Search results for “node/poverty”

  • Halifax can be a living wage leader

    Halifax City Council should heed their staff’s recommendation to “engage external stakeholders and conduct further investigation on whether or not to adopt an employee compensation/living wage policy for Council’s consideration.” There is enough evidence in Canada that becoming a living wage employer is possible for municipalities — indeed, they can…

  • Growing Gap
    Public Interest Research Project (BC)

    It’s time to raise BC’s minimum wage above the poverty line

    What does it mean to be a minimum wage earner in British Columbia? It means making $8 per hour—or as little as $6 if you’re getting the so-called “training wage”. If you work full-time, it means paydays that bring in at most $640 — and that’s before deductions. It means…

  • Growing Gap

    Infographics: Shameful neglect

    Child poverty rates in Canada In Canada, the worst child poverty is experienced by status First Nations children—51% of whom live in poverty. And that number rises to 60% when it comes to First Nations children living on reserve. Unfortunately, the devastatingly high child poverty on First Nations reserves is…

  • Hidden poverty on reserves revealed

    Our content is fiercely open source and we never paywall our website. The support of our community makes this possible.

  • Income Assistance in Nova Scotia: From last resort to repairing the social safety net

    While it is easy to get distracted by rhetoric during an election campaign, people want and need to understand how party platforms would affect their lives and communities in tangible terms. One of the issues discussed in the election campaign is income assistance. The Nova Scotia Alternative Budget 2017 provides…

  • Economic Security Project (BC)
    Public Interest Research Project (BC)

    A Poverty Reduction Plan for BC

    Download 751.9 KB 65 pages This report lays out a comprehensive poverty reduction plan for BC. In 2009, after the report was published, the CCPA-BC, along with other organizations, founded the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, a province-wide group calling for a poverty reduction plan for BC with legislated targets and…

  • "<aCecilie Takle / Flickr” style=”border-radius:0px;–objectFit:cover;–imagePosX:50%;–imagePosY:50%” decoding=”async” srcset=”https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote-march2017-time-to-raise-welfafe-rates-300×133.jpg 300w, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote-march2017-time-to-raise-welfafe-rates-768×341.jpg 768w, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote-march2017-time-to-raise-welfafe-rates.jpg 900w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />

    Time to raise welfare rates: Debunking the BC government’s sorry excuses for inaction

    April 1st marks the 10th anniversary since basic welfare benefit rates (also known as social assistance rates) were last increased in British Columbia. For a single person on basic assistance the benefit rate remains $610 per month, and for a single parent with one child it is $946 a month. That…

  • Cuts to adult basic education would make it harder to escape poverty

    Adult basic education – tuition-free high school level courses – can open up a wide range of possibilities for single parents, older workers laid off from resource industries, new immigrants and younger people who could not complete high school. Adult basic education is essential for people to qualify for skills…

  • Growing Gap

    Majority want leadership on poverty: Poll

    TORONTO – The majority of Canadians believe Canada should try to distinguish itself in the world as a country where no one lives in poverty, according to an Environics Research poll conducted for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The national poll reveals 90% of Canadians say they would…

  • Fast Facts: How a Living Wage can reduce poverty in Manitoba

    In this time of economic turmoil, living-wage policies are one way to stimulate our local economy. A living-wage policy is employed by at least 122 US cities and being considered by more than 70 other US cities. Many large corporations in Europe have adopted a living-wage policy. A living-wage is…

  • People don’t want cuts in government services: Ipsos-Reid

    An Ipsos-Reid poll of 800 British Columbians indicates people would rather see a deficit than see public services slashed. The poll was conducted in early August for the BC Federation of Labour.  It shows a solid majority of British Columbians disaprove of the way the government is handling the economic…

  • Infographic: Nova Scotia Child Poverty Report Card 2013

    Our infographic, based on the Nova Scotia Child Poverty Report Card 2013, takes a revealing look at child and family poverty across Nova Scotia.  (Click the image to enlarge)