Campaign 2000 has released it Annual Report Card for Ontario, Poverty in the Midst of COVID-19. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of large sections of the Ontario economy. In a few short months, total economic activity in the province fell by 13%. By May, 1.1 million workers were out of a job. The unemployment rate, which had been 5.5% in February 2020, was 13.2% in May. Despite this economic shock, the rate of child poverty in Ontario decreased in the first year of the pandemic, primarily due to swift government action.
This report analyzes data during the pandemic and makes recommendations in 2023 to take us forward to address child poverty in Ontario. An interactive map shows child poverty rates for all municipalities in Ontario, including Grey Bruce.
