There is no shortage of media coverage about the global financial crisis, bank bailouts, bankers’ bonuses, fears of double dips, and the like. But there is another financial crisis occurring on the streets of every Canadian city: the spread of the cheque-cashing and payday loan industry. The growth of these fringe financial institutions illustrates a collective failure of the financial system in Canada to adequately address the basic financial needs of low-income Canadians.
Inequality and poverty
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) annually puts out figures comparing infant mortality rates in countries around the world. Perhaps the biggest story of the OECD’s latest figures were those attributed to Canada. This country has always boasted of its social stats — life expectancy, infant mortality, university graduates, and other measures of our success as a nation.
But not this time.
On March 10, 2011, the Standing Committee on Property and Development recommended a move of $500,000 from the Housing Rehabilitation Investment Reserve (HRIR) to the Home Renovation Tax Assistance Program, despite years of calls from housing and community organisations for increased funding to the HRIR. Although the recommendation was not passed, this move calls attention to the vulnerability of the funding intended to support housing rehabilitation and development in Winnipeg’s inner city.
Please note: The updated 2019 Living Wage report is now available.
This paper focuses on English as an Additional Language (EAL) for adult newcomers and draws from the experiences and voices of 118 adult refugees and immigrant learners, settlement service providers, adult educators, and administrators who work either in school divisions or community agencies.
We use ethnographic and narrative research methods (Smith 1986, 1987) to better understand the pre, trans, and post immigration experiences which influence the process of acculturation and learning for newcomer adults who have settled in the inner city of Winnipeg.
Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index
$6.6 million
It is estimated that the total cost of poverty in Prince Edward Island is at minimum between $240 and $320 million per year, which corresponds to about $1,720 and $2,265 per person, per year.
It is estimated that the total cost of poverty in PEI is at minimum between $240 and $320 million per year, which corresponds to about $1,720 and $2,265 per person, per year.
In terms of the PEI economy, the cost of poverty is between 5%-7% of GDP, which is consistent with the cost of poverty estimated in other Canadian provinces. Download this report to find out more.
Lorsque vous entendez le mot « impôts », ça vous fait penser à quoi ? Aux hôpitaux où vous pouvez vous rendre au milieu de la nuit si vos enfants tombent malades ou si vous l’êtes vous-même? Aux 10 000 $ que coûterait un accouchement si vous viviez aux États-Unis savoir avoir d’assurance-maladie ?
Au système d’éducation qui permet même aux enfants de familles pauvres de devenir médecins, enseignants ou ingénieurs ?