Child Poverty

[ndpnic]

Poverty can be eliminated and it is time to do so.

Not really, as anyone who doesn't have all the goodies that others may have would still consider themselves poor. Compared to other countries; our poor in Canada are NOT opoor.

Raising the minimum wage dow not work either as the price of everything rises to pay for this increase in cost to the employer. nothing changes.

Only because employers feel they are entitled to all the money. Wonder how they'd make their money if there were no peons? Bigwigs would like silly and useless with no one to produce any products! From the CEO to the sales clerk or line worker, no 1 job is more important. You need everyone to make it work!!!!

[Big Blue Machine]

Minimum wage isn't meant for families. everyone knows that. Minimum wage is for high school students on part time jobs.

Its the parents reponsibility for looking after their kids. Not the governments.

[ndpnic]

Minimum wage isn't meant for families. everyone knows that. Minimum wage is for high school students on part time jobs.

Its the parents reponsibility for looking after their kids. Not the governments.

Apparently NOT everyone know minimum wage is for part-time and students. Most employers pay $7 across the board to start.

I live in Simcoe, Ont., and I cahllenge ANYONE to come here and find FULL-TIME employment for the GENERAL populace that pys more than $7. Have u not ever been to a fastfood, coffeeshop, grocery store, drycleaners, etc.....

[JWayne625]

I sit on the Board of a food bank in Atlantic Canada, as well as volunteering to serve those who need to rely on a food bank to make ends meet. Some of the people who utilize the services of food banks are on Income Assistance, but the trend we are seeing more often are those of the "Working Poor." People who are attempting to better their lot in life, but sadly are not succeeding, through no fault of their own. Every time they get a raise in pay, it seems to signal corporate greed to claw it back by raising prices, and this often leaves the working people worse off financially.

Like the rest of Canada, the Province of New Brunswickhas lost many of our manufacturing jobs. This came about with the signing of Free Trade Agreements, which have ultimately turned our ecomony from a manufacturing base to a service sector base. Many of the jobs are call-centre related and most of these jobs do not put food on the table, nor do they offer stable employment. In fact many young people have to continue residing with parent's because they simply cannot afford to maintain their own dwelling space.

Simply raising the minimum wage is not the answer because all that does is encourage every other sector to raise their rates. Income Security cheques for instance increases every January 1st, and seems to be quickly followed by rate increases in the cost of food, electricity, heating costs, telephone service, cable serrvice and the list goes on and on. The point is that a raise does not necessarily increase one's ability to raise their circumstances in life. In fact when everything else increases in cost it often leaves people worse off than before.