A special edition on Poverty in Canada

Poet Lorna Crozier hosts a special Friday edition of The Current looking at being poor in Canada, something our guest host has experienced personally. There is no single definition for "poverty", but the stats show that about one-in-ten Canadians fall below the line. Today's show is a glimpse into what it means to one of the 10-percent of Canadians who live without.

Listen to the follow-up special phone-in edition where the 10% have their say

Pt 1: Personal stories on being poor in Canada

There are those who have always been poor, others who are new to being poor and still more who are poor by mistake. Today, we introduce you to three people: Laura in Hamilton, Brian in Edmonton and Mavis on Vancouver Island who share their personal stories on what it is like being poor in Canada. (Read More)

Pt 2: Child Poverty

Twenty years ago Canadian politicians pledged to eradicate child poverty, but today an abysmal one in ten kids in this country is growing up poor. We look at the consequences of that poverty and what needs to be done. (Read More)

Pt 3: Paying more being poor

We also take a look at the higher costs low-income people pay for a range of day-to-day expenses. Many low-income Canadians end up paying the most .... everything from groceries to banking, and those higher costs make it even harder to escape poverty. (Read More)