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The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) published the results of a survey assessing Canadian investors’ financial literacy. As individuals take on more responsibility for their own investing, it is essential that they have enough financial knowledge to effectively participate in Canada’s capital markets. Investors’ knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours are all contributors to having a successful investing journey.
Saving for your child’s education can be difficult, especially if you are trying to save for multiple goals or pay down debt at the same time. The federal government offers contributions to your child’s Registered Education Savings Program (RESP) through its grant programs: the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB).
When inflation rates go up, it can be tempting to look for ways to grow your money at rates higher than the rate of inflation. Investing can feel more appealing than the average savings account. While it’s important to stay the course on your investing goals, don’t neglect your savings. There are many reasons why a savings account is still worth tending to, even during tough times. If you’re making ends meet and still have extra to put aside, keep these tips in mind.
Use this calculator to see how changes to your spending habits can impact your budget and help you save more of your money.
It pays to make saving a habit. Look for easy ways to build saving into your life and to make it automatic.
Managing debt doesn't have to be overwhelming. These tips and tools from the Ontario Securities commission can help you borrow wisely and pay off debt more quickly.
Are you considering investing in crypto assets, but aren’t sure whether it’s right for you, legal or just a scam? Test your crypto knowledge and learn how to spot the warning signs of fraud using OSC's quiz.
Learn more about fraud in this latest set of videos by the Ontario Securities Commission.
There are many investment products, here's some information about them: Annuities: a contract with a life insurance company. Annuities are most commonly used to generate retirement income. Bonds: when you buy a bond, you’re lending your money to a company or a government for a set period of time. In return, the issuer pays you interest. On the date the bond becomes due, the issuer is supposed to pay back the face value of the bond to you in full. Complex investments: these investments may have the potential for higher gains, but carry greater risks. ETFs: when you buy a share or unit of an ETF, you’re investing in a portfolio that holds a number of different stocks or other investments. GICs: when you buy a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), you are agreeing to lend the bank or financial institution your money for a set number of months or years. You are guaranteed to get the amount you deposited back at the end of the term. Mutual funds & segregated funds: when you buy a mutual fund, your money is combined with the money from other investors, and allows you to buy part of a pool of investments. Real estate: While real estate investments can offer a range of benefits, there is no guarantee that you will earn an income or profit and, like any investment, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that you need to carefully consider before investing. Stocks: The stock market brings together people who want to sell stock with those who want to buy stock. When you buy stock (or equity) in a company, you receive a piece of the company and become a part owner. Pensions & saving plans: if your employer offers contributions to your retirement or other savings plan, take advantage. Cannabis: Emerging sectors like the cannabis industry have often attracted investors hoping to be among the first to capitalize on the potential growth and high returns of what they believe are untapped markets or products that may be popular in the future. Cryptoassets: Cryptoassets primarily designed to be a store of value or medium of exchange (e.g., Bitcoin) are often referred to as “digital coins.
A comprehensive set of articles are available on the Ontario Securities Commission website on how to identify and report fraud as well as what to do if you have been defrauded.
This self-paced online course will help you learn about behavioural insights and how they can help you increase impact in simple, practical ways. In this self-paced learning experience, you will learn foundational skills and tools that you can apply immediately to your work, creating a long-lasting social impact.
A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) can be used to save for any goal. You put after-tax dollars into a TFSA, but your investments grow tax-free and you won’t pay any tax on withdrawal. Use this calculator to estimate the value of the investments in your TFSA when you’re ready to withdraw them, and compare this amount to the value of your investments in a non-registered plan to see your overall estimated tax savings.
Fraud comes in many forms. Learn about the different types of fraud and ways to protect yourself using the links below. Fraudster trick (email spam attack)
The key takeaways from the 2022 Canadian Retirement Survey are: Read the full presentation conducted for Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.
Checking registration helps protect you from unqualified or fraudulent individuals. Always check the registration of any person or business trying to sell you an investment or give you investment advice by using the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Registration Search. Titles like financial advisor, financial planner, investment consultant, and investment specialist aren’t legally defined terms or official registration categories. Some advisers or dealers may have designations that allow them to use specific titles, such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Checking registration tells you what specific products and services they are (and aren’t) qualified to offer you, regardless of title.
Debt Consolidation is the process of combining multiple debts into one. Use this calculator to calculate what your new monthly payments would be, how soon you could be debt free, and how much your total interest amount would be when you consolidate your debts.
Ontario has just become the first province to open its legal gambling market to private internet gaming providers. As of April 4, 2022, Ontarians can play casino-style games online and place bets on sports, including single games, through sites regulated by iGaming Ontario. According to the provincial regulator, the launch of iGaming marks the triumph “of a legal internet gaming market” over “its previous grey market standing.” But as with all forms of gambling, this development has a dark side. It was only a matter of time before Ontario expanded its gambling market—not because of popular demand, but because the provincial government is addicted to gambling money and is eager to seize any opportunity to get more of it, regardless of the costs to the people it is supposed to protect. This report provides the background of gambling in Ontario, outlines the new risks with iGaming and offers four policy options.
Imagine a loved one is in trouble or hurt. You get a call asking for urgent help. You’d likely want to act right away because you care about them. Exploiting family ties is the driving force behind grandparent scams — or emergency scams. This article from the OSC can help you to protect yourself from becoming a victim of an emergency scam.
This article from OSC provides 8 tips to help you plan for retirement. Transitioning from working life to retirement takes careful financial planning and decision-making – give yourself plenty of time to prepare. Here are some things you can do ahead of time.
This report identifies behaviourally informed techniques dealers and advisers can use to encourage their older clients to provide the necessary information for enhanced investor protection measures.
The Trusted Contact Person initiative has been adopted across Canada. It is part of new regulatory measures to support advisors in their efforts to help investors, particularly older investors and vulnerable, protect themselves and their financial interests. Canadian seniors are increasingly called upon to make complex financial decisions, with higher stakes, later in life than ever before. For many, health, mobility, or cognitive changes that can occur with age, may affect their ability to make these decisions. This can make seniors more susceptible to financial exploitation and fraud. In fact, about half of the victims of investment fraud are over age 55.
Using OSC's online calculator, find out how your investment will grow over time with compound interest.
Some emergencies in life can affect you financially. You could get sick, lose your job, or have a costly repair to your car or home. An emergency fund can provide a financial safety net. Ideally, this fund would provide enough money to cover your essential living expenses so you can avoid taking on debt. Use OSC's calculator to estimate how much money should be set aside to pay for financial emergencies.
The resources and tools provided by OSC on this website are intended to be a starting point for new investors, including people who are new to Canada. The information here can help you make more informed investment decisions and help you better protect your money. The information is available in multiple languages.
Good financial planning starts with knowing what you spend. Try out this budget worksheet, prepared by the Ontario Securities Commission, to see the difference in your costs before you retire and after you stop working.
Are you considering a new investment?
Use this tool to learn how to spot the warning signs of fraud, and to learn how to protect yourself from suspected scams.
Investing is an important part of planning for a financially secure future. It can battle the effects of inflation on your savings, grow your wealth, and provide sources of income in retirement. The sooner you invest, the longer compound interest can work to grow your savings exponentially. However, there are some important milestones to achieve and questions to consider before you start investing. Are you ready to invest? Take this quiz to find out!
If you have extra money, this calculator helps you decide whether to invest or pay off debt.
Filing your taxes might be one of the most important financial actions you’ll take each year. It can also feel confusing or stressful at times. Find out more about how income tax works, including tax deductions and tax credits using the Ontario Securities Commission's interactive chart to see what tax bracket you are in.
Maytree released the 2020 edition of the Welfare in Canada report. For each province and territory, this report provides data and analysis on the total welfare income that households receiving social assistance would have qualified for in 2020, including COVID-19 pandemic-related supports. Welfare in Canada is a series that presents the total incomes of four example households who qualify for social assistance benefits in each of Canada’s provinces and territories in a given year. Welfare in Canada, 2020 looks at the maximum total amount that a household would have received over the course of the 2020 calendar year, assuming they had no other source of income and no assets. Some households may have received less if they had income from other sources, while some households may have received more if they had special health- or disability-related needs. The report looks at: In addition, this year the report includes a new section that looks at the adequacy of welfare incomes in each province over time, an analysis that hearkens back to past reports prepared by the National Council of Welfare. Also, please note that this report measures the adequacy of welfare incomes relative to both the Market Basket Measure (MBM) – Canada’s Official Poverty Line – and the Deep Income Poverty threshold (MBM-DIP), which is equivalent to 75 per cent of the MBM. This analysis will replace the low-income threshold comparisons in future reports. We hope these additions will be helpful for those using the report. In each jurisdiction, the total welfare income for which a household is eligible depends on its specific composition. For illustrative purposes, this resource focuses on the welfare incomes of four example household types:
In 2020, The Behavioural Insights Team partnered with United Way and Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre to develop and test an email intervention to increase participation in tax filing clinics. An "active choice" email (sample email) significantly increased response rate and attendance to virtual clinics.
The Province of Ontario, through the former Ministry of Community and Social Services (now known as the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)) entered into a contract with Prosper Canada (PC) in 2015 to fund the Financial Empowerment and Problem Solving (FEPS) pilot project. The FEPS project provided individualized financial counselling to low income program participants along with educational workshops and free tax clinics. An evaluation of the FEPS pilot found that the project exhibited some promising practices and was well received by clients. Building off of the findings from pilot, in 2017 the former Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) entered into a four-year agreement with PC to fund the program at four delivery sites.
GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca is an Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) website that provides unbiased and independent financial tools to help you make better financial decisions. This series of videos increases awareness of fraudulent activity during COVID-19. Topic include:
There are numerous factors that influence the decisions that people make. Behavioural insights (BI) recognizes this and, through a combination of psychology, economic and more recently other behavioural research, examines how people are often neither deliberate nor rational in their decisions in the way that traditional models, strategies and policies assume. Behavioural insights recognize how people actually behave versus traditional economic and market theory of people as rational actors. This report discusses how leading practitioners and regulators around the world are using behavioural insights to address issues in capital markets and improve outcomes for investors and market participants.
This research report identifies behaviourally informed ways that government, regulators, employers, and financial institutions can encourage retirement planning. Thirty different initiatives and tactics that could be implemented by a variety of stakeholders to encourage retirement planning are proposed, and interventions are organized around four primary challenges people face in moving from having the intention to create a retirement plan to the action of making a plan: (1) it’s hard to start, (2) it’s easy to put off, (3) it’s easy to get overwhelmed and drop out, and (4) it’s hard to get the right advice. The report also includes the results of a randomized experiment that evaluated several of the approaches proposed in the report. This report was published as part of the Ontario Securities Commission’s strategy and action plan to respond to the needs and priorities of Ontario seniors.
The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada releases statistics on insolvency (bankruptcies and proposals) numbers in Canada. The latest statistics released on November 4, 2020 show that the number of insolvencies in Canada increased in the third quarter of 2020 by 7.9% compared to the second quarter.
A fact sheet released by Statistics Canada shows that, in March and April 2020, the proportion of young Canadians who were not in employment, education or training (NEET) increased to unprecedented levels. The COVID-19 pandemic—and the public health interventions that were put in place to limit its spread—have affected young people in a number of ways, including high unemployment rates, school closures and education moving online.
The Community of Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) website contains answers to common questions pertaining to a number of legal topics, including: COVID-19, debt and consumer rights, and employment and work.
This report presents the findings of extensive research about employable singles on social assistance undertaken by Toronto Employment and Social Services, in partnership with the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation. Drawing on data from 69,000 singles who were receiving social assistance in Toronto in 2016, and 51 interviews with randomly selected participants, the report highlights these individuals’ characteristics, their complex needs, and the barriers they face in moving off social assistance and into employment. Complementing the quantitative analysis, the interviews provide important insights into the daily realities of participants’ lives and their journeys on and off assistance.
This report provides quantitative and qualitative data about the experience of hunger and poverty in Toronto during COVID-19. Based on phone surveys with over 220 food bank clients in May and June 2020 and an analysis of food bank client intake data, the report demonstrates that COVID-19 has led to increased reliance on food banks. The rate of new clients accessing food banks has tripled since the pandemic began. Among new clients, 76% report that they began accessing food banks as a result of COVID-19 and the associated economic downturn.
This resource provides a list of free legal information resources produced by Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).
The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) supports Parliament by providing economic and financial analysis for the purposes of raising the quality of parliamentary debate and promoting greater budget transparency and accountability. This report responds to a request from Senator Yuen Pau Woo to estimate the post-COVID cost of a guaranteed basic income (GBI) program, using parameters set out in Ontario’s basic income pilot project. In addition, the report provides an estimate of the federal and provincial programs for low-income individuals and families, including many non-refundable and refundable tax credits that could be replaced by the GBI program.
This booklet contains information on retirement planning on a low income. Topics include four things to think about for low income retirement planning, a background paper on maximizing the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and determining Old Age Security (OAS) and GIS eligibility for people who come to Canada as adults.
Ontario tenants who have fallen behind on their rent because of COVID-19 will need provincial help to stay housed when the current eviction ban is lifted. A new analysis calls for targeted rent relief, a gradual easing of the eviction ban, and a reintroduction of rent controls.
The Social Assistance Summaries series tracks the number of recipients of social assistance (welfare payments) in each province and territory. It was established by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy to maintain data previously published by the federal government as the Social Assistance Statistical Report. The data is provided by provincial and territorial government officials.
Narrowing the definition of disability used by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) could have serious implications. Improving the program’s assessment process would yield better results for applicants, Ontario's social safety net, and the government. This report explores the role of ODSP, the risks of narrowing the definition of disability, models of disability assessment from other jurisdictions, and alternative ways that the government could reform the program. Most importantly, the paper recommends that the Ministry focus on improving ODSP’s initial application process. A simplified assessment system would save time and money for applicants, medical professionals, legal clinics, adjudicators, and the Social Benefits Tribunal. These savings should be reinvested back into social assistance.
One-on-one financial help is a key financial empowerment (FE) intervention that Prosper Canada is working to pilot, scale and integrate into other social services, in collaboration with FE partners across the country. FE is increasingly gaining traction as an effective poverty reduction measure. FE interventions include financial coaching and supports that assist people to build money management skills, access income benefits, tackle debt, learn about safe financial products and services and find ways to save for emergencies. This report shares insights on providing one-on-one financial coaching to newcomers captured through two financial coaching pilot projects that Prosper Canada conducted in collaboration with several frontline community partners.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the complexities of the benefits and financial relief measures available to Canadians, we developed the Financial Relief Navigator (FRN), an online resource that helps vulnerable Canadians and those that work with them access critical emergency benefits and financial relief from governments, financial institutions, telecoms, utility and internet providers. In this one-hour webinar you'll hear from Galen MacLusky and Janet Flynn of Prosper Canada who will give you an overview of the FRN and provide tips on how to support your clients to access critical benefits and financial relief. Click 'Get it' below to access the video link, and scroll down to access handouts, slides, and video timestamps for this webinar. Access the Financial Relief Navigator here.
Handouts, slides, and time-stamps
Presentation slides for this webinar
Handouts for this webinar
Introducing the Financial Relief Navigator (FRN)
Access the Financial Relief Navigator here.
Time-stamps for the video recording:
3:22 – Agenda and Introductions
6:00 – Audience poll
9:00 – Why we created the Financial Relief Navigator (Speaker: Janet Flynn)
11:55 – What’s in the Financial Relief Navigator (Speaker: Janet Flynn)
16:35 – FRN Walkthrough using a Persona (Speaker: Galen McLusky)
33:15 – Tips for using the FRN (Speaker: Galen McLusky)
36:00 – The Working Centre experience using the FRN (Speaker: Sue Collison)
41:15 – Q&A
WoodGreen Community Services, a large multi-service frontline social service agency in Toronto, provides free tax preparation services year-round to people living on low incomes. WoodGreen was interested in designing a novel solution to address the tax filing needs of homebound seniors who are unable to access WoodGreen’s free in-person tax-preparation services due to physical or mental health challenges. Specifically, WoodGreen wanted to know… How might we provide high-quality professional tax preparation services to all clients whether or not they are onsite? Prosper Canada and a leading commercial tax preparation software company partnered with WoodGreen Community Services in order to answer this design question.
Many frontline community organizations provide free tax preparation services to people living on low incomes across Canada using a variety of methods. However, when COVID-19 struck, a large majority of agencies offering free tax-filing supports were forced to close their doors and halt in-person services. Non-profit organizations, EBO (Ottawa) and WoodGreen Community Services (Toronto) with a long-standing history of delivering tax-filing supports, needed to explore alternative models that catered to the different needs of their clientele. Prosper Canada and Intuit, a leading commercial tax preparation software company, partnered with WoodGreen and EBO, in order to answer this design question. These journey maps describe the process of this service flow, from intake to client sessions and post-session activities.
The engagement of Canadians with lived experiences of poverty in government consultations on poverty reduction is critical. But as hard as governments work to try to include people living in poverty as full participating members in their consultation processes, there are many barriers that continue to impede their participation. This paper explores what these barriers and impediments are.
Research has shown that even short-term isolation can have long-term impacts to mental health. Social and community supports are essential for vulnerable persons, especially during times of severe impacts to routine and imposed social distancing. This report discusses the findings of the Rx: Community - Social Prescribing in Ontario pilot, using social prescribing as a tool to better connect social and clinical care and broaden the definition of health and well-being.
This toolkit contains resources and information which may offer support to organizations, agencies, or frontline staff supporting individuals, during a challenging time. This toolkit was developed in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and more resources will be added as they become available. If you have a resource or would like to submit tips to be included in a future addition, please write to: [email protected]. Added on Feb 26, 2021: Answers to your questions about paying back CERB - Canada Revenue Agency
Added on Feb 11, 2021: Tax information for Indigenous peoples - Government of Canada
Government/public service information for Canadians during COVID-19
This section will be updated as more actions are taken in response to COVID-19.
Government of Canada information
(Information on the current situation, health and safety, financial and economical support)
Income tax filing and payment deadlines – Canada Revenue Agency
Free tax clinics go virtual – Canada Revenue Agency
Changes to taxes and benefits – CRA and COVID-19 – Canada Revenue Agency
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan – supports available for individuals and businesses – Department of Finance Canada (updated)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) –
(Information on EI, Labour Program, Passport Services, Canada Student Loans)
COVID-19: How FCAC is responding – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
COVID-19: Warning of potential financial fraudsters – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
COVID-19 student loan adjustments – National Student Loan Centre
Applicants Guide – Social Insurance number (applications now by mail only) – ESDC
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Government of Canada
Service Canada service adjustments
Contact info during COVID-19 – Service Canada
Alternative Service Canada e-services delivery link – Service Canada
Applying for Employment Insurance – Important Notice (English) – Service Canada
Informations importantes pour présenter une demande d’assurance-emploi (Francais) – Service Canada
Service request online form – Service Canada
Non-government Canadian resources
COVID-19: Resources for Workers and Renters – Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)
COVID-19 – Updates on the Law and Legal Services (Ontario) – Steps to Justice
Canada’s Six Biggest Banks Take Decisive Action to Help Customers Impacted by COVID-19 – Canadian Bankers Association (CBA)
Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic – The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Financial help for Canadians affected by COVID-19 – CBC News
Indigenous Community Support Fund – Government of Canada
Resources for non-profits during COVID-19 – Prosper Canada resource collection
Benefits information for Canadians during COVID-19
Financial Relief Navigator tool (Prosper Canada)
Canada recovery benefits
Answers to your questions about paying back CERB – Canada Revenue Agency
News release: CERB repayments for self-employed individuals – Government of Canada
After CERB: Transitioning to new benefits – Government of Canada
Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) – Canada Revenue Agency
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) – Canada Revenue Agency
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) – Canada Revenue Agency
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Apply for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA – Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Canadian Emergency Response Plan (CERB info sheet) – Government of Canada
Canadian Emergency Response Plan – French (CERB info sheet in French) – Government of Canada
What is the CERB? – Prosper Canada
FAQ: Canada Emergency Response Benefit – Prosper Canada (updated June 10th)
CERB: What you need to know about cashing your cheque – FCAC
COVID-19 Benefits (summary, includes Ontario) – CLEO/Steps to Justice
COVID-19 and Income Assistance – CLEO/Steps to Justice
GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit
COVID-19 – Increase to the GST/HST amount – Government of Canada
Canada Child Benefit Payment Increase – Government of Canada
Benefits payments for eligible Canadians to extend to Fall 2020 – Government of Canada
Support for students
Support for students and recent graduates – Government of Canada
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) – Government of Canada
General emergency government benefits information
COVID-19 measures to help Canadians (benefits and credits factsheet) – Government of Canada
COVID 19 measures: Money to help you (child family benefits factsheet) – Government of Canada
COVID 19 measures: Money to help you – French (child family benefits factsheet in French) – Government of Canada
COVID-19 Economic Response Plan (supports for individuals factsheet) – Government of Canada
COVID-19 Economic Response Plan – French (supports for individuals factsheet in French) – Government of Canada
Changes to taxes and benefits: CRA and COVID-19 – Government of Canada
Summary of Financial Benefits Under Canada’s COVID response plan (Multi-language) – Refugee Sponsorship Training Program
Support for organizations and businesses
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) Calculator – CRA
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy – Your questions asked – Imagine Canada
COVID-19 Emergency Support to Community Organizations (Infographic) – Government of Canada
COVID-19 Aide D’Urgence Aux Organismes Communautaires (infographie) – Government of Canada
Information by Canadian province/territory
Alberta
Financial Supports for People Impacted by COVID-19 – Momentum
3 Tax Filing Changes that Everyone Should Know – Momentum
Alberta’s COVID-19 response – Government of Alberta
British Columbia
BC Emergency Benefit for Workers – Government of British Columbia
New emergency fund for parents of children with disabilities – Government of British Columbia
New mental health supports and virtual counselling – CAMH British Columbia
Mental Health and COVID-19 | HealthLink BC – Government of British Columbia
Staying Safe at Work – WorkSafe BC
BC Crisis Supplement – Government of British Columbia
Manitoba
Province of Manitoba COVID-19 Information and Support – Government of Manitoba
New Brunswick
Quick Reference Guide – Support for New Brunswick Workers and Students – NBjobs.ca, Government of New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
COVID-19 updates, FAQs, supports – Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
Public Advisory: Information for Income Support Clients Regarding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit – Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
Northwest Territories
COVID-19 information – Health and Social Services NWT
Backgrounder: Wave 2 Economic Relief Measure details – Government of NWT
Nova Scotia
Novel coronavirus – Information and support for Nova Scotians – Government of Nova Scotia
Some social assistance recipients qualify for CERB payments – The Nova Scotia Advocate
EnergyAssist – free energy programs in Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia programs, services and information
Nunavut
Nunavut’s Path: Living with COVID-19 – Department of Health Nunavut
Ontario
COVID-19: Support for people – Government of Ontario
Increase to Ontario GAINS payments for seniors – Government of Ontario
COVID-19 resources: Information about government programs, income support, housing support, and more – Social Planning Toronto
COVID-19 Resources – Association of Municipalities of Ontario
COVID-19 – Updates on the Law and Legal Services – Steps to Justice
COVID-19 current support for social assistance recipients – Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services
COVID-19 and Income Assistance – CLEO/Steps to Justice
Prince Edward Island
COVID-19 information, updates, support for business and workers – Government of PEI
Saskatchewan
Support for Businesses and Workers – Government of Saskatchewan
Quebec
COVID-19 – Financial assistance for workers – Government of Quebec
COVID-19 – Tout savoir sur les mesures en place pour les consommateurs – Union des Consommateurs
Yukon
Information about COVID-19 – Yukon.ca
Canada Emergency Response Benefit to be exempted from Yukon Social Assistance – Yukon.ca
All
Overview of Government Responses to COVID-19 – FP Canada
How does COVID-19 relief differ across Canada? – Canada’s National Observer (dated March 30, 2020)
Summary of Property Tax Deferrals in Canada – creditcardGenius
Budgeting/spending
Budgeting resources
Five different budgeting methods – Prosper Canada
Cash flow budget template – PDF – Prosper Canada
Cash flow budget template – fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Simple budget template – PDF – Prosper Canada
Simple budget template – fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Ten ways to trim expenses – Prosper Canada
Ways to save at the grocery store – Prosper Canada
5 budgeting app ideas – Prosper Canada
COVID vs Personal Budget tool – EBO Ottawa
Managing COVID-19 financial stress – Mental Health Commission
COVID-19 Aid and Recovery Education (CARE) packages – CPA Canada *NEW
COVID-19 Aid and Recovery Education (CARE) packages in French – CPA Canada *NEW
Tracking spending/bills
Expenses tracking sheet – PDF – Prosper Canada
Expenses tracking sheet – fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Tracking fluctuating expenses – Prosper Canada
Prioritizing Bills tool – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Spending tracker tool – CFPB
Cutting expenses tool – CFPB
Online budgeting tools
Budget Planner (free) – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
Budget Calculator Spreadsheet (downloadable Excel sheet) – MyMoneyCoach.ca
Spending Habits Calculator – GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca
Debt and credit concerns
Action planning
Making a debt action plan – Prosper Canada
DWD Worksheet #3: Making a debt action plan – Fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Know your rights and options (dealing with creditors) – Prosper Canada
Guide for talking to creditors – Prosper Canada
Steps to debt repayment – Prosper Canada
Managing bills and debt during an emergency – Prosper Canada
More resources
Options you can trust to help with your debt – Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Credit Counselling Canada – for 1:1 debt counselling support
Resources to help during COVID-19 – Credit Counselling Society
Debt Help / COVID-19 Resource Centre – Credit Canada
Financial Relief in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic – Credit Counselling Society
COVID-19 Resource Centre; legal and business information – Torkin Manes
Dealing with Debt resources handout – Prosper Canada
Covid and Credit – Equifax Canada
Financial coaching/One-on-one resources
Coaching during an emergency
Managing during an emergency: Tips for individuals – Prosper Canada
Thrive Even When Life Feels Chaotic and Uncertain – Momentum
Financial coaching at a distance: Tips for practitioners – Prosper Canada
Going virtual with your financial consultations – CFPB
Coaching skills and tools
Coaching skills: Active listening – Prosper Canada
Coaching skills: The art of acknowledgement – Prosper Canada
COACH-ing moments – Prosper Canada
Mind mapping (to support brainstorming) – Prosper Canada
‘Plan, do, review’ action planning template – Prosper Canada
Technology support
Connected Canadians (technology support for seniors)
Youth teaching adults – ABC Literacy
Financial services/Consumer safety
Banking
No-cost and low-cost bank accounts in Canada – FCAC
Account comparison tool – FCAC
What do do if you’re facing financial hardship (Includes bank fees which may be refunded) – FCAC
Frauds and scams
CERB and other COVID-19 scams – Prosper Canada (NEW!)
Escroqueries liées à la PCU et autres fraudes courantes durant la pandémie de COVID-19 – Prospérité Canada (NEW!)
COVID-19 fraud – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
COVID-19 specific frauds and scams – CanAge
Virtual asset safety/future planning
Tips to create a plan for your digital assets – CFPB
Resources by population group (seniors, newcomers, Indigenous people)
Resources for supporting seniors
COVID-19 specific frauds and scams – CanAge
COVID-19: Support for Seniors – CARP
COVID-19 Updates – Money Matters: Benefits, Taxes, Banking, Financial Relief, and Scams – The Council of Aging in Ottawa
Increase to Ontario GAINS payments for seniors – Government of Ontario
Changes to GIS and public pensions under COVID-19 – Government of Canada
New Horizons program for seniors – Government of Canada
New supports for seniors announced (May 12) – Prime Minister’s Office
Resources for supporting newcomers
Coronavirus: Financial assistance for newcomers, temporary residents, and refugees – Government of Canada
Summary of Financial Benefits Under Canada’s COVID response plan (Multi-language) – Refugee Sponsorship Training Program
Information for Newcomers – Settlement.org
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
Resources for Indigenous people
Tax information for Indigenous peoples – Government of Canada
Indigenous income tax issues – Government of Canada
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Indigenous communities – Government of Canada
Resources for people with disabilities
COVID-19 Measures for Persons with Disabilities (DTC info sheet)- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
COVID-19 Measures for Persons with Disabilities – French (DTC info sheet in French) – Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Disability Tax Credit Tool – Disability Alliance BC
Disability Inclusion Analysis of Government of Canada’s Response to COVID-19 (report and fact sheets) – Live Work Well Research Centre
Support for homelessness sector
Homeless Supports – Social Planning TO (Toronto)
Resources: Coronavirus COVID-19 – Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness (CHH3)
A Pandemic Response and Recovery Toolkit for Homeless System Leaders in Canada (Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness)
Disaster Recovery Toolkit – Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA (HUD)
Adapting to a ‘virtual work enviroment’
Meeting
The new normal? Leading and thinking in virtual teams – a toolkit – Kineo.org
Tamarack’s guidelines for working remotely – Tamarack Institute
Four tips to ease your virtual meeting stress – Global Learning Partners
Learning
Online Learning: Designing for Engagement and Collaboration – IDEO
This infographics from the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) show information about the program by province for the tax filing year 2019, including number of returns filed and amount of refunds and benefits accessed. The information is presented in English and French. Les informations sont présentées en anglais et en français.
This report explores the implications of new technologies on Canada’s economy and labour market and the adequacy of current social programs and policies supporting workers.
This paper focuses on proposed system transformation in Ontario Works, and explores the possibilities and limitations associated with the proposed changes in 2018. First, it looks at the broader context within which the government’s social assistance reforms are taking place. Second, it provides an overview of what is known about some of the structural changes in social assistance to date, as well as an overview of experiences in other jurisdictions that have undertaken similar reforms. In conclusion, the paper outlines some key considerations and unresolved questions that the government will need to address before it can move forward with a plan for reform.
This resource provides a directory of community legal clinics in Ontario. Community legal clinics provide information, advice, and representation on various legal issues, including social assistance, housing, refugee and immigration law, employment law, human rights, workers' compensation, consumer law, and the Canada Pension Plan. Some legal clinics do not handle all of these issues, but staff may be able to refer you to someone who can help. Community legal clinics are staffed by lawyers, community legal workers, and sometimes law students. Each legal clinic is run by a volunteer board of directors with members from the community. All help is private and confidential and provided free of charge.
There are many different ways to deliver financial empowerment programs. Financial literacy education, financial coaching, and matched savings programs can be successfully delivered independently, with successful outcomes for participants. They can also be blended together to accomplish several educational goals and improve participant outcomes. In this one-hour webinar we explore two examples of blended program models. The speakers are: Click 'Get it' below to access the video link, and scroll down to access handouts, slides, and video timestamps for this webinar.
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Handouts for this webinar:
How Savings Circles Works
Information about the Strive program
Time-stamps for the video recording:
3:35 – Agenda and introductions
6:00 – Audience polls
10:58 – Financial empowerment interventions (Speaker: Glenna Harris)
14:00 – Savings Circles program at Momentum (Speaker: Anna Jordan)
33:18 – Strive program (Speaker: Monica daPonte)
55:50 – Q&A
These reports look at the total incomes available to those relying on social assistance (often called “welfare”), taking into account tax credits and other benefits along with social assistance itself. The reports look at four different household types for each province and territory. Established by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, Welfare in Canada is a continuation of the Welfare Incomes series originally published by the National Council of Welfare, based on the same approach.
This report examines the financial health and vulnerability of households in Canada’s 35 largest cities, using a new composite index of household financial health at the neighbourhood level, the Neighbourhood Financial Health Index or NFHI. The NFHI is designed to shine a light on the dynamics underlying national trends, taking a closer look at what is happening at the provincial/territorial, community and neighbourhood levels. Update July 22, 2022: Please note that the Neighbourhood Financial Health Index is no longer available
Some emergencies in life can affect you financially. You could get sick, lose your job, or have a costly repair to your car or home. An emergency fund can provide a financial safety net. Use this calculator to estimate how much money should be set aside to pay for financial emergencies.
Across Canada, homelessness has always existed but with the creation of statistical reporting across the country the awareness of the pressure this puts on Canadian society is more apparent. The statistics on homelessness are staggering and understanding the path to homelessness, included by those who have experienced brain injury, is a critical piece in the prevention strategies that must be implemented in order to solve the issues. In 2018 the Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) received Ontario Trillium Seed Grant funding for a Homelessness Prevention Coordinator (HPC) whose role was to assist individuals with cognitive disabilities with housing issues. This report discusses the current homeless crisis and its relation to the findings of this project.
For many newcomers, living in Canada involves learning about finances and money management in new ways. This can include navigating new financial systems, and learning about tax filing and benefits, as well as day-to-day money management and saving. One-on-one financial coaching programs offer assistance for newcomers seeking to better manage their finances and achieve their goals. In this one-hour webinar we’ll hear from two agencies who recently piloted financial coaching programs for newcomers as part of Prosper Canada’s Financial Empowerment for Newcomers project. The speakers are: Click 'Get it' below to access the video link, and scroll down to access handouts, slides, and video timestamps for this webinar.
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Access the handouts for this webinar:
Poster presentation: Financial Empowerment for Newcomers project
Infographics: Newcomer settlement stages, money matters, and client personas
Time-stamps for the video recording:
3:11 – Agenda and introductions
5:21 – Audience poll
8:25 – Introduction to Financial Empowerment for Newcomers project (Speaker: Glenna Harris)
11:25 – AXIS financial coaching program (Speaker: Sheri Abbot)
30:05 – North York Community House financial coaching program (Speaker: Noemi Garcia)
45:40 – Q&A
This infographic displays data gathered from interviewing 53 newcomer participants in three provinces (Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Newfoundland) between August and October 2017. Learn more about the stages of newcomer settlement, key money topics and experiences of newcomers, and three types of newcomer client personas.
This is a one-hour webinar on the tax filing experiences of Canadians living on low incomes, and some successful strategies frontline practitioners can use to reduce stress at tax time for participants, in their delivery of community tax clinics. The speakers in this webinar are: Click 'Get it' below to access the video link, and scroll down to access handouts, slides, and video timestamps for this webinar.
Handouts, slides, and time-stamps
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Handouts for this webinar:
Tax time insights research report – webinar handout (Prosper Canada)
Income tax checklist – webinar handout (The Working Centre)
Form for missing income information – webinar handout (The Working Centre)
Income tax return summary sheet – webinar handout (The Working Centre)
Host checklist for tax clinics – webinar handout (The Working Centre)
Forms for rental information – webinar handout (The Working Centre)
Referral to FEPS – webinar handout (The Working Centre)
Time-stamps for the video-recording:
3:10 – Introductions and Agenda
6:32 – Audience polls
10:52 – Tax time insights: Experiences of people living on low incomes (Speaker: Nirupa Varatharasan)
26:00 – The Working Centre tax clinic experiences (Speaker: Jen Smerdon)
There may be resources to help us with the expenses of taking care of our departed. Often these resources are never tapped into but could have helped with the costs taken on by the surviving family or friends. We need to “look under every stone” to ensure that we have found all of these financial tools. This guide on financial resources for 'end of life' was created by the United Way of Bruce County.
This infographic by Prosper Canada features advice to help Indigenous communities and organizations set up free income tax clinics. Advice was shared by clinic volunteers through a roundtable and interviews as part of the First Nations Financial Wellness project.
Un nombre croissant d’organismes communautaires au Canada offrent des programmes qui aident à améliorer le bien-être financier des familles et des personnes dans leur collectivité. Certains de ces organismes préconisent également des changements aux politiques et aux systèmes pour faire en sorte que l’ensemble de la population canadienne, particulièrement les personnes à faible revenu, soit intégrée dans notre système financier. Apprenez à accroître l’impact de votre organisation. Joignez-vous à EBO, Union des consommateurs et l’ACEF Montérégie-Est pour un webinaire d’une heure pour entendre Hélène Ménard, Directrice générale, Centre Éducation financière EBO; Sophie Roussin, chargée du Projet national des champions de l’autonomisation financière, Union des consommateurs; et Tanya Brodeur, conseillère budgétaire, ACEF Montérégie-Est, partager des conseils sur la manière dont les partenariats et la collaboration peuvent se traduire par des changements à grande échelle.
This is a webinar presentation recorded with John Stapleton at Prosper Canada on October 4th, 2016. John Stapleton is a Principal of Open Policy, and has worked for the Ontario Government for 28 years in the areas of social assistance policy and operations. In the session John describes the differences between non-refundable and refundable tax credits, deductions, exemptions, and entitlements. He also reports on his learnings from presenting on tax credits and retiring on a low income to local Ontario audiences. This is the webinar video recording. For more information on retiring on a low income, including John’s updated toolkit with 2018 information, please visit: Open Policy Ontario.
Delivered in partnership with Plan Institute, this webinar "Future planning tips for people with disabilities and those who support them," discusses how planning for A Good Life can lead to achieving greater peace of mind about the present. This webinar also introduces the online Future Planning Tool for Persons with Disabilities*, a resource that helps you, your family, and your clients create a financial plan. The speakers are: This is the webinar video recording. Read the presentation slides for this webinar. Discover the Future Planning Tool discussed in this webinar.
This is the final report on the MPower Money Coaching Program. This program was a unique collaboration that brought together Prosper Canada, a national charity, Canada’s leading investment firms and investment industry associations, and the City of Toronto’s Employment and Social Services Division (TESS) to provide neutral, high quality financial help to people living on low incomes.
This webinar shares insights from three different financial coaching and counselling programs in Canada, discussing what these financial coaching programs look like, program successes, and program challenges. The speakers are: This is the video recording of the webinar. Read the presentation slides for this webinar. Read the MPower Money Coaching Program report discussed in the webinar.
This webinar, "Planning a successful community tax clinic in Indigenous communities, Part 2," is the second in a 2-part series sharing information, community examples and promising practices with Ontario First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations to support the launch and planning of your own tax clinic that meets the needs of your community. The speakers are: This is the webinar video recording. Read the presentation slides for the 'Tax clinic planning for indigenous communities' webinar.
This webinar, "Planning a successful community tax clinic in Indigenous communities (Part 1)," is part one of two webinars trainings which share information, community examples and promising practices from Ontario First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations. This training will support the launch and planning of your own tax clinic that meets the needs of your community. Speakers are: Read the presentation slides from this webinar. View Part 2 in this webinar series.
