What's New ?

 

RELEASE OF WELFARE INCOMES

With the recession starting in 2008, more and more Canadians are having to deal with one of the 13 different social assistance systems, discovering how complicated, cumbersome and stigmatizing most are.  Bulletins No. 1 through 4 give you a snapshot of the welfare incomes situation in 2008 for 4 types of families, and a fifth document provides detail on the methodology.

• Bulletin No. 1: Single person considered employable   (PDF) or (HTML)
• Bulletin No. 2: Single person with a disability   (PDF) or (HTML)
• Bulletin No. 3: Lone parent with a child aged two   (PDF) or (HTML)
• Bulletin No. 4: Couple with two children aged 10 and 15   (PDF) or (HTML)
  
  
• Methodology   (PDF) or (HTML)

POVERTY TRENDS BY FAMILY TYPE

Did you know that some family types have poverty rates four times higher than others? And that working-age unattached men have higher poverty rates today than they did 30 years ago?

Check out our latest Poverty Profile Bulletin to learn more about poverty in Canada broken down by family type.

• Bulletin No. 2: Poverty Trends by Family Type, 1976-2007 (PDF) or (HTML)
• LINK to the Poverty Profile 2007 page to see the full list of bulletins.  

IN FROM THE MARGINS: A CALL TO ACTION ON POVERTY, HOUSING, AND HOMELESSNESS

A major Senate report entitled "In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness" was tabled December 7 declaring that Canada's system for lifting people out of poverty is substantially broken and must be overhauled. Its recommendations are the summation of a two-year cross-country study which heard testimony from more than 170 witnesses, including people living in poverty, several of them homeless, as well as universities, think tanks, provincial and local governments and community organizations.

POVERTY PROFILE BULLETIN ON CHILDREN

November 24, 2009 marks 20 years since the House of Commons unanimous vote in 1989 to end child poverty in Canada. The NCW's Bulletin No. 1 (see below) showed that child poverty got much worse through the recession in the early '90s before it got better.

• Bulletin No. 4 (PDF) or (HTML) gives you a snapshot of the many children and their families still living in poverty.
• LINK to the Poverty Profile 2007 page to see the full list of bulletins.  

RELEASE OF POVERTY PROFILE

Why have poverty trends fallen for seniors, but not for children or working-age adults? Why are poverty rates likely to remain high, even as the economy recovers?

For the first time, the National Council of Welfare is releasing the latest findings of its signature publication Poverty Profile in a series of short, easy-to-read bulletins. The first bulletin looks at poverty trends in Canada for children, adults and seniors and discusses what these trends can tell us about poverty and the current recession.

• Message from the Chairperson (PDF) or (HTML)
• Bulletin No. 1: Introduction to Poverty Trends in Canada, 1976-2007 (PDF) or (HTML)
• Bulletins No.2 and No. 3 coming soon.
• LINK to the Poverty Profile 2007 page to see the full list of bulletins.

MARKET BASKET MEASURE DATA FOR 2007 IS NOW AVAILABLE

• Fact Sheet: Market Basket Measure (MBM) Thresholds 2007, for Two Adults and Two Children
• Link to the full report by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada: Low Income in Canada 2000-2007 Using the Market Basket Measure

OPEN LETTER ON SOLVING POVERTY IN CANADA HEADING INTO 2010

Based on decades of research, the National Council of Welfare believes that wiser investments can lead to a more effective economic stimulus and a better quality of life for Canadians. Right now, when economic times are tough and recovery is fragile, is exactly the time to invest in needed solutions to prevent, reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty. Read our open letter.

2009 FEDERAL PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATIONS

The National Council of Welfare took the opportunity to contribute to the Federal Pre-Budget Consultations organized by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Read our submission here.

POVERTY POSTCARDS NOW AVAILABLE

What do you know about poverty in Canada? This handy set of seven postcards will give you quick overview.

Contact us to ORDER a paper copy.

CANADIAN POVERTY REDUCTION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

Want an overview of poverty reduction efforts across Canada? Check out the Canadian Council on Social Development’s new Social Development Report Series. The first report - Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs – identifies current federal, provincial and territorial approaches to poverty reduction. Fourteen authors discuss the ideas, interests and institutions that have shaped the evolution of poverty reduction policies and programs in Canada and the issues for each jurisdiction moving forward.