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About 20 people met at Pothole Park on Sunday, November 29th for the Invermere contribution to the Global Climate March demonstration, to encourage world leaders to commit to clean energy during their meeting at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, which started on November 30th. PHOTO BY NICOLE TRIGG
Child poverty rate in East Kootenay lowest in B.C. BREANNE MASSEY breanne@invermerevalleyecho.com The results of the 2015 BC Child Poverty Report Card suggests that the East Kootenay Regional District has one of the lowest child poverty rates in the province, according to First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition. But at 20.4 per cent (just over one in five children), the child poverty rate in B.C. is higher than the Canadian average of 19 per cent. “On one hand, (the East Kootenay region) has some of the lowest poverty rates that we have data for,” said Adrienne Montani, First Call provincial co-ordinator. “Cranbrook is the only municipal area that we have separate data for out there, but for the East Kootenay region, we have data that shows a 15.5 per cent poverty rate, which is up two tenths of a per cent from 15.3 in last year’s report card.”
There are some other numbers for Regional District (15.8 per “Children in single parthe region that also stand out in the cent); and Northern Rockents, overall in the provstudy, Ms. Montani added. ies (15.9 per cent). ince, have a poverty rate “Cranbrook’s (child poverty rate) is “(The East Kootenay is) of 50 per cent,” she added. higher than the regional district overall below the provincial aver“It’s very high… there are at 15.5 per cent,” she said. age, about five percentage probably more children in In 1989, the House of Commons passed points roughly overall in that 15.5 per cent who have a resolution to eliminate child poverty that region, as is most of the single parents because 1) in Canada. Since eastern there is one earner and if Cranbrook’s )child that time, B.C.’s p a r t their wage is low, they’ll still Adrienne Montani child poverty rate of the be in the poverty and 2) obpoverty rate) is has risen from 15.5 provviously, if you’re going to go higher than the regional to 20.4 per cent. ince,” said Ms. to work, you need child care and if you The regional dis- district overall... Montani. “Most of don’t have family support, or somebody ADRIENNE MONTANI tricts with the high(B.C.) from Fort else to help, then the lack of child care FIRST CALL PROVINCIAL CO-ORDINATOR est child poverty St. John down that is an issue that often keeps people from rates were the Central Coast Regional eastern side is a lower rate, (but) not working — even in couple families as District (50.6 per cent); Mount Wadding- dramatically in some places.” well as in single parent families.” ton Regional District (35.1 per cent); The East Kootenay region’s child povShe added that low wages for the and Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional erty rate does not compare families “working poor” has become a trend District (33.0 per cent). and single parents, and Ms. Montani spanning B.C. However, Ms. Montani The ones with the lowest child pover- believes a provincial trend of single is working towards reducing poverty rates were the East Kootenay Region- parents suffering from poverty would ty with the First Call team by making al District (15.5 per cent); Peace River be significant if counted. See A2
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