Sharing,” an official virtual side event of the United Nations High Level Political Forum 2024. This event will focus on community-based perspectives on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 1: No Poverty. Through panel presentations and interactive small group conversation, participants will share knowledge, experiences, and resources on localizing the SDGs and community-based approaches and build capacity to leverage the SDGs for local goals.

Panelists include: 

• Hannah Barrie, Campaign 2000 (Canada)
• Mrs. Sonodhy Hansda, Local Credit and Savings Cooperative (Nepal)
• Katelynn Herchak, VIDEA (Canada)

Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Time: 8:00- 9:30am EDT

Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArf-mhqzIiHtxWM70ebwnMr4cNlxg4OqKD

Hosts: Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary-Loreto Generalate NGO to the United Nations; Congregations of St. Joseph NGO to the United Nations

Canadian Partners: Campaign 2000, Citizens for Public Justice, The Mary Ward Centre, CSJ Ministry for Social Justice, Peace, and Creation Care.

Amautiit, the Nunavut Inuit Women’s Association (NIWA), released the first Nunavut report card on child and family poverty on April 29, 2024.
Read the Report Card in English and Inuktitut; and Press Release in English and Inuktitut

From Amautiit:

On April 29, 2024, Amautiit, the Nunavut Inuit Women’s Association (NIWA) stands in solidarity with Campaign 2000 as it unveils its first ever annual Poverty Report Card, revealing the harsh realities faced by Nunavut’s most vulnerable populations. NIWA echoes the urgent call for action to address the systemic issues perpetuating poverty and inequality in our communities.

As an organization deeply rooted in advocating for the rights and well-being of Inuit women and families, NIWA recognizes the profound impact of poverty on individuals and communities across Nunavut. The findings of this year’s Poverty Report Card underscore the need for immediate and concerted efforts to combat poverty and its far-reaching consequences.

Key highlights from the report include:

Child Poverty Rates

Alarmingly high child poverty rates persist in Nunavut, with a significant percentage of our children living in conditions of economic hardship. NIWA emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the needs of our youngest community members and investing in their future through targeted interventions and support services.

Food Insecurity

Many households in Nunavut continue to grapple with food insecurity, facing barriers to accessing nutritious and culturally relevant food. NIWA stresses the importance of addressing food sovereignty and ensuring that all residents have access to healthy and affordable food options.

Impact of COVID-19

ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further deepened the vulnerabilities faced by those living in poverty, exacerbating existing inequalities and widening socio-economic disparities. NIWA emphasizes the need for targeted support for those most affected by the pandemic, including Inuit women, children, and elders.

NIWA urges all levels of government, Indigenous leadership, and community stakeholders to heed the findings of the Poverty Report Card and to take decisive action to address poverty in Nunavut.

For more information on NIWA’s advocacy efforts and initiatives, please visit www.amautiit.ca

Campaign 2000 releases its annual report on child and family poverty, Unprecedented Progress on Poverty Reduction Being Undone. The report finds that in 2021, despite the historic progress achieved in 2020, Canada saw a sharp upswing in national child poverty rates. As pandemic benefits wound down and the cost of living rose, poverty rates rebounded, resulting in over 1 million children living in poverty.

Using tax filer data from 2021, the latest available, this update finds that the child poverty rate rose to 15.6%, up from 13.5% in 2020 (using the Census Family Low Income Measure, After Tax). That represents 163,550 more children living with the short – and long-term physical, mental, emotional, economic and social harms of poverty.

This year’s national report finds that rates of child poverty increased in every province and territory from 2020 to 2021. Disproportionately higher rates were seen for people marginalized by colonization, racism and systemic discrimination, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and racialized and migrant children.

The progress achieved in 2020 revealed that there is room for more ambitious targets for poverty reduction in Canada. Campaign 2000 was founded after the unanimous 1989 federal motion to eradicate child poverty by the year 2000. The federal government’s 2015 commitment to the United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, the first of which is No Poverty, signaled an important re-prioritization of poverty eradication. But the latest data presented in this year’s report show troubling signs that progress towards ending child and family poverty is reversing.

Accelerated efforts are required for Canada to meet its human rights obligations to end poverty. This report offers more than 30 recommendations that cover inequality, income security, housing, child care, decent work and healthcare, and calls for bold action to eradicate child and family poverty in Canada.

Key Findings from the 2023 National Report Update:

• Over 1 million children lived in poverty (1,162,460 or 15.6%) in 2021.
• The national child poverty rate increased by 2.1 percentage points between 2020-2021, following a historic reduction of 4.2 percentage points between 2019-2020. This increase represents an additional 163,550 children living in poverty.
• The child poverty rate is higher (16.1%) for children under six than all children.  
• Rates of child poverty increased in every province and territory, with highest increases in Saskatchewan amongst the provinces (child poverty rate of 24.2%) and Nunavut amongst the territories (child poverty rate of 35.8%).
• The gap between wealthy and low-income families widened, as families in the bottom decile of income distribution had only 1.6% of the total share of income compared to families in the top decile, who had 25.4%.
• Government transfers, such as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), are powerful poverty reduction tools.  The CCB reduced child poverty by 9.2 percentage points in 2021.
• Child and family poverty disproportionately affects marginalized communities due to the historic and current violence of colonialism, racism and systemic discrimination.
• Canada’s universal child care plan must include low-income children with a sliding scale fee model of $0 to $10 maximum.  All child care expansion must be within the public and non-profit sectors.

Want to read more? 

Click on the following links to read and download the 2023 report cards.

English National Update and Press Release

French National Update and Press Release

Check out the provincial and territorial report cards as they become available:

British Columbia Report Card
BC Child Poverty Report Card 2023 – First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society (firstcallbc.org)
2023 CPRC Media Materials – First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society (firstcallbc.org)
2023 BC Child Poverty Maps – First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society (firstcallbc.org)

Alberta Report Card and Press Release

Manitoba Report Card and Press Release

English Ontario Report Card and Press Release

French Ontario Report Card and Press Release

New Brunswick Report Card English and French; Press Release English and French

Nova Scotia Report Card and Press Release

Prince Edward Island Report Card

Newfoundland and Labrador Report Card and Press Release

Nunavut Report Card in English and Inuktitut; and Press Release in English and Inuktitut

---

The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition released the first Yukon Poverty Report Card in March 2021 as part of Campaign 2000’s annual assessment of child and family poverty in Canada. The report provided an overview of current data regarding the prevalence of poverty in the Yukon as well as relevant indicators related to the housing crisis, food insecurity, and affordability. The report concluded with ten recommendations to reduce poverty and to improve the health and wellness of children, youth, and families throughout the territory.

Yukon Poverty Report Card 2022 provides a status update on the key issues identified in the first report including each of the recommendations and assigns a grade to each level of government responsible for implementing each recommendation. It also includes new recommendations to address ongoing and emerging issues relating to social assistance, the housing crisis, and transportation.

Read the report.

Join Campaign 2000, Citizens for Public Justice and Canada Without Poverty for a three-part virtual roundtable series on poverty and human rights.

In 2015, Canada committed to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  These goals are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global call to action to achieve social, economic and environmental prosperity.  Enshrined in the 2030 Agenda is a commitment “to realize human rights for all,” including economic, social and cultural rights.

The Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals Project (SDGs Project) is developing a community-driven indicator framework for the federal government to use to measure progress towards achieving several of the SDGs, including Goal #1: No Poverty.  The SDGs Project uses principled, community-based and participatory research approaches to engage people who experience systemic marginalization and poverty, community service organizations, advocates and organizers from coast to coast to coast that will inform the measurement framework for realizing rights and ending poverty in local contexts. 

The virtual roundtable format will include presentations, guest speakers and breakout discussions and will feature those who have been engaged through the SDG’s Project.  Participants will have an opportunity to connect with organizations and individuals dedicated to ending poverty from across the country for movement-building.

Register for all three or attend when you can! 

Roundtable 1: 
June 14, 2023 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST
Connecting lived expertise to public policy: meaningful engagement as a means to advancing human rights

Roundtable 2: 
June 15, 2023 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST
Holding government to account: legal and policy levers for ending poverty

Roundtable 3: 
June 16, 2023 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST
Poverty-free communities are possible: strengthening the national anti-poverty movement

Learn more or register for the roundtables on Eventbrite.

To request accommodations, please contact Mithilen Mathipalan at [email protected] by June 7, 2023. The event will be live captioned and ASL and French interpretation will be available.

Campaign 2000 releases its annual report card on child and family poverty, Pandemic Lessons: Ending Child and Family Poverty is Possible. The report shows that during a global pandemic, rates of child poverty in Canada were reduced by a record 40%.  Using tax filer data from 2020, the latest available, this report card finds that child poverty fell to 13.5%, down from 17.7% the previous year.  That is the largest year over year drop since the federal government promised to end child poverty in 1989, and is largely a result of temporary pandemic benefits.  These benefits have all been retracted and this progress is unlikely to be sustained in the future. The federal government must take action to maintain and build on these gains in poverty reduction.  

This year’s national report card focuses on changes to income security measures, the need for decent work for all and the role of childcare in supporting low-income families.  It draws on data from focus groups and community conversations across the country to share the experiences of the real people who often get lost behind the numbers and emphasizes the need for trauma-informed and rights-based policy solutions to address the inequities of child and family poverty in this country.   

This report offers more than 50 recommendations on poverty reduction measures that cover inequality, income security, decent work, childcare, housing and public health. The pandemic, government response and significant reduction in poverty rates demonstrated that child poverty is a policy choice, not an economic inevitability.  These recommendations offer the opportunity to build on the progress of 2020 and make the choices necessary to end child and family poverty.    

Key Findings from the 2022 National Report Card: 

• Nearly one million, or more than 1 in 8 children, are growing up with the short- and long-term physical, mental, emotional, economic and social harms of poverty.   
• Child poverty declined in every region across Canada.   
• Government transfers can end poverty.  Without temporary pandemic benefits, 1.5 million children would have been living in poverty or nearly 21% 
• Child and family poverty disproportionately affects marginalized communities: For racialized children, it was 15.1%. For children in lone-parent families led by women, it was 29.7%. For First Nations children living on reserve, it was 37.4%. 

Want to read more? 

Click on the following links to read and download the 2022 report cards.  

English National Report Card, Infographic and Press Release 

French National Report Card and Press Release 

Check out the provincial and territorial report cards as they become available: 

British Columbia Report Card and Press Release

Alberta Report Card  and Press Release

Manitoba Report Card and Press Release

Nova Scotia Report Card and Press Release

Ontario Report Card, Interactive Maps of Child Poverty in Ontario, Press Release in English and French  

New Brunswick Report Card and Press Release 

Prince Edward Island Report Card and Press Release

Newfoundland and Labrador Summary of Report Card and Press Release

Yukon Poverty Report Card