The instinct of governments across the political spectrum when faced with economic contraction has been to cut public spending as a means to reduce deficits and restore growth. This instinct for austerity is certainly shared by the Saskatchewan government, which has recently announced large spending cuts in health ($63.9 million), education ($8.7 million) and social services ($9.2 million).

This study finds that Canada’s personal income tax expenditures disproportionately benefit the rich and cost the federal treasury nearly as much as it collects in personal income tax. The study examines the income distribution of benefit for the 64 personal income tax expenditures for which there is available data. Out of the 64 tax expenditures, 59 of them provide more benefit to the top 50% of income earners than the bottom half, with the largest share going to the richest 10%. The cost of those 59 expenditures totalled $100.5 billion in 2011 alone. 

Ontario is home to more than 800 payday storefronts — more than half of those in the entire country. Many of these outlets charge customers up to 500 per cent in annualized interest rates. At such high rates, what drives low-income workers to turn to high interest financial services such as payday loans?

This paper analyzes findings from a survey by ACORN Canada of a sampling of its membership to understand why they turn to alternative financial services such as high interest payday loans.

This year’s Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Nova Scotia finds that while there was a slight decrease in child poverty nationally between 2013 and 2014, the child poverty rate in Nova Scotia remains stubbornly high. According to the report card, Nova Scotia’s child poverty rate (22.5%) represents 37,450 children—or more than 1 in 5 children—living in poverty in 2014. Nova Scotia now has the third-highest provincial child poverty rate, and the highest rate in Atlantic Canada.

While it is widely recognized that Aboriginal people are over-represented in the urban homeless population, most research has focused on Aboriginal homelessness in metropolitan areas. Very little attention has been paid to the issue in small northern towns. The small amount of research that has been done on the topic suggests that there are also challenges associated with Aboriginal homelessness in more remote urban areas, and that there are unique aspects to homeless populations in these areas.

The successful settlement and integration of im­migrants and refugees is a multifaceted, complex, and long-term process that requires the dedica­tion and involvement of both newcomers and the community in which they settle. Arriving to a new home is overwhelming for newcomers, es­pecially if they lack strong social connections in the new place and have few financial resources. Having access to well-rounded and holistic sup­ports can help to ease the stresses for newly ar­rived immigrants and refugees.