91.1 Eliminating Child Poverty
[Whereas,] Rationale:
Canada signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in May 1990. It cannot be ratified until both the federal and provincial governments have completed their reviews of present legislation and have amended laws that are in violation of the fifty-four articles of the Convention.
The National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) is acutely aware that 1.2 million children live in poverty in Canada today, and that Canadian children are the largest group using food banks. NCWC is concerned that tomorrow’s citizens are given the strongest possible social support.
We are also aware that our international reputation as a compassionate, caring society can only be maintained by positive government action.
[RESOLVED,]
NCWC urges the Government of Canada to move with haste to amend Canada’s laws that violate the Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to set an example for the provinces of Canada by adopting as its goal the reduction of the number of families in poverty by:
- Providing more adequate income support
- Improving opportunities for self-support
It urges the Government to judge all proposed related legislation in light of whether or not it will contribute to this goal.