Child poverty has many long-term harmful effects

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There has been much talk at the higher levels of government about alleviating child poverty. So far all I have heard is talk.

I wonder how many average people know that a single mother on social assistance is denied the child tax bonus and the British Columbia child bonus. My understanding was that these were put in place to assist the very poor. Who is poorer than a single parent struggling to survive on social assistance? I was told this was to discourage people from "abusing" the system. So instead a policy was put in place to ensure that these children remain in abject poverty. I consider that not only abusive, but also oppressive and inhumane.

When we talk about abusing the system, let us think about our great leaders. How much does it cost the taxpayers to keep Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in her palatial home? I heard on the news that it costs $11 million a year. Yes, that is correct, $11 million. I don't think this includes her salary, which I would imagine costs the taxpayer as much per month as it costs per year to support a single parent with two children. Particularly when you include her travel expenses.

However, this isn't about Adrienne Clarkson. I admire her and support her successes (and given the opportunity I would jump at the chance to be in her shoes). This is about the priorities and decisions set out by our governing bodies. The people who are elected to make decisions in the best interests of all Canadians. (I wonder if the powers that be keep as close a watch on the perks of government employees as they do on single parents on social assistance?) These people are so far removed from the reality of child poverty that they have no idea of the problems these children face. The lack of consideration and support for these families costs the taxpayers more in the long run because children of poverty experience great difficulty in achieving a meaningful lifestyle. Far too many fall by the wayside and remain in the system, struggling daily just to survive, most times by any means that they can. Many turn to alcohol and drugs just to try and forget for a brief period of time how meaningless their lives are. Their experiences leave them with limited education, very few life skills, and very little hope. Their life experience has been that poverty is the best they can expect, and they have accepted that as their lot in life.

It is pretty hard to plan for your future when you're frantic about how you will survive until the end of the month because of an unexpected expense, such as a broken window or someone needing a new pair of shoes or Johnny having his heart set on going on a class field trip.

It amazes me that a child will be removed from a parent's care and the government will pay someone else adequate money for that child's care, plus many extras, yet will not provide monetary support to enable the parent to adequately provide for their own children.

Can you imagine going to school (in this day of designer clothes, such as Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hifilger) in clothes from a department store or the second-hand shops? If it was a novelty - and you didn't have to - it wouldn't be a problem. When you're a child of poverty, and your self esteem is zilch, it is just one more cross to bear. Or maybe your parent doesn't have a washer and had no money to take the laundry to the laundromat, or maybe she was too tired to pack two big garbage bags, plus two small children 10 blocks and then pack them home again. You go to school in your cleanest dirty clothes.

By the time you're nine years old, you know that you are different. Maybe it's the end of the month and there was nothing to make lunch with. It is pretty difficult to keep your mind on learning when you are suffering from hunger pangs, and worrying about your clothes being dirty and wrinkled. Think about how embarrassing it would be to be denied access to the phys. ed. program because you have no gym shoes and everybody knows. You love your parent and don't want to worry them about those things. You learned long ago that these things were not for you. To ask would make your mother cry or your father sad.

So at the age of nine, a child of poverty has learned there is no hope. Here begins the daily struggle to get through each day with the least discomfort and hurt, the best way they can. Life becomes a daily struggle for survival. Life becomes a daily experience of physical and social deprivation. Even hot lunch day is an embarrassment. While other children look forward to it with anticipation and enthusiasm, the child of poverty dreads it. Christmas and holidays are not joyous events. Have any of you ever had to go and pick up a Christmas hamper? I had the opportunity to take a young single mother to pick up a Christmas hamper from a charitable organization. I was appalled at the attitude of the person dispensing the hampers. The gift was definitely not from the heart. These may not seem like major things to an adult, but to a child they are crucial. These children see their parents grovel for charity and they know they are doing it for them. This in itself would take any joy out of the gifts received. It is demeaning. If something is not given from the heart, then it should not be given as "charity."

These are the reasons why I am asking what is being done to improve the quality of these children's lives. If a parent with four children was given the child bonuses, it would greatly improve the quality of their lives and just maybe the parent would have an opportunity to plan rather than just survive from day to day.

Are our children not worth it?

I wonder how much money Canada sends to foreign countries to alleviate world poverty? I don't have a problem with supporting third world countries and working to alleviate world poverty but don't you think Canada should address its own poverty crisis first?

You have to wonder if all those people making these decisions ever leave their offices. Do they have any kowledge or awareness of the extent of the social and economic problems that result from the extreme poverty that exists in this rich and prosperous country of ours?

I have written this to remind people that Canada is known for being a land of opportunity and equality.

I wonder if the children born and raised in poverty are aware of that, and if so, do they believe it?