Madam Speaker, I rise today along with other members including the member for Halifax West to draw the attention of the House the issue of child poverty.
These petitioners from the city of Regina indicate that one in five Canadian children lives in poverty. In the 34th parliament, just over 10 years ago, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Instead we have seen child poverty increase by some 60%.
The petitioners are calling upon parliament to use the upcoming federal budget to introduce a multi-year plan to improve the well-being of Canada's children and are urging parliament to fulfil the 1989 promise of the House of Commons to end child poverty by the end of this year.