Child care and early learning

"A report says more than 10 per cent of Alberta children were living in poverty in 2011. The authors of the report are urging Premier Alison Redford to come through on an election promise to eliminate child poverty by 2017.The report says there were 84,000 children whose families were below the low-income measure after taxes.The survey was done by Public Interest Alberta, the Edmonton Social Planning Council and the Alberta College of Social Workers.The report also says that almost 60 per cent of kids in poverty had at least one parent working full-time."

"A report by Public Interest Alberta released Tuesday shows that 84,000 children in the province live in poverty, with 29,800 of those children under the age of six. They say it's costing the province up to $9.5 billion a year. Many of those kids have at least one parent with a job, says report co-author Bill Moore-Kilgannon. 'Close to 60 per cent of those children are actually living in a family where at least one parent worked full time, full year. So what that tells us is that a job itself is not in and of itself a pathway out of poverty,' he said."

EDMONTON—Public Interest Alberta, the Edmonton Social Planning Council, and the Alberta College of Social Workers released a new report today, entitled From Words to Action: Alberta Can Afford a Real Poverty Reduction Strategy. The report shows that despite an improving economy, in 2011 there were 84,000 children, 29,800 of who were under the age of 6, living below the low-income measure (LIM- After Tax).

"There are a number of reports on the state of child poverty in Canada and Alberta set for release tomorrow. Campaign 2000 will release their annual report card which will outline the most recent national statistics along with recommendations for the federal government. They will also be releasing reports for a number of provinces, including Alberta. Public Interest Alberta also has a report set for release tomorrow, which they say will outline a comprehensive approach to preventing and reducing child and family poverty in our province."

"While federal Conservatives hammer out new ideas in Calgary’s BMO Centre, their opponents are holding a series of protests and counter summits this week. Things kick off October 31, with Wake Up Canada—The Canada We Want summit at The Area in Inglewood. Wake Up Canada is offering workshops on labour, environmental, human rights and aboriginal issues at The Area and Central Library until November 2, as well as two protest rallies outside the BMO Centre where the Conservative Convention is taking place. The non-profit social advocacy group Public Interest Alberta is holding its own counter-summit on November 1 at the Central Library."

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On October 1st, the provincial government announced a public consultation on the Budget 2014 with open house sessions

A tour of Calgary's richest school and poorest school, published by Operation Maple. [VIDEO]

"As Progressive Conservatives from across Alberta talked policy inside a south Edmonton hotel Saturday, Tim Kabarchuk willingly faced off outside against a large, inflatable mallet. As one of about 500 protesters who came to the “Block the Party” event organized by Public Interest Alberta, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employee and other groups, Kabarchuk volunteered for a human version of Whack-A-Mole under a painted Whack-A-Broken Promise banner."

"While the new Children First Act appears to contain some steps forward in the oversight of child intervention services in Alberta, there are numerous unanswered questions regarding the shift in delegated responsibilities, the lack of consultation and the speed with which the legislation is being pushed through."

EDMONTON—Public Interest Alberta has selected the Global Café at Jasper Place High School to receive this year’s Public Interest Award for Northern Alberta.