| Rescuing families from the poverty rut |
| Family |
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Written by Peter Jon Mitchell, a research analyst at the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada Picture weather reports showing footage of the blustery ravages of winter. Inevitably there is footage of some unfortunate Canadian whose car is stuck in the snow, tires spinning helplessly. The more the car accelerates, the faster the tires spin and the deeper the ruts become. Now we learn from a December 2009 Senate subcommittee report that decades of social program spending and anti-poverty programs have resulted in years of tire spinning too, entrapping Canadians in poverty. In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness offers two important conclusions. First, even when all available programs and benefits are accessed, many Canadians still find themselves in poverty. Second, many of the programs aimed at alleviating poverty actually ensnare people in poverty. The Senate should be commended for taking on this important issue. However, the report has a significant weakness: it ignores the role of the family as one of the most important poverty-fighting institutions. Beyond identifying lone parents as over-represented among those in poverty, the report omits any discussion of the role of marriage and family structure in preventing poverty. The report treats families only as the recipients of social benefits, rather than a resource for poverty reduction. Families are an economic unit and a source of human capital. Much evidence over the past few decades indicates that marriage is a poverty fighter. Research suggests children fare better when raised in a married, two-parent home. Children from married-parent families are more likely to do better at school and achieve better financial well-being. They are less likely to become welfare dependent. In short, children from stable, married-parent families are less likely to find themselves in poverty. Conversely, family breakdown and fatherlessness are concerning issues intertwined with poverty. A 2009 IMFC report conservatively estimated the cost of poverty-related family breakdown in Canada at just under $7 billion annually. It’s clear that long-term solutions for poverty reduction must address the health and role of families. While public dialogue on the role of marriage in society continues in the U.S. and U.K., there is little public discussion in Canada. Perhaps Canadians view family as purely a private matter. However, family formation and breakdown greatly influence the health of our society. While In From the Margins offers a wide range of recommendations, the IMFC suggests the following family-centred strategies to reduce poverty effectively: • Promote family and marriage education • Promote family-friendly taxation • Remove the marriage penalty under the Working Income Tax Benefit • Track marriage- and family-related statistics more carefully • Address shortcomings in foster care. The Senate report attempts to take a look at poverty in Canada. However, no long-term strategy for poverty eradication can afford to give the role of families the short shrift. To break free from the rut of poverty, Canadians must consider the role of strong, healthy families in strengthening society. |
