Child Poverty in Canada Hits Record High, Calls for Urgent Action Ahead of Federal Election
A new report by Campaign 2000 paints a sobering picture of child poverty across Canada. New data shows that nearly one in five children—1.4 million— lived below the poverty line in 2022.
Campaign 2000 was formed in 1991 with the goal of combating child poverty, and holding governments to account for their commitments to address economic hardship.
The group says the rise in children and families living below the poverty line grew to the largest level in Canadian history. They say it is largely driven by systemic inequities and insufficient action by the federal government.
The report, Ending Child Poverty: The Time is Now, also shows impoverished families are experiencing deeper financial hardship than before. Those unable to meet basic needs saw incomes fall an average of $14,276 below the low-income measure in 2022, compared to $10,050 in 2015. Overall, nearly 1 million families—14% of all Canadian households—were living in poverty, with disproportionate impacts on Indigenous, racialized, and immigrant children. For children living outside a family setting, nearly all (99%) were found to live below the subsistence level.
Campaign 2000 is urging all federal political parties to present clear, actionable plans to eradicate child poverty ahead of the next election, underscoring that this is not just a social imperative but a moral one.
“This is the time to act,” the report states. “Ending child poverty is possible, and it starts with bold commitments and systemic changes that prioritize children and families in need.”