Supporting Education… Building Canada Background Material for Parliamentarians and Staff C TF H ill Day 2009: Child Poverty and Schools

Supporting Education... Building Canada Background Material for Parliamentarians and Staff C TF H ill Day 2009: Child Poverty and Schools

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) speaks for approximately 200,000 teachers in Canada
as their national voice on education and related social issues. CTF membership includes teacher
organizations across Canada.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation has a long-standing interest in reducing child poverty. In 1989
CTF issued a report which examined the impact of poverty on children, with particular reference to
how poor children fare in elementary and secondary schools. Our policy on children and poverty
states that: All children, regardless of family income or circum­­stances, have the right to the full
benefits of publicly funded education.
[http://www.ctf-fce.ca/e/programs/pd/children_and_poverty/policy_5_9.asp]
CTF is an active member of various coalitions and networks working to enhance the well-being of
Canadian children and youth, including the National Alliance for Children and Youth and Campaign
2000. Among CTF’s priorities is to support teachers and teachers’ organizations as strong
advocates for social justice, with a particular focus on issues related to child poverty.