In 2018:

• 159,570 children and youth in BC were living in poor households.
• 59,000 poor children in BC were under the age of six.
• BC’s child poverty rate was the ninth highest of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories.
• Regional districts with the highest child poverty rates were located along coastal areas.
• Indigenous children, new immigrant children, children in visible or racialized minority groups and those affected by disabilities all have much higher poverty rates than the BC average.

These findings and more are part of First Call’s 2020 BC Child Poverty Report Card. Released last week, this report shows that not much has changed and about one in five children continue to live in poverty, and some in deep poverty.

Since this report covers data from 2018, it does not include the outlook during the pandemic.

Emerging data, personal stories and other reports tell us the economic, social and health impacts of the pandemic on children, youth and families has been profound. The
pandemic has amplified pre-existing inequities and poor children and their families have been among the worst affected.

For more information, read the full report which includes more detailed information in 10 fact sheets and a list of public policy recommendations.

Organizations have used this report as an advocacy tool on a range of child poverty issues. First Call plans to scale up its research to create more resources for advocacy over the next three years.