Educational Opportunities for Deprived Children - Essay Example

? Poverty in Canada Introduction The term, poverty is defined as a “situation whereby …(the)…living conditions are so materially and socially deprived as to severely threaten health and quality of life” (Raphael, p.11 of preface). Poverty has to be understood not as a natural but a man made phenomenon mainly because it is a consequence of “how a society organizes and distributes its economic, social and political resources” (Raphael, p.11 of preface). Poverty is also defined as “a ‘package’ of economic conditions of which low income is only one-security, source and prospects of income also strongly condition this package and the lifestyle that results from it” (CCSD National Task Force, 11). Figures and statistics show that “Canada has one of the highest poverty rates for individuals and families among wealthy industrialized nations” (Raphael, 5). UNISEF has found out that child poverty rate in Canada, which is one among the wealthiest nations of the world, was 14.9% in 1990s (Raphael, p.11 of preface). Canada’s treatment of its “poor, single mothers and natives” had come even under the UN criticism and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had remarked that the “country has not ensured Canadians enjoy economic and social rights guaranteed by a UN covenant to which Ottawa is a signatory” (Raphael, 9). The CCSD National Task Force had given a comprehensive diagrammatic representation for measuring poverty and had listed “three important dimensions of well-being” as, “economic, psycho-social and political participation” (9). The review done by the task force has shown that Canadian society lacks in all these three dimensions to various degrees (CCSD National Task Force, 9-11). In particular, the economic well-being is ensured when the citizens of a country have a reasonable “income level”, “security of income”, an atmosphere conducive for “economic advancement”, and also a constant and good “source of income” (CCSD National Task Force, 9). The majority of Canadian citizens have none of these. A 1984 report revealed “2.3 million or 26 percent of Canadian households live below the poverty line” (CCSD National Task Force, 89). Ten years after, in 2008, over 3 million Canadians have been found “to live in a low-income situation” (Intraspec). The gravity of the situation is so that “more than 3m Canadians (or one in ten) are poor; and 610,000 of them are children” (The Economist). Causes The major cause of poverty in Canada is found to be lower wages that people are getting. It is a social reality that, “market incomes have stagnated for all earners, except the most wealthy” (Global Economic Justice Report, 2). In 2005, it was observed that “one in six Canadian workers earns less than $10 an hour” (Global Economic Justice Report, 2). A contributing factor to the low-wage situation has been the “increases in non-standard work (contracts, part-time work, temporary agency work) and an increased number of so-called “involuntary part-time workers”-workers who would prefer to work full-time but are unable to find such work” (Global Economic Justice Report, 2). As compared to the other rich nations of the world, Canada spends very less money on minimum wages, health and social service investments, education, employment, training, and social infrastructure (Raphael, p.12 of preface). In Canada, it is noted that the people remain poor because, “the political and economic system does not provide employment wages or social assistance benefits at a level…that allow for a life outside of poverty” (Raphael, p.11 of preface). Also the public policy does not ensure, “affordable housing, childcare, and health and social services, thereby straining the resources available to…vulnerable groups” (Raphael, p.11-12 of preface). The housing problem was so grave for low-income earners that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had asked Canadian government to consider low-income housing as a “national emergency” (Raphael, 9). The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology in Canada has observed that “poverty expands healthcare costs” (3). Another consequence of poverty is that criminalism in the society grows out of dissatisfaction and the state is burdened with spending more on policing and maintenance of law and order (The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, 3). The poor people will find it very difficult to find resources to send their children to schools and also to provide them with proper learning expenses. This will eventually result in diminished educational outcomes in the society, when taken as a whole (The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, 3). It is also a proven fact that decreased outcome in education will “in turn depresses productivity, labour force flexibility, life spans and economic expansion and social progress” (The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, 3). All of this cycle of social events and chain reactions will happen only “at huge cost to taxpayers, federal and provincial treasuries and the robust potential of the Canadian consumer economy” (The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, 3). This is the overall cost that a nation has to pay for its poverty. The extent of harm poverty can do is evident from this discourse. The Canadian society is trying to reduce poverty by way of welfare measures but the common criticism is that those who are beneficiaries of welfare measures are deprived of the benefits of the existing social welfare net (Intraspec). A demand has been raised to amend the welfare policies accordingly (Intraspec). The people most prone to poverty in Canada include aboriginals, less educated persons, disabled, women, immigrants, colored persons and lone parents (Raphael, p.11 of preface). Poverty rates are highest among “aboriginal people, new immigrants, single mothers, people with disabilities and single adults over 45” (Global Economic Justice Report, 1). The migrants remain poor because they are not given permanent resident status and are left to be exploited (Global Economic Justice Report, 3). Discrimination against women, colored people and new immigrants is prevalent which lead to their economic deprivation as well (Global Economic Justice Report, 4). Thus poverty becomes a gender issue as well (Global Economic Justice Report, 4). This kind of socio-cultural issues involved with poverty indicates that it is a cultural problem as well, in Canada (Global Economic Justice Report, 1). In any culture, the above-said categories are the most socially vulnerable groups and also the most socially ostracized groups. To support them, it is the governments who have to shoulder the responsibility more than any other agency. Only when government support is there, these vulnerable groups can live a dignified life. In the backdrop of the multi-dimensional aspect of the problem in Canada, it is felt that “the eradication of poverty…requires not only political action, but a deeper social economic and cultural transformation” (Global Economic Justice Report, 1). Solutions “An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada” has been introduced in the Canadian Parliament on June 6, 2010 (Intraspec). It is expected that “this private member’s bill, if passed into law in its current form, would provide a foundation for federal engagement, leadership and accountability for eliminating poverty in Canada” (Rainer). The major provisions to eliminate poverty put forth by this private bill are: 1) Recognition of poverty as a “condition of a human being who does not have the resources, means, choices and power necessary to acquire and maintain economic self-reliance and to facilitate their integration into and participation in society.” 2) Recognition of poverty as a human rights issue and anchoring the federal response to poverty in a human rights framework; 3) Imposing on the federal government “the obligation to eliminate poverty and promote social inclusion by establishing and implementing a strategy for poverty elimination in consultation with the provincial, territorial, municipal and Aboriginal governments and with civil society organizations.” 4) Requiring the federal strategy to have short, medium and long term targets to eliminate poverty; 5) Establishing the “Office of the Poverty Elimination Commissioner”, independent of government and to help hold the federal government to account for progress in addressing poverty; and 6) Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to include “social condition” as a prohibited ground of discrimination. (Rainer) The adoption and implementation of this act is expected to change the ground realities in the country. On April 28, 2010, a living wage law was also passed in the country (CUPE). The new “living wage policy will apply to both full-time and part-time employees, and will apply to both direct staff and to contractors performing physical work on City properties” (CUPE). Some recommendation put forward by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, in Canada are, Adopt a core poverty eradication goal….establish with the provinces a goal that all welfare recipients receive support totaling at least after-tax LICO levels…examine a basic annual income based on a negative income tax…coordinate a nationwide federal/provincial initiative on early childhood learning…as a step toward eradicating child poverty, increase the National Child Benefit to reach $5,000 by 2012…commit to increasing the WITB (Working Income Tax Benefit) to bring recipients at least to the LICO [Low Income Cut-off] line…with the provinces, develop a national housing and homelessness strategy…establish a basic income floor for all Canadians who are disabled…(and)…use the Urban Aboriginal Strategy as a platform for greater investment and collaboration in addressing the poverty and housing problems facing urban Aboriginal peoples (3-4). The factors, which Canadians can look forward to regarding poverty eradication in Canada are, the proper identification of the causes that has been done and the comprehensive studies and recommendations that have been made. The only thing remains to be done is to implement the recommendations in a foolproof manner. Also, the socio-cultural transformation of the Canadian society has to be initiated at government level and social organizations and agencies levels. Increasing the “acceptability” of deprived categories in the society like, women, single parents, immigrants and the disabled, has to be the prime focus of this social movement. Promoting the spirit of a cosmopolitan society will be the long-term and lasting solution to the problem. Special attention has to be given in eradicating child poverty and improving educational opportunities for deprived children as well. It is a proven fact that “children living in poverty are more likely to have a range of emotional or behavioral, educational or social problems (Raphael, 272). It is also an issue of concern that children having poor families will have less opportunity to excel in life as compared to children from rich families (Raphael, 123). As children are the future of the nation, Canada has to resolve its child poverty first and ensure the future will be safe. Works Cited CCSD National Taskforce on The Definition and Measurement of Poverty in Canada, Not Enough: The Meaning and Measurement of Poverty in Canada : Report of the CCSD National Task Force on the Definition and Measurement of Poverty in Canada, Halifax NS: James Lorimer & Company, 1984. Print CUPE, Living Wage Law a positive Step to Fight Poverty, 28 April 2010.web. http://cupe.ca/wages/living-wage-law-positive-step-fight Global Economic Justice Report, Ending Poverty in Canada: From Political Advocacy to Social Transformation, Global Economic Justice Report, Vol.4, No.2, June 2005.Print. In from the Margins: A Call To Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Report of the Subcommittee on Cities (12.09:p.3). Print. Intraspec, Poverty in Canada: Resources, 7 January 2010, www.intraspec.ca. web. http://intraspec.ca/povertyCanada.php Rainer, R., History in the Making: “An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada” introduced in the House of Commons, June 16,2010, Canada Without Poverty, 16 June 2010.web. http://www.cwp-csp.ca/Blog/history-in-the-making-an-act-to-eliminate-poverty-in-canada-introduced-in-the-house-of-commons-june-16-2010 Raphael, D, Poverty and Policy in Canada: Implications for Health and Quality of Life, Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press, 2007. Print. The Economist, Poverty in Canada: Mean Streets, The Economist, 25 November 2010. web. http://www.economist.com/node/17581844 Read More