Ottawa: An annual report issued by Campaign 2000 has revealed that nearly 1 in 5 Canadian children (1,313,400 or 17.7 per cent), live in poverty in 2019.
Campaign 2000 is a national, non-partisan network of 120 national, provincial and community partner organizations committed to working together to end child and family poverty in Canada.
"The higher poverty rate for children at this important age of development is of critical concern given the life-long impact poverty has on educational and occupational attainment," the report, titled 'No One Left Behind: Strategies for an Inclusive Recovery,' reads.
Using the latest data available from 2019, the report issued on Wednesday paints a stark picture of income, health, social inequalities and deepening levels of child and family poverty.
The report revealed that a pretty significant number of kids are suffering from the harm and effects of missing meals, not having the right kinds of clothes and parents working really long hours.
It shows data that suggest poverty reduction has declined and in some parts of Canada, poverty has increased. In fact, children are living in deeper poverty, Xinhua news agency reported.
For the first time, the national report examines poverty through a social determinant of health framework. It is accompanied by an interactive map that shows that child poverty is a significant issue in every federal riding across the country.
The report finds disproportionately higher rates of child poverty among communities marginalized by systemic barriers.
The highest child poverty rate in Canada is in Nunavut territory, at 34.4 per cent. Manitoba province, with a rate of 28.4 per cent, is the highest of any province.
The report urges the Canadian government to take bolder and more decisive action to protect children.
The report is based on the most recently available tax data, which is from 2019.