Keep Kids out of Poverty, Keep their Parents Safe on the Job

Today as I was driving my kids to school I came across an interesting topic on CBC Radio's "The Current". The program was talking about the 10% of people in Canada who live below the poverty line, including children.

I listened with intensity as they talked about children who will wake up this Christmas morning with no presents, My stomach was knots as I thought about my own children and the beautiful presents they will receive.

I was hit with a ton of bricks, however, when they began to discuss the reasons for people's poverty in Canada. Rob Rainer , Executive Director of Canada Without Poverty, outlined the eight groups most vulnerable to poverty - and, surprisingly - at the top of the list were people who had been injured at their workplace.

Later during the CBC program, a man called in who had been working most his life, then was injured on the job and had to go on disability. He and his family spiraled into poverty, and he didn't see much hope for recovery.

The truth is, getting injured in Canda doesn't just affect the person injured. One injury affects all of society.

Some companies have said that in these hard economic times they don't have enough margin to invest in health and safety. But the fact is, Canada doesn't have enough margin for them not to invest. By investing in health and safety, companies are investing in the very fabric of our society and a strong society makes for a strong enconomy.

We can keep more kids out of poverty in Canada, by helping to keep their parents safe on the job.