Mr. Speaker, November 20 was National Child Day and the 10th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. November 24 is also the 10th anniversary of the unanimous all-party resolution put forward by the then leader of the NDP, Ed Broadbent, to eliminate child poverty.
Here we are 10 years later and what progress is there? Just a few days ago we received a letter from three federal ministers telling us that the Government of Canada has taken a consistent approach in its efforts to improve opportunities for children and families. Who are they kidding?
Just last week 34 NGOs cited Canada for systematically violating seven articles of the UN convention. Child poverty has increased 50% since 1989. There has been an unrelenting attack on Canada's poor through EI cuts, the elimination of social housing, broken promises on national child care and denial of the child tax benefit to families on welfare. That is the real record of the Liberals and it has been consistent for sure.
Is it not ironic that the letter we received did not mention one word about the 1989 resolution?