B.C.s child poverty rate growing, says First Call [Video]

A new report by First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society reveals a sharp rise in child poverty across the province.

The report finds one in six children are living below the poverty line and if the provincial government does not take action, that number will increase.

Adrienne Montani, the society’s executive director, says she does not recall ever seeing the situation this dire.

“In fact, it had been coming down slowly due to a variety of issues, measures being taken by government. Now it’s just bouncing right back up and it looks like if it keeps going, it may go back beyond where it was before 2021 next year.”

Montani credits the pandemic supports that were put in place in 2020 as a factor that helped families living in poverty.

“The pandemic supports were withdrawn and we’re seeing that without that income support, the child poverty rate is rising …