As Bruce Cockburn says, “The trouble with normal is it always gets worse.” This is the situation with one of the most disturbing issues we face: the growing problem of child poverty.
BC has the worst level of child poverty in the country. It now stands at one child in five. However, in Powell River it is even worse: at 23 per cent, almost one child in four is poor.
I expect that most of us believe we can do better. But how?
Of course, children are not responsible for their poverty: child poverty is family poverty, especially including single mothers. To think of children and youth, with no capacity to change their conditions, going hungry, un-housed or inadequately clothed is heartbreaking.
It is hard to reconcile the child-poverty rate in Powell River with all the wonderful things we have in this community, such as stunning beauty, caring people, a ton of cultural talent and a thoughtful city council. But we must think about it, and come together to address it.
Child and family poverty is a complex mix of factors and perhaps one of the reasons the issues are not front of mind is they seem beyond the capacity of a small city. One simple factor, of course, is inadequate income.
2015’s Vital Signs community report established the living wage for Powell River is $21 an hour, more than comparable communities because of higher costs for transportation, child care and food.
Housing is another very tough problem. The rental-vacancy rate is now less than one percent. Housing is just one area where provincial and federal governments have failed miserably to meet the needs of families. Neither senior government has an affordable-housing program. Meanwhile, we have been repeatedly promised a national child-care program for over 20 years with almost nothing to show for it.
We tend to think of poverty just in terms of those who suffer its personal consequences. But we all pay for it, as a study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives shows.
“The Cost of Poverty in BC” calculated the immediate cost to government from increased health and policing costs at about $2.2 billion. The cost in lost productivity and foregone economic activity adds another six to seven billion dollars. The study estimates that a comprehensive BC poverty-reduction plan would cost $3 to $4 billion.
Instead of such a plan, many of the consequences of poverty are being addressed by non-government organizations in Powell River with dedicated volunteers but woefully inadequate resources. Every one of those volunteers and staff know they simply can’t keep up.
What if the community came together and dedicated itself to helping solve just one of the major factors contributing to child poverty? What if city council dedicated a one- or two-percent tax hike, Catalyst Paper gave up some of its tax break and Powell River Community Forest fund all collaborated and established a $15-a-day childcare facility? Or built six to 10 affordable housing units every year?
Can we do better? Yes, but only if we go beyond “normal.”
Murray Dobbin is a Powell River freelance writer and social commentator.
