A new Canadian Centre For Poicy Alternatives report draws attention to Canada's shockingly high rates of women's poverty and offers a strong critique of recent federal government policies that have helped contribute to it. Women's Poverty and the Recession by researcher Monica Townson reveals almost one-quarter (24%) of Canadian women raising children on their own and 14% of single older women are poor.
 
The report notes that, since coming into power, the Harper government has seriously undermined progress towards reducing women's poverty. Policies such as restricting pay equity, refusing to fix EI, and cutting funding for early learning and child care have only contributed to the problem. Click here to read the report and access some fact sheets on women's poverty.