P.E.I. NDP leader wants summit to eradicate child poverty

NDP Leader Mike Redmond says it's "inconceivable" so many Island children are living without a healthy diet.

He is calling on government and other political leaders to host a province-wide summit on eradicating child poverty on P.E.I.

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"It is inconceivable that in an agriculture and fisheries rich province we have children going hungry and living with food insecurity," he said.

Redmond was reacting to a national report by the research group PROOF that showed more than one in five Island children are living in homes struggling to buy enough healthy food. That's more than any other province in Canada.

He wants the province to put together an immediate plan to deal with food insecurity and to formulate a long-term plan that addresses income, housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care.

"We need to hear from Islanders, develop an immediate plan, have a long-term vision and strategy, one that would include in our opinion a Basic Income Guarantee, ensuring no one is left behind and living in poverty," he said.

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