An anti-poverty organization is pushing the government to approve a poverty-reduction strategy before next year’s federal election, and enshrine commitments in legislation so it cannot be undone by a future government.

Campaign 2000 tracked child poverty rates in all 338 federal ridings.

Here in Nipissing-Timiskaming the figure is 17.5 per cent.

Officials say the highest rates are home to large numbers of visible minorities and recent immigrants, lone parent families and Indigenous Peoples.

Topping the list is the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill-Keewatinook Aski where 64.2 per cent of the children reportedly live in poverty.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s downtown Toronto riding was also among the highest, with 40 per cent of child residents living in poverty.

(The Canadian Press)

Filed under: child poverty rate, Nipissing-Timiskaming