Edmonton’s child poverty rate highest in province, Metro News

By Leah Germain, Metro News EdmontonEdmonton’s child poverty rate is the highest in the province according to a new report, with one in six local children living in poverty.“It is partly because we are a little bit of a magnet, particularly we have more recent immigrants in Edmonton you tend to earn lower incomes and tend to live in poverty. We (also) have the highest aboriginal population in the province,” said John Kolkman, research coordinator for Edmonton Social Planning Council.The “From Words to Action” report found that in 2011 one in 10 children —approximately 84,000 — were living in poverty in Alberta.“In the province of Alberta, the highest rates of child poverty, even though it does fluctuate from year to year are within the City of Edmonton,” said Kolkman. The report was co-authored by Public Interest Alberta, Edmonton Social Planning Council and the Alberta College of Social Workers.Read the article at Metro News