Children, as the most vulnerable members of any community, have a fundamental right to protection and survival. Few could argue differently, we hope, but still we seem unable to make significant improvements in the rates of child poverty in this country.
Among the 30 countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada ranks 25th with regard to child poverty. This damning statistic is made worse when we examine the composition of these poverty rates.
The average child poverty rate for all children in Canada is 17 per cent. As disturbing as that number is, it misleads. Looking more deeply we discover that the average child poverty rate for all Indigenous children is more than twice that figure, at 40 per cent (2006 Census).
A child living in poverty faces challenges well beyond the norm: poverty is linked to a range of physical, social and economic disadvantages later in life. Indeed, children living in poverty require more support to live and to fulfil their potential.
In its 2013 report, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (Poverty or Prosperity: Indigenous Children in Canada) identifies three tiers of child poverty in Canada. The first tier has a rate of 12 per cent it excludes Indigenous, racialized and immigrant children. Tier two includes racialized children (poverty rate of 22 per cent) and first generation immigrant children (poverty at 33 per cent), and Métis, Inuit and non-status First Nations children (27 per cent).
As sad as those numbers are, the third tier is easily the most shocking. It shows half of status First Nations children live below the poverty line.
Poverty is not solely about income levels there are other factors at play. For example, status First Nations children, in addition to a higher poverty rate, often live in communities that are impoverished of services and infrastructure. Moreover, this group trails the rest of Canada's children on almost every measure of well-being: family income, educational attainment, crowding and homelessness, poor water quality, infant mortality, health and suicide. In addition to financial poverty, far too many Aboriginal children also face overcrowding and poor quality housing.
Poverty need not be the destiny of future generations of our children. Direct investment in the right services and strategies would be great, but is not the only solution. Equitable sharing of natural resources and the jobs that go with them can go far towards improving life among Indigenous populations. Encouraging and nurturing entrepreneurial activity among First Nations, already on the rise, can mean significant growth in work and income opportunities. First Nations can also be supported in pursuing self-government, leading to better accountability.
Canada's youngest and fastest growing demographic is Indigenous people under the age of 25 (2006 Census) and they struggle with poverty. At a time of increased need for workers and skilled labour, this group is poised to contribute significantly, but poverty is hampering them. Eliminating child poverty among children is a crucial step toward unlocking their potential.
Editor's note: Dr. Paul Martiquet is the medical health officer for rural Vancouver Coastal Health including Powell River, the Sunshine Coast, Sea-to-Sky, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
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