http://www.tibet.ca/en/wtnarchive/2004/4/6_5.html
http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/e/aim3.html
site that shows how stupid forein aids is and how much this money should be sspend on canadians
More than five million Canadians, or 17.9%, were living below the poverty line in 1996. These numbers underestimate the number of poor Canadians because they do not include Aboriginal people on reserves, residents of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and people who live in institutions.
In 1996, child poverty reached 20.9 %, a 17-year peak.
61% of single mothers live in poverty.
Since 1989 the number of food banks has tripled and the proportion of the population relying on them has doubled.
One in five Canadians over 65 live below the poverty line.
The poverty rate for individuals with no family is 40.2%. If you’re young and single, the rate jumps to 63.7%.
The richest fifth of Canadians receives close to one half of all the income in Canada while the poorest fifth receive just 3.1%.
43.4% of Aboriginal people, 35.9% of visible minorities and 30.8 per cent of persons with disabilities were poor in 1995.
1.4 million Canadians, or 8.4 % of the population, are unemployed.
Jesus identified himself with the poor and hungry people, with those who suffer and are in need of help. Thus, we are presented with a profound mystery: God in Christ is present in a special way in poor and hungry people (see Matthew 25:31-46). Christ represents himself to us in a special way in the hungry, the naked and the sick. He is among us in the outcasts and the oppressed of our age. Their cry for justice is Christ’s cry for justice.
The Salvation Army’s Positional Statement on Poverty and Economic Justice reads in part: “The measure of any society is how well it cares for its weakest citizens. The persistence both of widespread poverty and indifference to that poverty in Canada and Bermuda is morally unacceptable. Jesus Christ motivates us to love our neighbour in practical ways. Our response to the poor is a measure of our obedience to and love for God.”
As Christians, we are called “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free … to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe him … Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations” (Isaiah 58:6,7,12).
8 Myths About Poverty
1. Poverty is the failure of the individual
Massive increases in unemployment in Canada in recent years have not resulted from personal inadequacy. Many workers have lost their jobs for reasons beyond their control (economic crisis, illness or disability) and cannot find work because it is not available.
2. The poor do not want to work
The fact is that most poor people do work full or part-time-over 60% of those heading poor families and over 70% of poor unattached individuals. Of people dependent on welfare, about 37% are children, 16% are single mothers and 24% are disabled.
3. Poor people do not pay taxes
Having to pay income tax starts far below the poverty line. A single mother with two children in 1991 started paying federal tax when her income reached $11,601; a single person without dependants was taxed at an income level of $6,532. And the poor still pay sales tax, GST and property taxes.
4. Welfare rates are too generous
All welfare rates are well below the poverty line. The highest rates are still 20% below; the lowest are 76% below the poverty line.
5. Poor people need to be taught basic life skills like budgeting
Many live far below the poverty line and must spend all or most of their income on basic needs. Anyone who manages to feed and clothe a family on a very limited income already has budgeting skills.
6. The welfare system is rife with cheating and fraud
A study conducted by a national auditing firm estimated fraud to be in the range of 3% of the welfare budget. On the other hand, there are estimates that income tax fraud is in the order of 20%.
7. Poor families are poor because they have too many children
Most poor families have less than two children. Only 15% have 3 or more children under 18. Recent studies show children in poor families are more likely to suffer chronic health problems and twice as likely to drop out of school.
8. We cannot afford the social programs needed to eliminate poverty
According to per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Canada is more prosperous than all European countries. However, Canada spends less on social security and other income support measures (including EI and welfare) as a share of GDP than most
http://www.waterlooregion.org/poverty/talk/5.html
