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Divided City Life In Canada's Child Poverty Capital

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DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

DIVIDED CITY:<br />

<strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

November 2016<br />

1


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Acknowledgements<br />

This report was researched and written by a working group that included:<br />

Michael Polanyi<br />

Community Development and Prevention Program,<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren’s Aid Society of Toronto<br />

Jessica Mustachi<br />

Family Service Toronto (Ontario Campaign 2000)<br />

michael kerr<br />

Colour of <strong>Poverty</strong> – Colour of Change<br />

Sean Meagher<br />

Social Planning Toronto<br />

Research and data analysis support provided by the <strong>City</strong> of Toronto is gratefully<br />

acknowledged. Financial support was provided by the <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Aid Society<br />

of Toronto and the <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Aid Foundation. Design support was provided<br />

by Peter Grecco. We thank Ann Fitzpatrick, Said Dirie, Sharon Parsaud and<br />

Beth Wilson for their assistance with, and review of, the report. Data and mapping<br />

support for the transit section of the report from Steve Farber and Jeff Allen,<br />

Department of Human Geography, University of Toronto, Scarborough,<br />

is gratefully acknowledged. Data support for housing provided by Scott Leon,<br />

Wellesley <strong>In</strong>stitute.<br />

2


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Contents<br />

Executive Summary 4<br />

1. <strong>In</strong>troduction 6<br />

2. Unequal <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>In</strong>comes 8<br />

3. Unequal Educational and Recreational Opportunities 14<br />

4. Unequal Access to Housing 18<br />

5. Unequal Access to Food and Nutrition 21<br />

6. Unequal Access to Transit 23<br />

7. Conclusions 27<br />

APPENDIX A: <strong>City</strong> of Toronto Neighbourhoods 29<br />

Notes 30<br />

3


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Executive Summary<br />

Purpose of Report:<br />

• This report draws from new data to update the 2014 report, The Hidden<br />

Epidemic: A Report on <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> in Toronto. 1 It is the result of a<br />

collaboration between CAS of Toronto, Family Service Toronto, Social Planning<br />

Toronto, and Colour of <strong>Poverty</strong> – Colour of Change.<br />

• It describes the level – and unequal distribution – of poverty and deprivation<br />

among children and families in Toronto, and explores how living in poverty<br />

affects access to housing, food, recreation, education and transit.<br />

• By monitoring and reporting on poverty in Toronto, we hope this report will<br />

encourage the government of Toronto, with support from provincial and federal<br />

governments, to renew and fulfil its commitment to reduce and eliminate child<br />

and family poverty in our city.<br />

Key Findings:<br />

• Toronto continues to be the child poverty capital of Canada: it has the highest<br />

rate of low-income children among large urban centres 2 (26.8%).<br />

• There were 10,000 fewer Toronto children living in low-income families in 2014<br />

compared to 2013; however, 133,000 children continue to live in poverty.<br />

• Toronto is a deeply divided city in terms of the living conditions and life<br />

opportunities for children and youth.<br />

• Families with members who are racialized, newcomers, or living with<br />

disabilities, or families led by a single parent, are much more likely<br />

to be living on low incomes compared with all other families.<br />

• Recreation and early learning participation levels of Toronto children are highly<br />

dependent on family income: half of children in families with annual incomes<br />

under $30,000 do not regularly participate in out-of-school arts or sports<br />

programs (in contrast, only 7% of children in families with incomes over<br />

$100,000 don’t participate in these programs).<br />

• <strong>Child</strong>ren in families with incomes in the lowest quintile 3 are almost twice as<br />

likely as children in families with the highest quintile of incomes (17% vs 9%)<br />

to have two or more vulnerabilities related to physical development (such as fine<br />

and gross motor skills, energy levels, independence and daily living skills) when<br />

entering Kindergarten.<br />

• <strong>Child</strong>ren in schools with families in the top quartile 4 of incomes are 1.5 to<br />

2 times more likely to meet or exceed Grade 3 provincial standards for reading,<br />

writing and math (compared to children in schools in the lowest-income<br />

quartile).<br />

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DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

• One-third of families with children under age 18 in Toronto are living in<br />

unaffordable housing, and 27% of families with children age 12 or under are<br />

living in housing that is unaffordable, overcrowded, or in poor state of repair.<br />

• There has been a 48% increase in food bank use in Toronto’s inner suburbs since<br />

2008, and children across Toronto appear to be at increased risk of going hungry.<br />

• Toronto transit users pay the highest proportion of local transit costs of any<br />

Canadian city, lack income-based fare reductions, and – especially in ethnoracially<br />

diverse suburban neighbourhoods – lack equitable access to service.<br />

Key Recommendations<br />

• <strong>City</strong> Council should honour its commitment to reduce and eliminate poverty<br />

and deprivation in Toronto. It should adhere to the work plan of its poverty<br />

reduction strategy, ensure that the strategy is shaped by people with experience<br />

of poverty, and put in place clear short- and longer-term progress targets<br />

for ensuring fair and equitable access to adequate incomes, housing, transit,<br />

child care, food and other supports.<br />

• To reduce child and family poverty, it is imperative that the <strong>City</strong> address its<br />

ongoing fiscal shortfall, which puts city services and programs at ongoing risk<br />

of cut-backs and prevents adequate investment to improve access to services.<br />

To achieve this, the <strong>City</strong> must approve and implement a financial plan that<br />

includes fair and adequate revenue generation (taxation) and sustainable<br />

spending that is focused on improving the lives of children, adults and families<br />

most in need.<br />

5


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

1. <strong>In</strong>troduction<br />

Two years ago, our organizations released The Hidden<br />

Epidemic: A Report on <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> in<br />

Toronto, which documented the high level of child and<br />

family poverty in the <strong>City</strong> of Toronto and the widespread<br />

lack of access by children to decent housing, food,<br />

recreation and learning opportunities.<br />

The Hidden Epidemic – and its depiction of widespread<br />

child poverty in a wealthy city – made headlines across<br />

the country.<br />

<strong>In</strong> response to the report, newly elected Mayor John Tory<br />

issued a call to action to address poverty. He said, “None<br />

of us can rest easy. We can’t put our heads down on the<br />

pillow at night and go to sleep, knowing that 150,000<br />

Toronto kids are growing up in poverty.” 6<br />

<strong>City</strong> Council heeded his call, and in November, 2015,<br />

approved the city’s first-ever poverty reduction strategy<br />

(TO Prosperity). 7<br />

We believe The Hidden Epidemic struck a chord, in part,<br />

because it showed that our city is failing to uphold a key<br />

Canadian value: that people of all backgrounds should<br />

have a fair chance to succeed in life.<br />

If ever there was<br />

a wakeup call,<br />

this would be it.<br />

Mayor-elect John Tory, in response to<br />

The Hidden Epidemic: A Report on <strong>Child</strong> and<br />

Family <strong>Poverty</strong> in Toronto, November, 2014. 5<br />

This new report constitutes our first comprehensive update of The Hidden Epidemic.<br />

It reflects our ongoing commitment to monitor the level of poverty among children<br />

and families in Toronto, which we consider to be crucial given the importance<br />

of adequate income to the health and development – and success – of children. 8<br />

Drawing from newly released (Statistics Canada) tax filer income data, as well as<br />

other local and national data, we describe the level and distribution of child poverty<br />

in Toronto. We also explore how low-income children are faring in terms of<br />

accessing essentials like housing, food, social and recreational opportunities<br />

and transit (the key action areas of TO Prosperity).<br />

As a whole, this report shows that Toronto is a deeply divided city with continuing<br />

and unacceptably high levels of child and family poverty and deprivation.<br />

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DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

<strong>In</strong>deed, more than half of children in some (mostly ethno-racially diverse)<br />

neighbourhoods lack access to basics such as an adequate family income,<br />

affordable housing, decent transit, recreational opportunities, and licensed<br />

child care – supports children need to survive and flourish.<br />

This cannot be allowed to continue.<br />

The Hidden Epidemic helped spark the city’s first poverty reduction strategy.<br />

We hope that this report will spur a renewed commitment by Mayor Tory and<br />

<strong>City</strong> Council (with the support of the provincial and federal governments) to move<br />

forward with Toronto’s poverty reduction strategy. This will require bold targets<br />

and timelines to reduce poverty and to make the needed investments to ensure that<br />

all children and families have access to the services, infrastructure and supports they<br />

need to thrive and succeed.<br />

7


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

2. Unequal <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>In</strong>comes<br />

Toronto remains the child poverty capital of Canada. Based on the newest<br />

available tax filer data, it continues to have the highest percentage of children living<br />

in low-income families among large urban centres across Canada, at 26.8%<br />

(Figure 1).<br />

Figure 1: Percentage of <strong>Child</strong>ren Age 0-17 Living Below the Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure<br />

After Tax (LIM-AT) in Large Canadian Urban Areas (>500,000 residents), 2014<br />

Toronto<br />

Montréal<br />

Winnipeg<br />

Hamilton<br />

20.6%<br />

Greater Vancouver<br />

19.3%<br />

Peel<br />

19.2%<br />

Ottawa<br />

16.0%<br />

Edmonton<br />

15.9%<br />

Waterloo<br />

14.8%<br />

Durham<br />

14.5%<br />

York<br />

14.4%<br />

Calgary<br />

13.3%<br />

Halton<br />

10.0%<br />

Québec <strong>City</strong><br />

9.6%<br />

Source: <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Statistics Canada, T1 Family File (T1FF), 2014.<br />

26.8%<br />

25.5%<br />

24.1%<br />

However, for the first time since 2010, there was a drop in the overall number<br />

of Toronto children living in low-income families, with the percentage of children<br />

(under 18) living below the Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure After Tax (LIM-AT) falling<br />

slightly from 28.6% in 2013 to 26.8% in 2014 (Figure 2). The absolute number<br />

of low-income children fell from 143,700 in 2013 to 133,500 in 2014. 9<br />

8


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 2: Number and Percentage of <strong>Child</strong>ren in Toronto Living Below the Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure After Tax (LIM-AT), 1997-2014<br />

180,000<br />

160,000<br />

140,000<br />

120,000<br />

100,000<br />

80,000<br />

60,000<br />

40,000<br />

20,000<br />

0<br />

28% 27% 28% 29% 29% 29% 31% 32% 31% 30% 29% 29% 29% 27% 28% 29% 29% 27%<br />

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014<br />

Source: <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Statistics Canada, T1 Family File (T1FF), 1997-2014.<br />

35%<br />

30%<br />

25%<br />

20%<br />

15%<br />

10%<br />

5%<br />

0%<br />

Toronto, despite its significant wealth, 10 also retains the alarming distinction of<br />

having the highest low-income rate amongst its overall population (21.8%), and<br />

among working-age adults (23.1%). The rate of poverty amongst seniors has<br />

increased slightly in Toronto, and is the fifth highest amongst large urban areas<br />

in Canada, after Peel, York, Vancouver and Montreal.<br />

The overall population (all ages) in Toronto living below the LIM-AT also dropped<br />

slightly from 22.6% in 2013 to 21.8% in 2014. <strong>Child</strong>ren under 18 continue to be<br />

the age group in Toronto most likely to live in poverty (Figure 3).<br />

Figure 3: Percentage of Toronto residents living below Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure After Tax<br />

(LIM-AT), by Age, 2014<br />

All age groups<br />

21.8%<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren (Age 0-17)<br />

26.8%<br />

Adults (Age 18-64)<br />

23.1%<br />

Seniors (Age 65+)<br />

10.6%<br />

Source: <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Statistics Canada, T1 Family File (T1FF), 2014.<br />

While the slight decline in low-income rates is welcome, the continued, stark<br />

divide in family incomes – and opportunities and experiences – across Toronto<br />

neighbourhoods is deeply troubling.<br />

For instance, while there are relatively few children living in low-income families<br />

in some Toronto neighbourhoods, in other neighbourhoods child low-income rates<br />

remain at epidemic levels.<br />

9


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Specifically, less than 5% of children live in low-income families in Leaside-<br />

Bennington (4.2%), Lawrence Park South (4.4%) and Lawrence Park North (4.6%).<br />

On the other hand, more than half of children are living on low incomes in Regent<br />

Park (58.1%) and Thorncliffe Park (52.4%) (Figure 4). All told, over 40% of<br />

children in 14 Toronto neighbourhoods – mostly in the inner city or in the diverse<br />

inner suburbs – are living in low-income families.<br />

<strong>In</strong> general, neighbourhood levels of child and family poverty have not changed<br />

greatly (Figure 5). However, significant 5-year declines in low-income rates did<br />

take place in some neighbourhoods, such as the downtown east neighbourhoods of<br />

Blake-Jones and South Riverdale (12.7 and 9.6 percentage point drops). The largest<br />

5-year increase in the child and family low-income rate was observed in the diverse<br />

north-west neighbourhood of Elms-Old Rexdale (a 9 percentage point increase).<br />

The stark inequality in family incomes in different neighbourhoods closely<br />

mirrors the neighbourhood hierarchy in the <strong>City</strong> of Toronto’s “Neighbourhood<br />

Equity Scores”, released in 2014, which rank neighbourhoods’ social, economic,<br />

and physical conditions. 11<br />

All told, over 40%<br />

of children in<br />

14 Toronto<br />

neighbourhoods –<br />

mostly in the inner<br />

city or in diverse<br />

inner suburbs –<br />

are living in<br />

low-income<br />

families.<br />

Figure 4: Percentage of <strong>Child</strong>ren Age 0-17 Under Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure After Tax Living in each of Toronto’s<br />

140 Neighbourhoods, 2014<br />

38<br />

27<br />

32<br />

33<br />

44<br />

29 31 27<br />

27<br />

32<br />

19<br />

19<br />

40 32 28<br />

27<br />

29<br />

24<br />

31<br />

33<br />

34<br />

31<br />

32<br />

19<br />

12<br />

25<br />

27<br />

15<br />

39<br />

16<br />

18<br />

17<br />

28<br />

39<br />

10<br />

42 23<br />

5<br />

37<br />

28 28<br />

7 15<br />

23<br />

26<br />

35<br />

4<br />

37 41 22 16<br />

10<br />

23<br />

24<br />

20<br />

6<br />

44<br />

15<br />

9 13<br />

21 11 8<br />

4 52<br />

32<br />

29 21<br />

11<br />

16<br />

13<br />

15<br />

25<br />

16<br />

5 6<br />

9 25<br />

24<br />

23<br />

16<br />

15<br />

17<br />

10 12<br />

23<br />

21 14 16 46<br />

13<br />

23 10 33<br />

13<br />

18 19 20 41 49 29<br />

46<br />

58<br />

24<br />

15<br />

34<br />

25<br />

22 25<br />

11<br />

22<br />

28<br />

17<br />

32<br />

29<br />

27<br />

29<br />

32<br />

28 29<br />

15<br />

42<br />

50<br />

19<br />

17<br />

7<br />

N<br />

33<br />

30<br />

38<br />

30<br />

33<br />

37<br />

24<br />

36<br />

44<br />

13<br />

33<br />

38<br />

22<br />

4% – 12%<br />

13% – 21%<br />

22% – 30%<br />

31% – 40%<br />

41% – 58%<br />

12<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Statistics Canada, 2014 T1FF Family File Table 18,<br />

Community Data Program; <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Social Policy Analysis & Research.<br />

10


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 5: Change in Percentage of Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure After Tax Rate for <strong>Child</strong>ren Age 0-17 Between 2009 and 2014<br />

1.6<br />

4.9<br />

-2.6 -1.1 -7.8 -0.9<br />

3.3<br />

-1.1<br />

-7.2<br />

-8.3<br />

0.7 -0.3<br />

0.2<br />

-2.5 1.8<br />

-4.5 2.2<br />

-3.8<br />

-1.4<br />

-0.5<br />

-2.9<br />

-1.4<br />

9<br />

-1.8<br />

-2.3<br />

-0.9<br />

-1.9<br />

-5.9<br />

-2.5<br />

-2.3<br />

4.3 -0.3<br />

-1.3<br />

2.5<br />

-6.9 -2.2<br />

-1.1 -3.8<br />

-2.5<br />

0.4<br />

-1.9<br />

-4.6<br />

2.6 1 -2.6 -3.1<br />

-2.3<br />

0.1<br />

-0.6 -2.2 2.1<br />

-6.4 -5.2<br />

-3.7 -1.5<br />

-2.2<br />

-5.6<br />

1<br />

-1.5<br />

0.6<br />

-1.2 0.7<br />

-2 -1<br />

1.1<br />

-2.6<br />

-1.4<br />

-3.9 -6.7<br />

-4.4 -2.7<br />

3.5<br />

-1.8<br />

-1.4 -6.8<br />

3.1<br />

-3.7<br />

-3.5 -1.1<br />

-1.5<br />

-2.1<br />

-1.9<br />

-4.2<br />

-2.7<br />

-6.3<br />

5.9<br />

-7.5 -8 -4.8 -1<br />

5.2<br />

-3.4 -12.7<br />

2.8<br />

-2.9<br />

1.7<br />

-5.1<br />

-4.5<br />

-8.9<br />

1.3 -3.9 -4.4 -4.1 -6.4<br />

-5.7<br />

-3.7<br />

-7.1 -9.6<br />

-3.1<br />

-7.3 -4.3<br />

-2.6<br />

-2.3<br />

-3.7<br />

-1.7<br />

N<br />

-1.4<br />

0.4<br />

-4.7<br />

-3.2<br />

0.3<br />

-0.9<br />

0.8 3.9<br />

-8.7<br />

-1.3<br />

1.4<br />

3.4<br />

-2.4<br />

1.5<br />

-1.8<br />

0.7<br />

1.5<br />

-1.4<br />

-0.7<br />

-2.1<br />

-2.6<br />

3.4<br />

1.6<br />

0.5<br />

-3.9<br />

-12.7% – -6.3%<br />

-6.2% – -3.1%<br />

-3% – -0.5%<br />

-0.4% – 2.6%<br />

2.7% – 9%<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren in the<br />

Source: Statistics Canada, 2009 & 2014 T1FF Family File Table 18,<br />

Community Data Program; <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Social Policy Analysis & Research.<br />

Neighbourhood-level income inequality also reflects the racial inequities in our<br />

city. Racialized 12 individuals and families are more likely to live in inner suburban<br />

neighbourhoods where housing is somewhat more affordable, but where<br />

neighbourhoods – according to the <strong>City</strong>’s equity index – tend to have higher<br />

unemployment rates, lower educational success rates and less desirable physical<br />

environments (for example, lack of meeting spaces and green space, and a less<br />

walkable environment).<br />

<strong>In</strong>deed, children in the city’s ten most “linguistically diverse” neighbourhoods 13<br />

(e.g., Flemingdon Park, Don Valley Village, Newtonbrook West) experience lowincome<br />

rates almost four times higher than children living in the city’s least diverse<br />

neighbourhoods (e.g., Beaches, Leaside-Bennington, Lawrence Park South).<br />

city’s ten most<br />

“linguistically<br />

diverse”<br />

neighbourhoods<br />

income rates almost<br />

four times higher<br />

than children living<br />

in the city’s<br />

least diverse<br />

neighbourhoods.<br />

11


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 6 shows further that racialization, immigration status – and also the presence<br />

of a disability or lone-parent family structure – increases the likelihood of living in<br />

low income.<br />

Figure 6: Family Low-<strong>In</strong>come Rates (LIM-AT) by Sub-Category, 2010<br />

61.5%<br />

52.0%<br />

54.7%<br />

47.1%<br />

33.1%<br />

14.4%<br />

25.2%<br />

8.3%<br />

Couple family with<br />

no children under 18<br />

9.8%<br />

23.5%<br />

19.0%<br />

Couple family with<br />

children under 18<br />

18.0%<br />

Lone-parent family<br />

with children under 18<br />

17.1%<br />

The total percentage<br />

of economic families below<br />

the Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure<br />

(After Tax)<br />

At least one family member is from a visible minority group<br />

At least one family member immigrated from 2006-2011<br />

At least one family member reported difficulty with daily activities<br />

All economic families<br />

Source: National Household Survey - Statistics Canada, 2011, Custom Tabulation access through the Community Data Program.<br />

For example, lone-parent families with children are more than twice as likely to<br />

have a low income compared to two-parent families (about one in five families in<br />

Toronto is a lone-parent family, the vast majority led by a female parent).<br />

Moreover, children in newcomer families, families with a member from a racialized<br />

group, and families with a member who has difficulty with daily activities are all<br />

more likely to be living on low incomes.<br />

As reported in The Hidden Epidemic, indigenous people – in Toronto and across<br />

Canada – are also are disproportionately affected by poverty. However, it is widely<br />

agreed that the National Household Survey understates the level of indigenous<br />

poverty due to low and skewed response rates. Recently, Toronto’s <strong>In</strong>digenous<br />

Health Advisory Circle conducted a “Health Counts” survey of which an interim<br />

analysis found that 90% of indigenous people in Toronto are living below the<br />

Low <strong>In</strong>come Cut Off (before taxes). 14<br />

12


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Data Note: Statistics Canada has no official, government-mandated poverty<br />

line. The Low-<strong>In</strong>come Measure After Tax (LIM-AT) employed in this report<br />

was chosen as it is considered the best available statistic, collected annually<br />

at the local level from tax filer data. Tax filer data operates on the concept<br />

of the census family rather than a household. LIM-AT is calculated as 50% of<br />

median after-tax income of family or household incomes, allowing for size<br />

of the family unit. <strong>In</strong> 2014, the LIM-AT threshold for a family with two adults<br />

and two children under age 16 was $35,648. According to Statistics Canada, tax<br />

filer data provide a useful way of looking at trends over time and comparing<br />

and contrasting low-income rates of different geographies. For further notes<br />

and limitations on use of tax filer data, see The Hidden Epidemic 15 , or Statistics<br />

Canada’s webpage on the T1 Family File 16 .<br />

LIM-AT is one way of understanding the extent of poverty experienced in<br />

a community. Other ways of measuring low income can produce different<br />

perspectives.<br />

A recent report from the Caledon <strong>In</strong>stitute 17 compared an income-based<br />

approach to defining a poverty line with a material deprivation approach to<br />

poverty used in Europe. The material deprivation approach instead surveys<br />

households to ask whether there are any basic goods or services that they want<br />

but cannot afford. The Caledon study found that when these two approaches<br />

were applied to Ontario children, the measures identified very different groups<br />

in poverty, with not a lot of overlap.<br />

Ultimately, neither low-income lines nor material deprivation approaches can<br />

provide the whole picture on their own, and it remains important to consider<br />

a broader range of issues, such as equitable access to health care, education,<br />

child care, and early childhood education when considering the level of poverty<br />

in a community.<br />

13


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

3. Unequal Educational and Recreational Opportunities<br />

A key determinant of child development and well-being – and a central component of the city’s poverty<br />

reduction strategy – is good access to high quality early learning and recreational opportunities.<br />

Much research now shows that access to child care and early learning programs supports early child development,<br />

prepares children for school success, and provides an essential support for many working parents. 18<br />

<strong>In</strong>dividuals and families face a range of barriers to accessing recreation programs, including lack of<br />

appropriate programming, lack of transportation, user fees, and stigma or complexity of fee subsidies. 19<br />

Toronto District School Board data shows that children from lower income families are less likely to be<br />

accessing these programs. Forty-eight percent of children in families with an income below $30,000 do not<br />

participate regularly in out-of-school sports and arts activities (only 7% of children in families with<br />

an income of $100,000 or more do not participate).<br />

Figure 7 shows the breakdown of this disparity by neighbourhood: in some neighbourhoods only 3% of<br />

children do not participate regularly in arts or sports programs; in other neighbourhoods more than half of<br />

children are not partaking in this important learning and growth opportunity. <strong>Child</strong>ren in diverse Etobicoke<br />

and Scarborough neighbourhoods are much less likely to be participating than those in the central core.<br />

Figure 8 shows a similar geographic disparity in participation in early learning and care programs: with<br />

the percentage of students not participating in early learning programs ranging from a low of 5% in some<br />

wealthy neighbourhoods to a high of 65% in lower-income neighbourhoods.<br />

Figure 7: Percentage of Students Who Did NOT Regularly Participate in Arts or Sports Outside of School,<br />

TDSB, Grades K to 6, 2012<br />

12.3<br />

26.1<br />

38.4<br />

46.6<br />

25.1<br />

25.0<br />

51.3<br />

46.8<br />

30.9<br />

48.2<br />

40.3<br />

49.0<br />

10.9<br />

29.3<br />

48.7<br />

28.0<br />

53.2<br />

17.8<br />

2.8<br />

31.7<br />

13.9<br />

53.2<br />

46.4<br />

42.0<br />

48.6<br />

50.4<br />

7.6<br />

20.2<br />

50.2<br />

9.3<br />

50.7<br />

49.2<br />

11.6<br />

54.3 29.0<br />

13.8 13.9<br />

43.3<br />

47.9<br />

54.0<br />

45.2<br />

25.3<br />

21.3<br />

26.6<br />

51.5 29.0 14.4<br />

51.6<br />

40.2<br />

22.9<br />

11.9<br />

51.9<br />

20.7<br />

26.6<br />

20.1<br />

18.3<br />

35.0<br />

37.6<br />

12.2<br />

20.6<br />

13.7<br />

15.1<br />

23.8<br />

29.3<br />

9.0<br />

4.4<br />

10.9<br />

8.3<br />

27.3<br />

10.8<br />

3.6<br />

5.4<br />

5.4<br />

23.3<br />

8.9<br />

5.4<br />

5.8<br />

24.8 20.8<br />

29.2<br />

40.3 26<br />

44.8<br />

27.4<br />

21.9<br />

15.0<br />

12.5<br />

6.8<br />

16.4<br />

15.3<br />

18.6<br />

22.8<br />

20.2<br />

34.4<br />

32.5<br />

42.8<br />

37.9<br />

49.9<br />

5.1<br />

26.3<br />

17.7<br />

26.7<br />

7.4<br />

22.9<br />

19.2<br />

22.4 40.4<br />

7.5 31.4<br />

21.2<br />

27.2 15.7<br />

47.3<br />

30.9<br />

38.6<br />

42.4<br />

29.5<br />

32.1<br />

41.4<br />

41.1<br />

42.8<br />

32.7 2.8 - 16.4%<br />

20.0<br />

16.5 - 27.2%<br />

24.7<br />

6.1<br />

27.3 - 41.4%<br />

41.5 - 54.3%<br />

N<br />

37.8<br />

42.8<br />

30.2<br />

42.9<br />

28.7<br />

36.0<br />

46.7<br />

48.0<br />

43.4<br />

18.0<br />

42.2<br />

41.4<br />

34.7<br />

29.2<br />

21.3<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Parent Census, Grades K to 6, 2012.<br />

14


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 8: Percentage of Students Who Did NOT Participate in an Early Learning or Care Program,<br />

TDSB, Grades K to 6, 2012<br />

51.5<br />

66.6<br />

48.0<br />

26.4<br />

25.8 20.6<br />

49.7<br />

13.5<br />

32.2<br />

37.3<br />

47.4<br />

26.4<br />

21.5 22.5<br />

56.8<br />

19.5<br />

23.7<br />

52.7 45.5<br />

9.6<br />

36.5<br />

37.3<br />

43.9<br />

36.2<br />

14.3<br />

43.3<br />

23.2<br />

8.0<br />

41.6<br />

30.0<br />

44.9<br />

33.5 47.9<br />

42.1<br />

42.6<br />

45.9 49.0<br />

40.2<br />

28.7<br />

6.0<br />

15.5<br />

37.5<br />

7.4<br />

43.5<br />

43.6<br />

5.4<br />

42.5<br />

36.6 37.1 31.1 19.7<br />

36.2<br />

36.8<br />

32.6<br />

6.9<br />

29.0 14.8 22.5<br />

54.0 38.8 11.4<br />

7.0 40.9<br />

39.7<br />

19.3 9.7 25.3<br />

52.9<br />

49.5<br />

6.4<br />

45.6 40.4<br />

36.2<br />

20.7<br />

6.6<br />

31.0<br />

33.4<br />

7.4 22.7 33.3 14.3 10.7<br />

25.9<br />

7.1<br />

4.9<br />

14.1<br />

29.4<br />

27.9<br />

30.2 22.0<br />

14.6<br />

14.1<br />

12.1<br />

5.8<br />

45.4<br />

21.7<br />

47.8<br />

26.7<br />

21.6 11.5 11.9<br />

23.1<br />

10.7<br />

24.2 12.4 30.8<br />

14.3<br />

22.2<br />

13.6<br />

23.7<br />

19.5<br />

23.8<br />

19.5 27.0<br />

18.1<br />

34.0<br />

33.6<br />

10.4<br />

21.5<br />

25.4<br />

18.9<br />

25.5<br />

11.3<br />

25.7<br />

16.9<br />

27.2<br />

23.7<br />

45.9<br />

24.0<br />

16.7<br />

31.0<br />

31.7 5.0 - 17.7%<br />

17.8 - 26.3%<br />

26.4 - 37.7%<br />

37.8 - 65.4%<br />

N<br />

38.0<br />

40.2<br />

22.9<br />

36.1<br />

37.0<br />

34.6<br />

39.2<br />

21.6<br />

Source: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Parent Census, Grades K to 6, 2012.<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

One of the most important paths out of poverty is helping low-income families<br />

access full-time employment, which requires access to quality and affordable care<br />

arrangements for their children. However, the costs of child care in Toronto are<br />

extremely high. The <strong>City</strong> of Toronto recently released a research study 20 showing<br />

that three-quarters of families would have to pay more than 10% of their family<br />

income (after tax and benefits) to access licensed child care. While this is an<br />

affordability benchmark that many jurisdictions around the world have used, 10%<br />

of family income represents a significant burden for Toronto’s lower-income families.<br />

There were over<br />

18,000 children<br />

on the wait list<br />

for child care<br />

fee subsidy.<br />

Clearly, lower income families need to access subsidies to afford child care. However, as of October 2016,<br />

there were over 18,000 children on the wait list for child care fee subsidy. The lack of fee subsidies available to<br />

meet the needs of Toronto’s families means that low-income families face significant barriers to accessing high<br />

quality child care for their children, forcing parents to either choose less reliable, lower quality care options,<br />

go into debt to pay for child care, or choose not to work full-time or at all.<br />

The impacts of poverty, combined with lack of access to basic supports and services, is evident. The most<br />

recent cycle (2014-2015) of the Early Development <strong>In</strong>strument survey shows that children living in lowincome<br />

families are already at a developmental disadvantage when entering school (Figure 9). The Early<br />

Development <strong>In</strong>strument (EDI) assesses children in Kindergarten against age-appropriate milestones<br />

in five key areas of development – physical, emotional, social, cognitive and communication skills.<br />

15


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren in the lowest quintile of families are twice as likely as the children in the wealthiest families to<br />

be vulnerable in two or more of these areas of development. Neighbourhood-level rates of children with such<br />

vulnerabilities vary widely, from 2% to 26% (Figure 10). Research on early years has shown evidence that<br />

children who are vulnerable in these early years are more likely to face challenges in school achievement,<br />

health and overall well-being later in life. 21<br />

Figure 9: Percentage of <strong>Child</strong>ren Who are Vulnerable on Two or More Domains by <strong>In</strong>come Quintile,<br />

Kindergarten, 2014-15<br />

30%<br />

20%<br />

10%<br />

17%<br />

15% 15%<br />

12%<br />

8%<br />

0%<br />

Lowest income<br />

Highest income<br />

Source: Offord Centre, Early Development <strong>In</strong>strument, 2014/2015.<br />

Figure 10: Percentage of <strong>Child</strong>ren who are Vulnerable on Two or More Domains by <strong>In</strong>come Quintile,<br />

Kindergarten, 2014-15, by Neighbourhood<br />

19.5<br />

9.8<br />

19.3<br />

24.1<br />

16.5<br />

15.2<br />

12.9<br />

24.4<br />

18.0<br />

10.6<br />

11.4<br />

15.3 7.9<br />

15.6<br />

14.7<br />

11.0 4.7<br />

19.0<br />

8.1<br />

14.2<br />

13.8<br />

12.6<br />

10.4<br />

9.2<br />

15.1<br />

9.3<br />

20.8<br />

14.0<br />

12.0 13.4<br />

15.0<br />

16.0<br />

9.9<br />

11.2<br />

8.7<br />

9.8<br />

9.7<br />

13.1<br />

15.5<br />

9.8<br />

14.0<br />

15.8<br />

13.1 9.0<br />

7.6<br />

15.1<br />

24.6<br />

19.3<br />

9.0<br />

13.6<br />

6.2 17.4<br />

9.7<br />

21.2 19.1 11.3 11.1<br />

14.1<br />

2.3<br />

7.0<br />

19.6 11.7 15.1 12.2<br />

10.2<br />

22.8<br />

10.2<br />

15.9<br />

14.2<br />

20.5<br />

13.3<br />

14.8<br />

8.3<br />

9.8<br />

4.4 7.6<br />

7.0 8.7<br />

9.5<br />

4.8 14.2<br />

9.8 22.2<br />

19.3<br />

11.6 4.9<br />

7.1<br />

5.1<br />

3.1<br />

16.9<br />

7.1<br />

18.5 11.0<br />

16.2<br />

13.6<br />

7.5<br />

5.9<br />

19.4<br />

13.3<br />

12.9 18.0<br />

10.3<br />

10.9<br />

6.0 10.0<br />

5.9<br />

25.9<br />

11.3 10.8<br />

7.9<br />

17.5<br />

19.2 7.6<br />

13.6 17.8<br />

12.1<br />

12.9<br />

12.0<br />

10.9<br />

12.0<br />

13.6<br />

N<br />

16.8<br />

8.7<br />

7.8<br />

12.3<br />

17.8<br />

16.6<br />

20.3<br />

18.2<br />

15.2<br />

19.5<br />

11.1<br />

10.7<br />

11.4<br />

19.4<br />

14.8<br />

13.4<br />

10.4<br />

2.3 - 8.3%<br />

8.4 - 12.3%<br />

12.4 - 16.9%<br />

17.0 - 25.9%<br />

Data unavailable<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Offord Centre, Early Development <strong>In</strong>strument, 2014/2015.<br />

16


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Schools with more students living in low-income neighbourhoods had more students falling below the<br />

provincial standard in math, reading and writing (Figure 11). Similarly, Figure 12 shows that schools with<br />

a higher percentage of students falling below the provincial standard in math are distributed around the city<br />

in a U-shape pattern, in neighbourhoods that tend to have higher rates of poverty and racialized populations.<br />

Figure 11: Percentage of Students Below Provincial Standard by <strong>In</strong>come Quartile, Grade 3, 2014<br />

(Math, Reading, Writing)<br />

40%<br />

35%<br />

30%<br />

25%<br />

20%<br />

15%<br />

10%<br />

5%<br />

0%<br />

37.6<br />

34.4<br />

22.4<br />

Lowest income<br />

34.6<br />

33.3<br />

22.5<br />

30.7<br />

28.4<br />

19.7<br />

20.8 20.1<br />

15.4<br />

Highest income<br />

Source: Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), Grade 3 and Grade 6 Assesments, 2013/2014.<br />

Math<br />

Reading<br />

Writing<br />

Figure 12: Percentage of Students Scoring Below Provincial Standard in Math, Grade 3, 2014, by Neighbourhood<br />

N<br />

0 - 29%<br />

30 - 35%<br />

36 - 42%<br />

43 - 53%<br />

54 - 74%<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), Grade 3 and Grade 6 Assesments, 2013/2014.<br />

17


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

4. Unequal Access to Housing<br />

Good housing is critical for the health, development and well-being of children<br />

and youth. <strong>Child</strong>ren in inadequate housing are more likely to face developmental,<br />

health and educational challenges. 22 One of the key planks in the city’s new poverty<br />

reduction strategy is to improve access to affordable housing.<br />

<strong>In</strong>deed, increased attention is being paid to the extraordinarily rapid rise in the costs<br />

of housing in Toronto, which is pushing lower-income families onto wait lists for<br />

subsidized housing or into unsafe housing because they simply don’t have other<br />

options (almost 100,000 Toronto households are stuck on the wait list for subsidized<br />

housing). 23<br />

Rental and ownership housing prices in Toronto are among the highest in Canada,<br />

and have been rising well above the rate of inflation. Toronto is the second most<br />

expensive city in Canada to buy a home, with an annual income of $87,000 needed<br />

to afford an average home. 24 <strong>In</strong> 2015, the average rent in Toronto (across all<br />

apartment sizes) was over $1,200 per month. 25<br />

Overall, 34% of families with children aged 17 and under are paying more than 30%<br />

of their income on rent (the threshold of “affordability”) (Figure 13). Twenty-seven<br />

percent of families with children age 12 or under are living in core housing need<br />

(i.e., living in housing that is either overcrowded, unaffordable or in poor repair)<br />

(Figure 14). The percentage of lone-parent families living in unaffordable or<br />

deficient housing is about twice as high as the rate for two-parent families.<br />

Figure 13: Percentage of Tenant Economic Families with <strong>Child</strong>ren Under Age 18<br />

Spending More Than 30% of Household <strong>In</strong>come on Shelter, 2011<br />

60%<br />

50%<br />

40%<br />

30%<br />

20%<br />

10%<br />

0%<br />

51 52 52<br />

Tenant Lone-Parent<br />

Families<br />

35<br />

26<br />

29<br />

Tenant Couple<br />

Families<br />

Source: National Household Survey - Statistics Canada, 2011,<br />

Custom Tabulation access through the Community Data Program.<br />

41<br />

29<br />

34<br />

All Tenant<br />

Families<br />

Renter<br />

Owner<br />

Both<br />

Overall, 34%<br />

of families with<br />

children aged 17<br />

and under are<br />

paying more than<br />

30% of their income<br />

on rent.<br />

18


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figures 15 and 16 also show the extent to which housing costs are unaffordable.<br />

Figure 15 shows that the hourly full-time wage required to afford an average<br />

one-bedroom apartment ranges from $17.70/hour in south Etobicoke to $26.14<br />

in the downtown core – far above the current Ontario minimum wage of $11.40<br />

per hour. Figure 16 shows that the percentage of income that a lone parent with one<br />

child receiving Ontario Works (including child and other benefits) would have to<br />

pay for an average two-bedroom apartment ranges from 61% in east Scarborough<br />

to 107% downtown.<br />

Clearly far too many children in Toronto are growing up in unhealthy, unsafe<br />

and inadequate housing situations, which causes family stress and hinders child<br />

development and well-being. 26<br />

Figure 14: Percentage of Economic Families with <strong>Child</strong>ren Under Age 13<br />

in Core Housing Need, 2011<br />

60%<br />

50%<br />

40%<br />

51%<br />

30%<br />

20%<br />

10%<br />

20%<br />

27%<br />

0%<br />

Lone parent<br />

families<br />

Couple<br />

families<br />

Both lone parent and<br />

couple families<br />

Source: 2011 National Household Survey – Statistics Canada,<br />

Custom Tabulation provided by <strong>Child</strong>ren's Services Division, <strong>City</strong> of Toronto.<br />

19


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 15: Hourly Full-Time Wage Required to Afford Average Rent for 1-Bedroom Apartment, Toronto, 2014<br />

$18.06/hr<br />

$17.70/hr<br />

$21.00/hr<br />

$23.64/hr<br />

$19.74/hr<br />

$19.24/hr<br />

$19.72/hr<br />

$18.44/hr<br />

$22.06/hr<br />

$19.36/hr<br />

$24.50/hr<br />

$18.32/hr<br />

$19.32/hr<br />

$17.78/hr<br />

$21.60/hr<br />

$26.14/hr<br />

$20.82/hr<br />

N<br />

$17.00-17.99/hr<br />

$18.00-19.99/hr<br />

$20.00-22.99/hr<br />

$23.00-24.99/hr<br />

$25.00/hr or more<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Leon, Scott. (2016) “Tall Order: Understanding Change in Toronto’s <strong>In</strong>ner-Suburban Rental Towers.” Wellesley <strong>In</strong>stitute.<br />

Figure 16: Percentage of <strong>In</strong>come for Lone Parents on Ontario Works to Pay for Average 2-Bedroom Apartment, Toronto, 2014<br />

63%<br />

62%<br />

73%<br />

80%<br />

66%<br />

68%<br />

70%<br />

61%<br />

75%<br />

69%<br />

96%<br />

62%<br />

72%<br />

63%<br />

82%<br />

107%<br />

74%<br />

N<br />

61% or lower<br />

62-73%<br />

74-89%<br />

90-99%<br />

More than 100%<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Leon, Scott. (2016) “Tall Order: Understanding Change in Toronto’s <strong>In</strong>ner-Suburban Rental Towers.” Wellesley <strong>In</strong>stitute.<br />

20


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

5. Unequal Access to Food and Nutrition<br />

Access to good quality, nutritious and culturally appropriate food is a key factor<br />

in the health of children. Food security is crucial to physical development,<br />

emotional health and child success at school. 27 However, many children across<br />

the <strong>City</strong> of Toronto experience food insecurity (insecure and/or inadequate access<br />

to food) due to the financial circumstances of their families.<br />

<strong>In</strong> 2013-14, 12.6% of Toronto households experienced food insecurity, an increase<br />

from the 2011-2012 rate of 12.0%. 28 Since 2008, there has been a 13% increase in<br />

overall food bank usage across Toronto, with a 48% increase in the ethno-racially<br />

diverse former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. 29<br />

<strong>In</strong> a city of 2.6 million people, there were over 900,000 visits to food banks<br />

in 2016 (Figure 17). 30<br />

Figure 17: Number of Annual Food Bank Visits (2008 and 2016)<br />

1,000,000<br />

905,970<br />

900,000<br />

799,320<br />

800,000<br />

700,000<br />

600,000<br />

500,000<br />

400,000<br />

300,000<br />

200,000<br />

Since 2008,<br />

100,000<br />

0<br />

2008<br />

2016<br />

Visits by children Visits total<br />

Source: Daily Bread Food Bank, Count of Client Visits.<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren continue to be a large and overrepresented segment of food bank users:<br />

29% of food bank users in Toronto are under the age of 18 (children only make up<br />

20% of the total population). 31<br />

There has also been a steady increase since 2014 in the percentage of children in<br />

households using food banks who haven’t eaten for an entire day in the last year<br />

due to lack of money (from 28% in 2014 to 37% in 2016, Figure 18). 32 <strong>In</strong> addition,<br />

17% of children in Toronto using food banks reported going hungry at least once<br />

per week. 33<br />

there has been<br />

a 13% increase in<br />

overall food bank<br />

usage across<br />

Toronto.<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren continue<br />

to be a large and<br />

overrepresented<br />

segment of food<br />

bank users.<br />

21


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 18: Percent of Households With <strong>Child</strong>ren Using a Food Bank Who Haven’t Eaten<br />

for an Entire Day in the Last Year Due to Lack of Money, (2008-2016)<br />

45%<br />

40%<br />

35%<br />

30%<br />

25%<br />

20%<br />

15%<br />

10%<br />

5%<br />

0%<br />

38 38 38<br />

37<br />

35<br />

35 33<br />

30<br />

28<br />

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016<br />

Source: Daily Bread Food Bank, Annual Survey of Food Bank Clients, 2008-2015.<br />

There is also stark neighbourhood-level disparity in the percentage of children who are eating breakfast every<br />

day. Figure 19 shows that children from the inner-city core and the east and west inner suburbs are less likely<br />

to be eating breakfast. While it is unclear why some children do not eat breakfast regularly, at a population<br />

level this could indicate some aspects of food insecurity. 34<br />

Hunger and food insecurity is increasing as a result of high housing costs, the rising cost of food, increases in<br />

unemployment rates, and low and stagnating incomes. 35 <strong>In</strong> order to end child hunger and provide all children<br />

in Toronto with a healthy start, the key causes of food insecurity must be addressed.<br />

Figure 19: Percent of Students Who Eat Breakfast or a Snack Daily Before School by Neighbourhood, TDSB, Grades 7 and 8, 2011<br />

48.6 59.1<br />

74.1<br />

59.2<br />

70.8<br />

66.7 73.1 73.5<br />

64.7<br />

52.3<br />

73.3<br />

65.2<br />

83.8 73.0<br />

64.1<br />

68.4<br />

51.4<br />

68.7<br />

67.4 60.4<br />

71.1<br />

65.2<br />

54.2<br />

70.2<br />

57.7<br />

59.6<br />

84.6<br />

50.0<br />

59.0<br />

63.0<br />

65.0 75.0<br />

64.1<br />

60.6<br />

56.9 58.2<br />

67.6 71.9<br />

62.5<br />

81.9<br />

67.7<br />

56.7<br />

56.1 68.9 62.0 75.4<br />

66.7<br />

62.4<br />

65.7 77.5 77.2<br />

54.0 54.2<br />

84.0<br />

71.9<br />

62.6<br />

55.3<br />

69.7 74.3<br />

68.8<br />

57.8<br />

68.5<br />

66.7<br />

61.7<br />

69.9<br />

57.1<br />

78.4 64.5<br />

63.1 66.7 73.9<br />

79.2<br />

75.4 72.5<br />

80.4 56.5<br />

59.7<br />

78.3 67.6<br />

74.1<br />

79.8<br />

80.0<br />

84.9<br />

64.2<br />

66.7<br />

65.0<br />

76.9 73.9 66.7 55.0<br />

76.4 65.5<br />

64.1<br />

62.7<br />

70.4<br />

63.2<br />

46.7 75.6<br />

70.8 65.1<br />

57.1<br />

58.8<br />

53.7<br />

58.3<br />

59.6<br />

65.2<br />

51.0<br />

50.0 48.8<br />

73.9<br />

75.0 62.3<br />

65.7<br />

56.3<br />

69.2<br />

76.6<br />

63.5<br />

62.8<br />

62.1<br />

66.5<br />

59.5<br />

69.2<br />

N<br />

60.5<br />

59.4<br />

54.1<br />

65.5<br />

77.6<br />

64.0<br />

59.7<br />

58.4<br />

66.9<br />

60.3<br />

63.1<br />

61.9<br />

61.7<br />

68.9<br />

58.4<br />

59.7<br />

62.4<br />

80.7<br />

46.7 - 60.0%<br />

60.1 - 65.1%<br />

65.2 - 71.9%<br />

72.0 - 85.0%<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Source: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Student Census, Grades 7 and 8, 2011.<br />

22


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

6. Unequal Access to Transit<br />

A further key commitment in the city’s poverty reduction strategy is to improve<br />

access to, and affordability of, transit. Without access to transit, parents, children<br />

and youth face barriers to conducting the activities of daily life (going to school, jobs,<br />

social-recreational activities, shopping, medical appointments, etc.). Toronto took<br />

a significant step forward on this front in 2015 by making transit free for children<br />

aged 12 and under. This improved access to transit – and educational, health and<br />

recreational opportunities – for approximately 90,000 low-income children and their<br />

families. It also helped daycares, schools, community groups and agencies to increase<br />

provision of children’s field trips and outings to the city’s free spaces and attractions.<br />

However, adults in Toronto – including parents living on lower incomes and young<br />

people age 13 and older – still face serious challenges in affording and accessing<br />

transit.<br />

While transit fares in Toronto are about average in the region (Figure 20), fares<br />

could be much lower given the lower per-ride system cost of transit in Toronto<br />

compared to less densely populated municipalities and regions. <strong>In</strong>deed, Toronto<br />

transit riders receive the lowest government per-ride subsidy – and hence pay<br />

the highest percentage of transit costs of any city (Figure 21).<br />

Toronto transit<br />

riders receive the<br />

lowest government<br />

per-ride subsidy.<br />

Figure 20: Undiscounted Adult Cash Fares, Selected Canadian Cities, 2016<br />

$4.50<br />

$4.00<br />

$3.50<br />

$3.00<br />

$2.50<br />

$2.00<br />

$1.50<br />

$1.00<br />

$0.50<br />

$0.00<br />

$4.00<br />

$3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50<br />

$3.65 $3.75<br />

$3.15 $3.25 $3.25 $3.25 $3.25 $3.25<br />

$2.65 $2.75 $2.75<br />

$2.90<br />

Source: Online review of transit fares conducted by authors.<br />

Winnipeg<br />

Vancouver<br />

Hamilton<br />

Mississauga<br />

Calgary<br />

Toronto<br />

Montreal<br />

Edmonton<br />

Waterloo<br />

Milton<br />

Durham<br />

Burlington<br />

Quebec<br />

Halton<br />

Ottawa<br />

Brampton<br />

York Region<br />

23


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 21: Total Government Subsidy Per Ride, Selected Canadian Cities, 2014<br />

$5.00<br />

$4.50<br />

$4.00<br />

$3.50<br />

$3.00<br />

$2.50<br />

$2.00<br />

$1.50<br />

$1.00<br />

$0.50<br />

$0.00<br />

$0.89<br />

Toronto<br />

$1.11<br />

Montreal<br />

$1.63 $1.70 $1.75 $1.76<br />

Calgary<br />

Ottawa<br />

Edmonton<br />

Vancouver<br />

$2.26<br />

Mississauga<br />

$2.99<br />

Brampton<br />

Source: Report to TTC Board, Impact of TTC Budget Committee Recommendations,<br />

November 23, 2015, p. 30.<br />

$4.02<br />

Durham<br />

$4.44<br />

York<br />

Additionally, an increasing number of Canadian cities are offering a reduced<br />

fare for lower-income riders. Toronto currently does not offer a reduced fare,<br />

however a Fare Equity Strategy is being developed and a geared-to-income transit<br />

fare is recommended as part of the city’s anti-poverty plan (see Figure 22).<br />

Figure 22: Percentage Discount on Adult Monthly Transit Pass for Low-<strong>In</strong>come<br />

Transit Riders, Selected Canadian Cities, 2016<br />

60%<br />

50%<br />

40%<br />

30%<br />

20%<br />

10%<br />

0%<br />

0%<br />

Toronto<br />

Durham<br />

Source: <strong>City</strong> of Toronto<br />

40%<br />

44%<br />

Calgary<br />

Waterloo<br />

49% 50% 50% 50% 50%<br />

Hamilton<br />

Mississauga<br />

Halton<br />

York Region<br />

The burden of funding that Toronto transit riders are bearing has increased at a rate<br />

above and beyond inflation over recent years (36% increase over six years). <strong>In</strong> stark<br />

contrast, property taxes increases paid by homeowners – who have seen vast rises in<br />

the values of their properties and who tend to be wealthier, on average, than transit<br />

riders – have fallen behind the rate of inflation.<br />

An increasing<br />

number of<br />

Canadian cities are<br />

offering a reduced<br />

fare for lowerincome<br />

riders,<br />

whereas Toronto<br />

does not.<br />

The burden of<br />

funding that<br />

Toronto transit<br />

riders are bearing<br />

has increased at<br />

a rate above and<br />

beyond inflation<br />

over recent years.<br />

24


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

<strong>In</strong> terms of geographic access to timely and reliable transit, serious inequities exist. Figure 23 shows the<br />

number of available TTC trips per hour (subway, bus, streetcar) within walking distance for each census<br />

dissemination block in Toronto. Clearly, downtown neighbourhoods (which on average tend to be wealthier)<br />

have a much higher frequency of nearby transit service than more ethno-racially diverse, lower-income<br />

suburban neighbourhoods.<br />

Suburban residents also have much longer commutes, on average, to jobs. Figure 24 shows the number<br />

of jobs that can be accessed within a one hour morning transit ride from different areas of the city. 36<br />

Again, residents in the core of Toronto have easier access to many more employment opportunities.<br />

Long commutes, we know, put added strain on families and can result in parents being away from<br />

home and their children for more time.<br />

Figure 23: Frequency of Available Transit Trips (Subway, Streetcar, Bus) by Census Division Block, Toronto, 2016<br />

N<br />

Available TTC trips/hour<br />

within an 8-12 minute walk<br />

0 - 5<br />

6 - 15<br />

16 - 30<br />

31- 60<br />

61 +<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Sources: TTC General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) package (2016);<br />

Census Dissemination Block Boundaries (2011); <strong>City</strong> of Toronto Neighbourhood Boundaries (2016);<br />

OpenStreetMap (OSM) pedestrian network (2016).<br />

25


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Figure 24: Number of Jobs Accessible by One-Hour Morning Transit Ride by Area of <strong>City</strong><br />

N<br />

Access to Jobs<br />

< 400,000<br />

400,000 to 600,000<br />

600,001 to 800,000<br />

800,001 to 1,000,000<br />

> 1,000,000<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

Km<br />

Sources: TTC General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) package (2016);<br />

Census Dissemination Block Boundaries (2011); <strong>City</strong> of Toronto Neighbourhood Boundaries (2016);<br />

OpenStreetMap (OSM) pedestrian network (2016); Transportation Tomorrow Survey job counts by TAZ (2011).<br />

26


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

7. Conclusions<br />

Toronto is a divided city with dramatically unequal opportunities and living conditions<br />

for children, youth and their families. <strong>In</strong> Canada’s child poverty capital, some children<br />

and families are thriving. But many other families, particularly from equity-seeking and<br />

historically disadvantaged groups and communities, lack access to the basic supports<br />

and resources they need, like adequate incomes, affordable housing, food security,<br />

affordable transit, child care, and arts and social-recreational programs. <strong>In</strong> addition,<br />

there is a significant disparity in school results and learning success by income level,<br />

which is troubling in a country that subscribes to the belief in a fair and equitable<br />

chance for all.<br />

<strong>Child</strong> poverty is not inevitable. As shown in The Hidden Epidemic, child and family<br />

poverty rates vary widely across countries in the industrialized world – or “global<br />

north”. UNICEF and others have indicated that government policy choices strongly<br />

affect low-income rates. 37 Specifically, governments that invest more in services, and<br />

put in place policies encouraging decent paying jobs, have lower rates of poverty.<br />

Two years ago Toronto’s incoming Mayor John Tory announced his commitment<br />

to address Toronto’s record-high rate of urban child poverty. He called tackling<br />

poverty “one of the fundamental litmus tests of whether this city wants to be great.” 38<br />

When Toronto <strong>City</strong> Council unanimously approved the <strong>City</strong>’s first-ever poverty<br />

reduction strategy in 2015, the plan included a statement from Mayor Tory. It said:<br />

“A snapshot has emerged in recent years of a city unfairly and unjustly divided by<br />

income, class and geography. This cannot be allowed to continue. As a city, we must<br />

work to address these disparities.” 39<br />

The strategy promised – by 2035 – to create a city “where everyone has access to good<br />

jobs, adequate income, stable housing, affordable transportation, nutritious food, and<br />

supportive services.” 40<br />

Not enough time has passed to adequately assess the impact of Toronto’s poverty<br />

reduction strategy; however, this report suggests that the city has to take urgent<br />

action to address the ongoing, vast inequities and disparities in income levels,<br />

housing conditions and access to programs and services.<br />

27


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Today, at the mid-point of Mayor Tory’s term, the city faces key decisions on poverty<br />

reduction actions. Actions taken now will influence whether or not progress will<br />

be made over the next two years to improve the lives of the 133,000 children living<br />

in poverty.<br />

It is alarming that Mayor Tory and <strong>City</strong> Council are considering cutting hundreds<br />

of millions of dollars in spending on the very services and supports that the<br />

<strong>City</strong>’s anti-poverty strategy seeks to enhance (housing, transit, child care, student<br />

nutrition).<br />

There is a better way forward. After years of knowing about the growing fiscal<br />

gap between costs and revenues, Toronto Council is finally starting to discuss<br />

and deliberate on whether to implement new fees or taxes, to fund – and improve<br />

access to – the programs and services that are crucial to an equitable and inclusive<br />

city. The future of Toronto’s children will be greatly affected by the direction<br />

Council chooses.<br />

The choice before Council, and before all of us, is, fundamentally, about whether<br />

to undertake the task of building a city where all children have the opportunity<br />

to succeed – or whether we are willing to allow the well-being of tens of thousands<br />

of children and youth to be chronically compromised.<br />

The continued epidemic of poverty and deprivation in Toronto – which has the<br />

highest level of urban poverty in Canada for children, youth and working-age<br />

adults – calls for immediate action. Now is not the time for backtracking on the<br />

commitment to build a city of prosperity for all. Now is not the time to reduce<br />

services or raise fees for already unaffordable or inaccessible housing, transit<br />

and child care. Rather, now is the time to move forward with fair and equitable<br />

taxation measures to fund the investments in affordable housing, transit, child care<br />

and recreation to ensure that every child has the chance to succeed.<br />

28


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

APPENDIX A: <strong>City</strong> of Toronto Neighbourhoods<br />

116<br />

130<br />

21<br />

36<br />

49 48<br />

2<br />

24<br />

35<br />

50<br />

27<br />

37<br />

117<br />

129<br />

131<br />

22<br />

3<br />

25<br />

34<br />

51 52 47 46<br />

132<br />

1 4<br />

38<br />

53<br />

118<br />

128<br />

5<br />

40<br />

26<br />

33<br />

135 134<br />

23<br />

45<br />

39<br />

6<br />

28 29<br />

105<br />

119 126 127 137<br />

113<br />

31 32<br />

41 42<br />

30<br />

103<br />

136<br />

7 8<br />

115 112 108 102<br />

43<br />

125 138<br />

100<br />

140<br />

99 56<br />

11 10 9<br />

110 109 107 106 101 104<br />

55 44<br />

139<br />

111<br />

120 124<br />

91 92<br />

97<br />

54<br />

123<br />

13 90<br />

94 96<br />

58<br />

15 89<br />

98 57<br />

114<br />

93<br />

59 60<br />

12<br />

88<br />

95<br />

61<br />

67 66<br />

121<br />

14<br />

83 80 79 74<br />

62<br />

122<br />

71 68 69<br />

16 87<br />

65 64<br />

86 84 81 78 76 75<br />

73 72<br />

63<br />

85<br />

70<br />

82 77<br />

0 1 2 3 4<br />

20<br />

17<br />

Km<br />

N<br />

133<br />

19<br />

18<br />

1 West Humber-Clairville<br />

2 Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown<br />

3 Thistletown-Beaumond Heights<br />

4 Rexdale-Kipling<br />

5 Elms-Old Rexdale<br />

6 Kingsview Village-The Westway<br />

7 Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview<br />

8 Humber Heights-Westmount<br />

9 Edenbridge-Humber Valley<br />

10 Princess-Rosethorn<br />

11 Eringate-Centennial-West Deane<br />

12 Markland Wood<br />

13 Etobicoke West Mall<br />

14 Islington-<strong>City</strong> Centre West<br />

15 Kingsway South<br />

16 Stonegate-Queensway<br />

17 Mimico (includes Humber Bay Shores)<br />

18 New Toronto<br />

19 Long Branch<br />

20 Alderwood<br />

21 Humber Summit<br />

22 Humbermede<br />

23 Pelmo Park-Humberlea<br />

24 Black Creek<br />

25 Glenfield-Jane Heights<br />

26 Downsview-Roding-CFB<br />

27 York University Heights<br />

28 Rustic<br />

29 Maple Leaf<br />

30 Brookhaven-Amesbury<br />

31 Yorkdale-Glen Park<br />

32 Englemount-Lawrence<br />

33 Clanton Park<br />

34 Bathurst Manor<br />

35 Westminster-Branson<br />

36 Newtonbrook West<br />

37 Willowdale West<br />

38 Lansing-Westgate<br />

39 Bedford Park-Nortown<br />

40 St. Andrew-Windfields<br />

41 Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills<br />

42 Banbury-Don Mills<br />

43 Victoria Village<br />

44 Flemingdon Park<br />

45 Parkwoods-Donalda<br />

46 Pleasant View<br />

47 Don Valley Village<br />

48 Hillcrest Village<br />

49 Bayview Woods-Steeles<br />

50 Newtonbrook East<br />

51 Willowdale East<br />

52 Bayview Village<br />

53 Henry Farm<br />

54 O’Connor-Parkview<br />

55 Thorncliffe Park<br />

56 Leaside-Bennington<br />

57 Broadview North<br />

58 Old East York<br />

59 Danforth-East York<br />

60 Woodbine-Lumsden<br />

61 Taylor-Massey<br />

62 East End-Danforth<br />

63 The Beaches<br />

64 Woodbine Corridor<br />

65 Greenwood-Coxwell<br />

66 Danforth<br />

67 Playter Estates-Danforth<br />

68 North Riverdale<br />

69 Blake-Jones<br />

70 South Riverdale<br />

71 Cabbagetown-South St. James Town<br />

72 Regent Park<br />

73 Moss Park<br />

74 North St. James Town<br />

75 Church-Yonge Corridor<br />

76 Bay Street Corridor<br />

77 Waterfront Communities-The Island<br />

78 Kensington-Chinatown<br />

79 University<br />

80 Palmerston-Little Italy<br />

81 Trinity-Bellwoods<br />

82 Niagara<br />

83 Dufferin Grove<br />

84 Little Portugal<br />

85 South Parkdale<br />

86 Roncesvalles<br />

87 High Park-Swansea<br />

88 High Park North<br />

89 Runnymede-Bloor West Village<br />

90 Junction Area<br />

91 Weston-Pellam Park<br />

92 Corso Italia-Davenport<br />

93 Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson-Junction<br />

94 Wychwood<br />

95 Annex<br />

96 Casa Loma<br />

97 Yonge-St. Clair<br />

98 Rosedale-Moore Park<br />

99 Mount Pleasant East<br />

100 Yonge-Eglinton<br />

101 Forest Hill South<br />

102 Forest Hill North<br />

103 Lawrence Park South<br />

104 Mount Pleasant West<br />

105 Lawrence Park North<br />

106 Humewood-Cedarvale<br />

107 Oakwood Village<br />

108 Briar Hill-Belgravia<br />

109 Caledonia-Fairbank<br />

110 Keelesdale-Eglinton West<br />

111 Rockcliffe-Smythe<br />

112 Beechborough-Greenbrook<br />

113 Weston<br />

114 Lambton Baby Point<br />

115 Mount Dennis<br />

116 Steeles<br />

117 L’Amoreaux<br />

118 Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan<br />

119 Wexford/Maryvale<br />

120 Clairlea-Birchmount<br />

121 Oakridge<br />

122 Birchcliffe-Cliffside<br />

123 Cliffcrest<br />

124 Kennedy Park<br />

125 Ionview<br />

126 Dorset Park<br />

127 Bendale<br />

128 Agincourt South-Malvern West<br />

129 Agincourt North<br />

130 Milliken<br />

131 Rouge<br />

132 Malvern<br />

133 Centennial Scarborough<br />

134 Highland Creek<br />

135 Morningside<br />

136 West Hill<br />

137 Woburn<br />

138 Eglinton East<br />

139 Scarborough Village<br />

140 Guildwood<br />

Source: Social Policy Analysis & Research<br />

unit , <strong>City</strong> of Toronto. Copyright <strong>City</strong> of<br />

Toronto 2008 All Rights Reserved. Publication<br />

Date: May 2008. Contact spar@<br />

toronto.ca for additional information.<br />

29


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

Notes<br />

1 Hidden Epidemic: A report on child and family poverty in<br />

Toronto, 2014. Accessed at http://www.torontocas.ca/app/Uploads/<br />

documents/cast-report2014-final-web71.pdf<br />

2 “Urban areas” refers to Census Divisions as identified by Statistics<br />

Canada. While their composition varies somewhat between<br />

provinces, Census Divisions typically reflect “Upper Tier”<br />

municipalities. The Census Divisions listed are all those with<br />

a 2011 census population of 500,000 or greater.<br />

3 Lowest quintile refers to the average income of the lowest one-fifth<br />

of families. Highest quintile refers to the top fifth.<br />

4 Quartile is like quintile, but refers to the top fourth of families.<br />

5 Pagliaro, J. (2014). The Toronto Star. “John Tory pledges to work<br />

at reducing child poverty in Toronto”. Accessed at https://www.<br />

thestar.com/news/city_hall/2014/11/14/john_tory_pledges_to_<br />

work_at_reducing_child_poverty_in_toronto.html<br />

6 News Staff. (2014). <strong>City</strong> News. “9 memorable moments & quotes<br />

from Tory’s inaugural speech”. Accessed at http://www.citynews.<br />

ca/2014/12/02/9-memorable-moments-quotes-from-torysinaugural-speech/<br />

7 TO Prosperity: Toronto <strong>Poverty</strong> Reduction Strategy. Accessed<br />

at http://www1.toronto.ca/<strong>City</strong>%20Of%20Toronto/Social%20<br />

Development,%20Finance%20&%20Administration/Strategies/<br />

<strong>Poverty</strong>%20Reduction%20Strategy/PDF/TO_Prosperity_<br />

Final2015-reduced.pdf<br />

8 Low income groups in Toronto fare worse on 20 of 34 health status<br />

indicators, including Low Birth Weight, Readiness to Learn, Youth<br />

Chlamydia, Youth Gonorrhea and Teen Pregnancy. Toronto Public<br />

Health. (2015). The Unequal <strong>City</strong> 2015: <strong>In</strong>come and Health<br />

<strong>In</strong>equities in Toronto -Technical Report. Accessed at http://www1.<br />

toronto.ca/<strong>City</strong>%20Of%20Toronto/Toronto%20Public%20Health/<br />

Performance%20&%20Standards/Health%20Surveillance%20<br />

and%20Epidemiology/Files/pdf/Technical%20Report%20<br />

FINAL%20PRINT_AODA.pdf<br />

9 While it is difficult to say definitively what contributed to this<br />

decline, the reduction coincides with the final $100 per month<br />

increase to the Ontario <strong>Child</strong> Benefit (OCB). <strong>In</strong>deed, most<br />

municipalities in Ontario saw slight reductions in the rate<br />

of child poverty in 2014. Projecting ahead, there is hope that the<br />

implementation of the (Federal) Canada <strong>Child</strong> Benefit in 2016 will<br />

lead to a further reduction child poverty levels. This will be assessed<br />

when newer data is available.<br />

10 As reported in The Hidden Epidemic, in 2013 there were 118,000<br />

millionaires in Toronto. Accessed at https://www.thestar.com/news/<br />

gta/2013/05/09/toronto_has_118000_millionaires.html.<br />

11 <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Social Policy Analysis & Research. (2014). TSNS<br />

2020 Neighbourhood Equity index: Methodological<br />

Documentation. Accessed at http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/<br />

mmis/2014/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-67350.pdf<br />

12 <strong>In</strong> societies dominated by people of white, Caucasian or European<br />

backgrounds, First Peoples and peoples of colour have long<br />

been targets of discrimination and social exclusion in legal,<br />

socio-economic and political spheres. Such groups are said to<br />

be racialized or marked, by the dominant group, as inferior.<br />

Racialization doesn’t just refer to individual beliefs and attitudes<br />

toward specific First Peoples or peoples of colour in society, it also<br />

includes the institutional, structural and systemic built-in features<br />

of society, the way that institutions in areas like education, health,<br />

social services and the justice system function – day in and day out.<br />

13 <strong>City</strong> of Toronto, Social Policy Analysis & Research. (2011).<br />

The Linguistic Diversity <strong>In</strong>dex (LDI) is the probability that any<br />

two people selected at random would have different mother<br />

tongues. Calculated using Greenberg’s Linguistic Diversity <strong>In</strong>dex.<br />

14 Toronto <strong>In</strong>digenous Health Advisory Circle. (2016). A Reclamation<br />

of Well Being: Visioning a Thriving and Healthy Urban <strong>In</strong>digenous<br />

Community. Toronto’s First <strong>In</strong>digenous Health Strategy 2016-2021<br />

Accessed at http://www1.toronto.ca/<strong>City</strong>%20Of%20Toronto/<br />

Toronto%20Public%20Health/Healthy%20Communities/Access%20<br />

and%20Equity/TIHAC_%20Report_AODA.pdf. Though we look<br />

forward to the release of the 2016 Census data to further explore the<br />

<strong>In</strong>digenous reality when it comes to poverty in the city of Toronto,<br />

we recognize that the value of such data may once again be limited<br />

due to the fact that many First Peoples find it difficult to, or choose<br />

not to, participate in such surveys.<br />

15 The Hidden Epidemic, p30-1. Accessed at http://www.torontocas.<br />

ca/app/Uploads/documents/cast-report2014-final-web71.pdf<br />

16 http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=<br />

getSurvey&SDDS=4105<br />

17 Notten, G and M. Mendelson. (2016). Caledon <strong>In</strong>stitute of Social<br />

Policy. Using low income and material deprivation to monitor<br />

poverty reduction. Accessed at http://www.caledoninst.org/<br />

Publications/PDF/1103ENG.pdf<br />

18 Cleveland, G and Krashinsky, M. (1998). The Benefits and Costs<br />

of Good <strong>Child</strong> Care:The Economic Rationale for Public <strong>In</strong>vestment<br />

in Young <strong>Child</strong>ren – A Policy Study, University of Toronto at<br />

Scarborough, March 1998. Accessed at http://childcarecanada.org/<br />

sites/default/files/bc.pdf.<br />

19 Ontario Task Group on Affordable Access to Recreation for<br />

Ontarians (2010). Affordable Access to Recreation for Ontarians.<br />

Affordable Access Policy Development and Implementation Guide.<br />

Accessed at http://www.prontario.org/index.php/ci_id/index.php/<br />

ci_id/3721.htm<br />

20 Cleveland, Krashinsky, Colley and Avery-Nunez. (2016). <strong>City</strong> of<br />

Toronto Licensed <strong>Child</strong> Care Demand and Affordability Study.<br />

<strong>City</strong> of Toronto. Accessed at http://www1.toronto.ca/<strong>City</strong>%20<br />

Of%20Toronto/<strong>Child</strong>ren’s%20Services/Files/pdf/T/Toronto%20<br />

Demand%20&%20Affordability%20Study%202016.pdf<br />

21 Dyson A., et al. (2010). <strong>Child</strong>hood Development, Education and<br />

Health <strong>In</strong>equalities. London: <strong>In</strong>stitute for Health Equity. Accessed<br />

at http://www.bing.com/search?q=dyson+childhood+develop-<br />

ment+education+and+health+inequalities&src=IE-TopResult&-<br />

FORM=IETR02&conversationid=<br />

30


DIVIDED CITY: <strong>Life</strong> in Canada’s <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Capital</strong><br />

2016 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family <strong>Poverty</strong> Report Card<br />

22 Waterson, W, Grueger, B, Samson, L. (2015). Housing need in<br />

Canada: Heathy lives start at home. Pediatric <strong>Child</strong> Health 20(7):<br />

403-407.<br />

23 Kershaw, P and Minh, A. (2016) Generation Squeeze, Code Red:<br />

Rethinking Canadian housing policy. Accessed at<br />

http://bit.ly/GSCodeRed; See also http://homelesshub.ca/sites/<br />

default/files/Affordability-of-Housing-Kneebone-Wilkins%20<br />

%281%29.pdf<br />

24 Rent Seeker. (2016). Toronto Vital Signs. Accessed at<br />

http://torontosvitalsigns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/<br />

WEB-OP-TorontosVitalSignsReport2016FINAL.pdf<br />

25 CMHC, cited in Vital Signs 2016. Accessed at<br />

http://torontosvitalsigns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/<br />

WEB-OP-TorontosVitalSignsReport2016FINAL.pdf<br />

26 Antwi-Boasiako, K, et al. (2016). Ethno-racial Categories and<br />

<strong>Child</strong> Welfare Decisions: Exploring the Relationship with <strong>Poverty</strong>.<br />

CWRP <strong>In</strong>formation Sheet #178E. Toronto, ON: Canadian <strong>Child</strong><br />

Welfare Research Portal. <strong>In</strong>adequate or unaffordable housing, and<br />

poverty in general, is also associated with increased likelihood of<br />

child involvement in the child protection system, and entering into<br />

the care of the state. A recent study found that, in Ontario, that<br />

children in families that ran out of money for food, housing<br />

or utilities are approximately twice as likely to come into the care<br />

of the child protection system. Accessed at http://cwrp.ca/<br />

publications/3144.<br />

27 See, for example, Kirkpatrick, S. and Mc<strong>In</strong>tyre, L. (2010). <strong>Child</strong><br />

Hunger and Long-term Adverse Consequences for Health.<br />

Accessed at http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/<br />

fullarticle/383613<br />

28 Tarasuk, V, Mitchell, A, Dachner, N. (2016). Toronto: Research<br />

to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF),<br />

p. 28. Household food insecurity in Canada, 2014. Accessed at<br />

http://proof.utoronto.ca/resources/proof-annual-reports/<br />

annual-report-2014/. Food security is defined as experiences<br />

of anxiety that food will run out before household members have<br />

money to buy more, modifying the amount of food consumed,<br />

experiencing hunger, or going a whole day without eating.<br />

29 Daily Bread Food Bank. (2016). Who’s Hungry: 2016 Profile<br />

of Hunger in Toronto, p.6. Accessed at http://www.dailybread.ca/<br />

wp-content/uploads/2016/09/WH_2016_FINAL.pdf?<br />

pdf=Whos-Hungry<br />

30 Ibid.<br />

31 Tarasuk, V, Mitchell, A, Dachner, N. (2016). Toronto: Research<br />

to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF), p.28.<br />

Household food insecurity in Canada, 2014. http://proof.utoronto.<br />

ca/resources/proof-annual-reports/annual-report-2014/<br />

32 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family Network. (Forthcoming).<br />

Raising the Village.<br />

33 Daily Bread Food Bank. (2016). Who’s Hungry: 2016 Profile<br />

of Hunger in Toronto, p. 7. Accessed at http://www.dailybread.ca/<br />

wp-content/uploads/2016/09/WH_2016_FINAL.pdf?<br />

pdf=Whos-Hungry<br />

34 Toronto <strong>Child</strong> and Family Network. (Forthcoming).<br />

Raising the Village.<br />

35 Daily Bread Food Bank. (2016). Who’s Hungry: 2016 Profile<br />

of Hunger in Toronto, p. 7. Accessed at http://www.dailybread.ca/<br />

wp-content/uploads/2016/09/WH_2016_FINAL.pdf?<br />

pdf=Whos-Hungry. Tarasuk, V, Mitchell, A, Dachner, N. (2016).<br />

Toronto: Research to identify policy options to reduce food<br />

insecurity (PROOF), p. 18. Household food insecurity in Canada,<br />

2014. Accessed at http://proof.utoronto.ca/resources/proofannual-reports/annual-report-2014/<br />

36 Number of trips per hour was calculated by adding the number<br />

of subway trips within 1,000 meters (approximately a 12 minute)<br />

plus the number of bus/streetcar trips within 650 meters<br />

(an 8 minute walk).<br />

37 UNICEF Office of Research. (2012). UNICEF <strong>In</strong>nocenti Report<br />

Card 9: The <strong>Child</strong>ren Left Behind: A League Table of <strong>In</strong>equality<br />

in <strong>Child</strong> Wellbeing in the World’s Rich Countries. Accessed at<br />

https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc9_eng.pdf<br />

38 Monsebraaten, L. (2015). The Toronto Star. Tackling poverty<br />

a ’litmus test’ for city’s greatness, Tory says. Accessed at<br />

https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/06/23/tacklingpoverty-a-litmus-test-for-citys-greatness-tory-says.html<br />

39 TO Prosperity: Toronto <strong>Poverty</strong> Reduction Strategy, p. 1. Accessed<br />

at http://www1.toronto.ca/<strong>City</strong>%20Of%20Toronto/Social%20<br />

Development,%20Finance%20&%20Administration/Strategies/<br />

<strong>Poverty</strong>%20Reduction%20Strategy/PDF/TO_Prosperity_<br />

Final2015-reduced.pdf<br />

40 Ibid, p. 11.<br />

31


A JOINT REPORT OF<br />

the <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Aid Society of Toronto, Colour of <strong>Poverty</strong> – Colour of Change,<br />

Family Service Toronto/Ontario Campaign 2000 and<br />

Social Planning Toronto with the support of the <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Aid Foundation

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