Despite the federal government’s 1989 pledge to “end child poverty” by 2000, there were over 150,000 children in B.C. still living in poverty in 2007.  B.C. has the highest child poverty rate in Canada, with over 18.8% of children living in poverty.  Poverty is a political choice can be ended through changes in the economy.  While this would take a lot of effort and creative thinking, and a willingness to stand up to those who benefit from the current system, ending poverty is the only way to ensure that the human rights of all B.C. people are respected. The report (PDF) was released by First Call B.C..

From the CBC:

British Columbia’s child poverty rate has remained the highest in Canada for six years in a row and it’s time the provincial government took action, according to a child and youth advocacy group.

In its annual Child Poverty Report Card released Tuesday, the advocacy group First Call said B.C. had 156,000 poor children in 2007 — even though that was a good year for the provincial economy.

From The Tyee:

B.C. had the highest child poverty rate of any province in 2007 using any of three common measures, said First Call B.C.’s 2009 Child Poverty Report Card released today. The rate was 18.8 percent using the low income cutoff before tax.

Until 2000 the rate in B.C. and Canada moved up and down together depending on the strength of the economy, the report said. “The big change took place in the current decade, when the national rate continued to decline as the economy continued growing, and the BC rate shot up dramatically. In the absence of corrective action through government policy, rates are likely to go up again in 2008 and 2009 as a result of the current recession.”