On 24 November 1989 the Canadian House of Commons unanimously passed an all-party resolution to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000. Yet in 2005 a report by UNICEF placed Canada nineteenth in a ranking of the relative poverty of children in 26 of the world's richest countries (Greece, Hungary, and Poland all had a significantly better record). How can this be? This short and engaging book provides the latest research on child poverty by Canadian sociologist Patrizia Albanese. She looks at how many Canadian children live in poverty, exploring trends over time, across provinces, and among various groups. Her research reveals which children are most vulnerable and why, and describes the physical, behavioural, and educational impact of poverty. In clear terms she explains the various ways of measuring poverty and considers why Canada ranks so low on the international scale. Finally, Albanese evaluates the theories and possible solutions to the problem. Of interest to students of sociology, social work, and early childhood studies-and concerned readers alike-this important book provides a useful introduction to a topic of key importance.
