Policy recommendations – Prosper Canada Learning Hub

The Role of Credit Unions in Providing Alternatives to Payday Lending

December 16, 2021/0 Comments/in Canadian Credit Union Association Alternative financial services, Credit unions, Fintech, Payday lending, Policy recommendations Laura Lamb Research Report Canada Best practices, Financial literacy, Unbanked, Underbanked /by Shermeen Beg

High levels of household indebtedness in Canada has been a concern for policymakers at all levels of government over the past decade. As the economic costs of COVID-19 grow, household indebtedness becomes a faster growing and increasingly more serious concern.

While responsive government policy, such as the federal government’s Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), has curbed some short-term impacts on indebtedness, the program was developed to fill a temporary gap. The most vulnerable households are low-income households with limited access to credit, who frequently turn to high cost payday lending for financial relief. While regulations on the payday lending industry have increased substantially, low-income Canadian households remain left with few, if any, practical alternatives.

The low-income households in greatest need of alternatives are the financially excluded, specifically the underbanked and the unbanked.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that not all payday loan clients are in low-income households. A 2016 report by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada states that close to 40% of payday loan borrowers have household income of $55,000 or greater and 20% having income of $80,000 or greater.

Thus, payday loan borrowers are not a homogeneous group.

Some Canadian credit unions have developed payday loan alternatives for the financially excluded, however, these more reasonably priced loans are only accessed by a very small portion of would-be payday loan clients.

The objective of this research is to review the alternative payday loan products currently offered by Canadian credit unions, to identify the barriers to offering more payday loan alternatives, and to make recommendations to expand the offerings.

Countervailing Power: Review of the coordination and funding for financial counselling services across Australia

October 20, 2021/0 Comments/in Department of Social Services Financial coaching & counselling Access to services, Financial counselling, Policy recommendations, Research Louise Sylvan Research Report Australia /by Carrie Wong

In 2019, the Australian Government committed to additional actions to improve the financial outcomes of Australians, including undertaking an immediate review of the coordination and funding of financial counselling services that disadvantaged Australians rely on.

The review noted the benefits of financial counselling to the community, including early intervention and prevention of further financial hardship, advocacy support, and referral to other services for complex issues. The review also highlighted the challenges faced by the financial counselling sector, including increasing demand, fragmented delivery, and the array of complex situations and financial products that can lead to financial hardship.

The review:

Assessed whether existing financial counselling services adequately support clients’ current, emerging or changing needs, including areas such as small business and natural disasters;
Explored the most efficient and appropriate way to deliver financial counselling services;
Considered how to improve the coordination and consistency of delivery of financial counselling services across all jurisdictions in Australia;
Recommended options for improving the predictability and sustainability of funding financial counselling services, including by drawing on successful international funding models and considering options for industry funding; and
Considered how the use of data can inform policy, service delivery and demand trends.

Strengthening Canada’s External Complaint Handling System

October 19, 2021/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Consumer protection Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Policy recommendations Elizabeth Mulholland Miscellaneous Report Canada Banking, Financial vulnerability, Regulation /by Shermeen Beg

Canada’s external complaint handing structures and processes play a critical role in levelling the playing field for consumers and financial service providers, helping to offset the inevitable imbalance of power between large financial institutions and individual consumers. Prosper Canada welcomes the opportunity to provide recommendations for strengthening what is currently a weak and inadequate alternative dispute resolution system.

3 Principles for an Antiracist, Equitable State Response to COVID-19 — and a Stronger Recovery

May 25, 2021/0 Comments/in Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Racial equity COVID-19, Income inequality, Policy recommendations, racial equity Cortney Sanders, Erica Williams, Michael Leachman Miscellaneous Article United States Health care, Immigrants, Indigenous, Low income /by Carrie Wong

COVID-19’s effects have underscored the ways that racism, bias, and discrimination are embedded in health, social, and economic systems. Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people are experiencing higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death, and people of color are also overrepresented in jobs that are at higher infection risk and hardest hit economically. Shaping these outcomes are structural barriers like wealth and income disparities, inadequate access to health care, and racial discrimination built into the health system and labor market.

This article discusses three recommended principles for guiding policymakers in making equity efforts.

Yukon Poverty Report Card 2020

April 8, 2021/0 Comments/in Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition Poverty issues Policy recommendations, Poverty, Poverty reduction strategy Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition Research Report Canada, Yukon Territory Children, Employment, First Nations, Food insecurity, Housing, Low income /by Carrie Wong

This report was released as part of public education movement Campaign 2000's annual assessment of child and family poverty in Canada, providing an overview of the following key issues relating to poverty in Yukon:

the housing crisis and the challenge of food insecurity with a focus of the disproportionate impact on children and youth, Indigenous peoples, and others.
an overview of previous initiatives and ongoing work that can be leveraged to support a comprehensive approach to reducing poverty in the Yukon.
a description of some successful community-driven initiatives that are supporting improvements in the health and wellness of Yukoners.
ten recommendations including several policy proposals to improve the health and wellness of children, youth, and families specifically.

2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada – Report 4 – Canada Child Benefit

March 30, 2021/0 Comments/in Office of the Auditor General of Canada Best practices, Tax filing and benefits Canada, Government spending, Policy recommendations, Tax benefits Auditor General of Canada Miscellaneous Report Canada Children, Families, household income, Low income, Tax filing /by Carrie Wong

A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan concludes that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) managed the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) program so that millions of eligible families received accurate and timely payments. The audit also reviewed the one-time additional payment of up to $300 per child issued in May 2020 to help eligible families during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

The audit noted areas where the agency could improve the administration of the program by changing how it manages information it uses to assess eligibility to the CCB. For example, better use of information received from other federal organizations would help ensure that the agency is informed when a beneficiary has left the country. This would avoid cases where payments are issued on the basis of outdated information. To enhance the integrity of the program, the agency should request that all applicants provide a valid proof of birth when they apply for the benefit.

The audit also raised the concept of female presumption and noted that given the diversity of families in Canada today, this presumption has had an impact on the administration of the Canada Child Benefit program.

Economic Security Programs Reduce Overall Poverty, Racial and Ethnic Inequities

March 8, 2021/0 Comments/in Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Poverty issues, Racial equity Policy recommendations, Poverty, Poverty gap, Race/ethnicity, racial equity, Social assistance, United States Danilo Trisi, Matt Saenz Research Report United States Child poverty, Children, Demographics, Families, Housing assistance, Immigrants, Tax credits /by Carrie Wong

Economic security programs such as Social Security, food assistance, tax credits, and housing assistance can help provide opportunity by ameliorating short-term poverty and hardship and, by doing so, improving children’s long-term outcomes. Over the last half-century, these assistance programs have reduced poverty for millions of people in the United States — including children, who are highly susceptible to poverty’s ill effects.

At the same time, barriers to opportunity, including discrimination and disparities in access to employment, education, and health care, remain enormous and keep poverty rates much higher for some racial and ethnic groups than others. While government programs have done much to narrow these disparities in poverty, further progress will require stronger government efforts to reduce poverty and discrimination and build opportunity for all.

Building household financial security during COVID-19 and beyond

October 8, 2020/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Financial well-being, Health, Research and evaluation, Tax filing and benefits Canada, COVID-19, emergency response, Policy recommendations, Research, Tax benefits Prosper Canada Prosper Canada Webinars Webinar Canada Access to benefits, Tax filing /by Glenna Harris

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many Canadians were having difficulty making ends meet, and the pandemic has further impacted the financial well-being of financially vulnerable Canadians.

In this webinar, we present research on how COVID-19 has impacted the financial security of Canadians and how additional financial challenges are likely to arise over the next year. The research was conducted in partnership with Prosper Canada by BCG’s Social Impact Ambassador program. The speakers are Common Good Founder Steven Ayer, BCG interns Abhijit Bhamidipati, Ada Kwong, and Brian Page, and Prosper Canada CEO Liz Mulholland.

This one-hour webinar is relevant for practitioners across all sectors who want to learn how Canadians are being financially impacted by COVID-19, and to share and learn what can be done in response.

Click 'Get it' below to access the video link, and scroll down to access handouts, slides, and video timestamps for this webinar.

Presentation slides and time-stamps

Read the presentation slides for this webinar.

Time-stamps for the video recording:
3:26 – Agenda and introductions
6:18 – Audience polls
10:39 – Research presentation begins (BCG and Steven Ayer)
36:18 – What Prosper Canada is doing (Liz Mulholland)
42:31 – Q&A

A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada: Making the Economy Work for Everyone

September 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Collective impact, Financial inclusion Barriers to services, Canada, Childcare, COVID-19, Employment, Gender/sex, Housing, Income inequality, Inequality, Policy recommendations, Race/ethnicity, Women Institute for Gender and the Economy, YWCA Canada Research Report Canada /by Carrie Wong

This report offers an intersectional perspective on how Canada can recover from the COVID-19 crisis and weather difficult times in the future, while ensuring the needs of all people in Canada are considered in the formation of policy.
YWCA Canada and the University of Toronto’s Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) offer this joint assessment to highlight the important principles that all levels of government should consider as they develop and implement policies to spur post-pandemic recovery.

Measuring financial health: What policymakers need to know

September 3, 2020/0 Comments/in Cenfri Financial well-being Employment, Evaluation, Financial behaviour, Financial capability, Financial education, Financial health, Financial shock, Financial well-being, Income security, Policy recommendations, Research, Survey, United Kingdom, United States Elisabeth Rhyne Research Report /by Carrie Wong

This report provides an overview of financial health and the policy responses around the world. Based on this, and the key questions of whether financial health measure more than income and if financial inclusion supports financial health, the report offers recommendations to policy makers on strategies for measuring the financial health of their population.

Locked down, not locked out: An eviction prevention plan for Ontario

June 30, 2020/0 Comments/in Maytree Poverty issues Canada, COVID-19, Housing, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Social assistance, Statistics Garima Talwar Kapoor, Hannah Aldridge, Ricardo Tranjan Research Brief Canada, Ontario /by Carrie Wong

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.

Basic Income: Some Policy Options for Canada

February 24, 2020/0 Comments/in Basic Income Canada Network Poverty issues Basic income, Canada, Low income, Policy, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Tax benefits Chandra Pasma, Sheila Regehr Research Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

As the need for basic income grows, the Basic Income Canada Network (BICN) is often asked how Canada could best design and pay for it. To answer that in a detailed way, BICN asked a team to model some options that are fair, effective and feasible in Canada. The three options in this report do just that. The three options demonstrate that it is indeed possible for Canada to have a basic income that is progressively structured and progressively funded. BICN wants governments, especially the federal government, to take this seriously—and to act.

State of homelessness in Canada 2016

February 21, 2020/0 Comments/in Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press Housing and homelessness, Poverty issues, Research and evaluation At risk population, Government spending, Homelessness, Housing, Housing assistance, Housing first, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Research Erin Dej, Melanie Redman, Stephen Gaetz, Tim Richter Research Report Canada /by Carrie Wong

Ending homelessness in Canada requires partnerships across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Preventative measures, and providing safe, appropriate, and affordable housing with supports for those experiencing homelessness is needed.

This paper provides a series of joint recommendations – drafted by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Canadian Alliance to end Homelessness – for the National Housing Strategy.

Comparison of Provincial and Territorial Child Benefits and Recommendations for British Columbia

February 20, 2020/0 Comments/in First Call - BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition Tax filing and benefits Advocacy, Canada, Children, Government spending, household income, Low income, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Tax benefits First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition Research Report British Columbia, Canada /by Carrie Wong

First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition has been tracking child and family poverty rates in BC for more than two decades. Every November, with the support of the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC), a report card is released with the latest statistics on child and family poverty in BC and recommendations for policy changes that would reduce these poverty levels.

This report presents data from the latest report card released by First Call on a cross-Canada comparison of child benefits.

Working Without a Net: Rethinking Canada’s social policy in the new age of work

February 20, 2020/0 Comments/in Mowat Centre Financial well-being, Poverty issues Canada, Cash flow, Employment insecurity, household income, Policy recommendations Jordann Thirgood, Sunil Johal Research Report Canada, Ontario /by Carrie Wong

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.

Canada’s Colour Coded Income Inequality

January 24, 2020/0 Comments/in CCPA - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Asset building and saving, Financial well-being, Poverty issues Canada, household income, Income inequality, Policy recommendations, Racial wealth gap, Research Grace-Edward Galabuzi, Ricardo Tranjan, Sheila Block Research Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

Canada’s population is increasingly racialized. The 2016 census counted 7.7 million racialized individuals in Canada. That number represented 22% of the population, up sharply from 16% just a decade earlier. Unfortunately, the rapid growth in the racialized population is not being matched by a corresponding increase in economic equality. This paper uses 2016 census data to paint a portrait of income inequality between racialized and non-racialized Canadians. It also looks at the labour market discrimination faced by racialized workers in 2006 and 2016.

These data provide a glimpse of the likely differences in wealth between racialized and non-racialized Canadians. This paper also explores the relationship between race, immigration and employment incomes.

Taken together, the data point to an unequivocal pattern of racialized economic inequality in Canada. In the absence of bold policies to combat racism, this economic inequality shows no signs of disappearing.

System transformation in Ontario Works: Considerations for Ontario

January 9, 2020/0 Comments/in Maytree Financial well-being, Poverty issues Canada, Financial vulnerability, Policy, Policy recommendations, Social assistance, System reform, System transformation Garima Talwar Kapoor Research Report Canada, Ontario /by Glenna Harris

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.

Helping Families Save to Withstand Emergencies

November 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Asset building and saving, Financial well-being Asset building, Emergency savings, Financial insecurity, Financial shock, Financial vulnerability, Financial well-being, Income volatility, Low income, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Retirement planning, Saving, Tax benefits, United States David Newville, Joanna Ain, Myrto Karaflos Research Brief United States /by Carrie Wong

This brief identifies policy solutions to help American families build savings to withstand emergencies that threaten their financial stability.

Removing Savings Penalties for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

November 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Asset building and saving, Poverty issues Asset building, Asset limits, Barriers to services, Financial aid, Financial insecurity, Financial vulnerability, Low income, Policy recommendations, Program design, Social assistance, United States Holden Weisman Research Brief United States /by Carrie Wong

This brief discusses the savings penalties in public assistance programs in the United States, also known as asset limits, and that actions that can be taken to eliminate these limits and the barriers towards building savings for families living on low income.

Promise Accounts: Matched Savings to Help Families Get Ahead

July 17, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Asset building and saving Asset building, Education savings, Entrepreneurship, Home ownership, Household wealth, Income mobility, Matched savings account, Policy recommendations, Program development, Racial wealth gap, Saving, Tax time savings, United States David Newville, Joanna Ain Programs Report United States /by Glenna Harris

This report from Prosperity Now shows the importance of matched savings programs called 'Promise Accounts' which help families successfully save for their futures. They are especially important for households of color as compared to white households.

Decreasing economic inequality and closing the racial wealth divide means creating saving pathways for low-income households to build wealth. Promise Accounts make some key changes to traditional matched savings programs. Specifically, these accounts would have features including:

Standardized accounts created through one platform, managed by the US Department of the Treasury
A strong role for local organizations
Broadening the uses for Promise Accounts including higher education, work, and housing
Allowing more families to participate
Elimination of savings penalties

2019 First Annual Report of the Disability Advisory Committee: Enabling access to disability tax measures

July 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Canada Revenue Agency Financial well-being, Health, Tax filing and benefits Canada, Disability, Disability Tax Credit, Health, Health care, Policy, Policy recommendations, Tax benefits, Tax credits CRA Disability Advisory Committee Research Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

The mandate of the Committee is to provide advice to the minister of national revenue and the commissioner of the Agency on:

the administration and interpretation of the laws and programs related to disability tax measures;
ways in which the needs and expectations of the disability community can be better taken into consideration;
increasing the awareness and take-up of measures for persons with disabilities;
how to better inform persons with disabilities and various stakeholders about tax measures and important administrative changes; and
current administrative practices and how to enhance the quality of services for persons with disabilities

This report makes recommendations on support for persons with disabilities based on surveys and responses from individual Canadians, organizations, tax preparers, health providers, and policy experts. The recommendations seek to ensure clarity and fairness in Disability Tax Credit eligibility criteria and administration, reduction of barriers in accessing the DTC, and more attention to the costs of disability-related assistance.

Debt and mental health: A statistical update

June 24, 2019/0 Comments/in Money and Mental Health Policy Institute Credit & Debt, Health Debt, Health, Mental health, Policy recommendations, Research, Statistics Merlyn Holkar Research Brief United Kingdom /by Glenna Harris

Financial problems can be a significant source of distress, putting pressure on people's mental health, particularly if they are treated insensitively by creditors. Some people in financial difficulty cut back on essentials, such as heating and eating, or social activities that support their well being, to try and balance their budget. In many cases this has a negative impact on people's mental health.

This policy note from draws on nationally representative data to update key statistics on the relationship between debt and mental health problems, and sets out implications for policymakers, service providers and essential services firms.

Policy and research symposium: Income volatility

March 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Financial behaviour/decisions, Financial well-being, Research and evaluation Canada, Demographics, Financial behaviour, Fintech, Income volatility, Policy, Policy recommendations, Prosper Canada conferences, Research, Statistics, Survey, United States Prosper Canada Prosper Canada Conferences Presentation Canada, United States /by Glenna Harris

The research and policy symposium on income volatility was held on March 9, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario. Speakers from Canada and the United States present on key research findings on the nature of income and expense volatility in the early 21st Century. Speakers also suggest policy solutions to address the challenges of increasingly volatile household income.

Talking to our neighbours: America’s household balance sheets

Household Financial Stability and Income Volatility, Ray Boshara, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Income volatility: What banking data can tell us, if we ask, Fiona Greig, JP Morgan Chase Institute
Up Close and Personal: Findings from the U.S. Financial Diaries, Rob Levy, CFSI

The good, the bad, and the ugly: Canada’s household balance sheets

Canada’s household balance sheets, Andrew Heisz, Statistics Canada

Income volatility and its effects in Canada: What do we know?

Pervasive and Profound: The impact of income volatility on Canadians, Derek Burleton, TD Economics
Income and Expense Volatility Survey Results, Patrick Ens, Capital One
Neighbourhood Financial Health Index: Making the Invisible Visible, Katherine Scott, Canadian Council on Social Development

What gets inspected, gets respected: Do we have the data we need to tackle household financial instability?

Do we have the data we need to tackle household financial instability?, Catherine Van Rompaey, Statistics Canada

Emerging solutions

Income volatility: Strategies for helping families reduce or manage it, David S. Mitchell, Aspen Intitute
Building consumer financial health: The role of financial institutions and FinTech, Rob Levy, CFSI
Redesigning Social Policy for the 21st Century, Sunil Johal, Mowat Centre
Strengthening retirement security for low- and moderate-income workers, Johnathan Weisstub, Common Wealth

A Realist Analysis of Nonprofit Tax Filing Services

February 27, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Tax filing and benefits Canada, Policy, Policy recommendations, Prosper Canada conferences, Research, Tax filing Kevin Schachter Research Presentation Canada /by Glenna Harris

In this presentation, Kevin Schachter, Graduate Student at University of Manitoba and Information Manager at SEED Winnipeg, presents a realist analysis of nonprofit tax filing services.

This presentation is from the session 'Closing the tax-filing gap: Challenges and opportunities', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.

View all presentations from this event here.

Supporting Organizations in the CVITP

February 27, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Tax filing and benefits Canada, CVITP, Policy recommendations, Prosper Canada conferences, Research, Tax clinic, Tax filing Aaron Kozak, Melissa Valencia Research Presentation Canada /by Glenna Harris

In this presentation, Aaron Kozak, ESDC and Melissa Valencia, CRA, present findings from their research on the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). This includes recommendations for structural changes to the program, review of CVITP training, changes to registration, and more.

This presentation is from the session 'Closing the tax-filing gap: Challenges and opportunities', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.

View all presentations from this event here.

Complaints Related to Service from the CRA: Lessons Learned and Working Towards Better Service

October 18, 2018/0 Comments/in Tax filing and benefits Canada, Complaint reporting, Income tax, Indigenous, Ombudsman, Policy, Policy recommendations, Rights, Tax filing Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman Miscellaneous Presentation Canada /by Glenna Harris

Operating at arm’s length from the Canada Revenue Agency, the Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman (OTO) works to enhance the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) accountability in its service to, and treatment of, taxpayers through independent and impartial reviews of service-related complaints and systemic issues. OTO receives complaints and concerns from members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

In this conference presentation, the Taxpayers’ Ombudsman provides examples of the types of issues her Office receives in order to provide community leaders with her insights in helping Indigenous people get better service from the CRA.

In support of the AFOA Canada 2018 National Conference theme of Human Capital – Balancing Indigenous Culture and Creativity with Modern Workplaces, this presentation will provide participants with information on the types of issues and trends her office sees from members of the Indigenous communities and on better ways of serving these populations.

High-Cost Alternative Financial Services: Policy Options

September 20, 2018/0 Comments/in Momentum Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Canada, Credit, Fringe financial services, High-cost lending, Payday lending, Policy, Policy recommendations Momentum Miscellaneous Report Alberta, Canada /by Glenna Harris

Many Canadians turn to high-cost alternative financial services when they need a short-term fix for a budgetary issue. Though these banking and credit alternatives are a convenient choice for individuals in search of fast cash, particularly those who face barriers to obtaining credit at a bank or credit union, access comes at a steep price and with a high degree of risk. On its own, one high-cost loan has the potential to trap a borrower in a cycle of debt, not only amplifying their short-term problem, but also limiting their ability to secure the income and assets needed to thrive in the long term.

The policy recommendations presented in this brief, and summarized in the chart on page two, are inspired by the regulatory initiatives across the country, and reflect ways in which all three levels of government can contribute to better consumer protection for all Canadians.

Breaking down barriers: A critical analysis of the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan

August 7, 2018/0 Comments/in Senate of Canada Tax filing and benefits Canada, Disability, Disability Tax Credit, Policy, Policy recommendations, RDSP, Tax credits The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs Research Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

The Disability Tax Credit helps Canadians by reducing the amount of income tax they are required to pay. The Registered Disability Savings Plan helps people with a disability or their caregiver save for the future by putting money into a fund that grows tax free until the beneficiary makes a withdrawal.

This report, released by the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, makes 16 recommendations aimed at improving both programs. They are divided into short-term objective to make the process for the two programs simpler and clearer, and a long-term philosophical shift in the way Canada deals with people who are in financial distress but cannot advocate for themselves. Recommendations include removing barriers that prevent people from taking advantage of the Disability Tax Credit and making enrolment in the Registered Disability Savings Plan automatic for eligible people under 60 years of age.

Redesigning Social Policy for the 21st Century

July 3, 2018/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Financial behaviour/decisions, Financial well-being Canada, Employment, Employment insecurity, Income volatility, Policy, Policy recommendations, Prosper Canada conferences, Tax benefits Sunil Johal Research Video Canada /by Glenna Harris

In this video presentation Sunil Johal from the Mowat Centre explains how social policy in the 21st century could be redesigned to accommodate the changing nature of work and income in Canada.

This presentation was given at the Prosper Canada Policy Research Symposium on March 9, 2018.

Read the slide deck that accompanies this presentation.

Pour lire les diapositives de la présentation, cliquez ici.

View the full video playlist of all presentations from this symposium.

Enhancing access to the Canada Learning Bond

June 1, 2018/0 Comments/in ESDC - Employment and Social Development Canada Research and evaluation Canada, Case studies, Education savings, Policy recommendations Jennifer Robson Research Report Canada /by Jenni Bolton

This discussion paper responds to a request from ESDC to develop options for reforms to the Canada Education Savings Program and, more specifically to improve access to the Canada Learning Bond. It reviews individual and institutional challenges to participation in the current system and consider three approaches for reform. It presents a case study of the United Kingdom’s Child Trust Fund, which included an auto-enrolment default mechanism. It concludes that the model used in the UK is not suitable for Canada and instead make a series of recommendations for both incremental and more ambitious reforms to fulfill the Government’s commitment to improve access to the Bond.

Child Welfare and Youth Homelessness in Canada: A Proposal for Action

February 23, 2018/0 Comments/in Homeless Hub Housing and homelessness Canada, Health, Homelessness, Housing assistance, Mental health, Policy recommendations, Research, Youth, Youth in care Bill O'Grady, David French, Kaitlin Schwan, Melanie Redman, Naomi Nichols, S. Gaetz, Sean A. Kidd Research Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

Without a Home, conducted by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness in partnership with A Way Home Canada, surveyed 1,103 youth experiencing homelessness across Canada. Youth in 42 different communities and nine of the 10 Canadian provinces, as well as Nunavut Territory, completed the self-report survey. The results provide the first national picture of youth homelessness in Canada.

Policy Brief – Why is Uptake of the Disability Tax Credit Low in Canada?

February 23, 2018/0 Comments/in The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary Tax filing and benefits Canada, Disability, Disability Tax Credit, Health, Policy, Policy recommendations, Tax benefits, Tax credits Jennifer Zwicker, Stephanie Dunn Research Brief Canada /by Glenna Harris

Disability supports should be designed to provide benefit and not burdens to eligible recipients. Unfortunately, this is not a reality when it comes to one of the main benefits open to Canadians with disability: the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC). Designed to recognize some of the higher costs faced by people with severe disabilities and their caregivers, the DTC appears to be more of a burden for many, with estimated utilisation unacceptably low at around 40 per cent of working-aged adults with qualifying disabilities.

Low uptake is a concern not only because people are missing out on the credit itself but also because eligibility to the DTC – which is not automatic – is a gateway to other important and more valuable benefits such as the Child Disability Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP).

Zambia Financial Diaries – Interim Report

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Financial well-being Cash flow, Financial diaries, Financial exclusion, International, Mainstream financial services, Methodology, Microfinance, Policy, Policy recommendations, Research, Saving Eric Noggle, Guy Stuart Research Report Zambia /by John Smith

Transforming the Financial Lives of a Generation of Young Americans

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial literacy Banking, Children, Education, Financial education, Financial literacy, Instructional design, Online tool, Policy, Policy recommendations, Saving, United States, Youth CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Families of Color in the Quest to Build Wealth – A Special Report from CFED

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Financial well-being Education, Families, Household wealth, Inequality, Policy, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Race/ethnicity, Racial wealth gap, Unemployment, United States, Wealth inequality Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Research Report United States /by John Smith

Job Polarization and the Great Recession

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Urban Institute Financial well-being Earnings, Employment, Employment insecurity, Labour market, Low income, Policy recommendations, Research, Unemployment, United States Austin Nichols, Josh Mitchell Research Brief United States /by John Smith

Equitable Investments in the Next Generation: Designing Policies to Close the Racial Wealth Gap

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Financial well-being Assets, Debt, Earnings, Education, Education savings, Employment, Government spending, Low income, Moderate income, Outcomes, Policy, Policy recommendations, Post-secondary education, Race/ethnicity, Racial wealth gap, United States, Wealth inequality Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Research Report United States /by John Smith

A Road Map to Eradicate Child & Family Poverty: 2016 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Campaign 2000 Poverty issues Aboriginal peoples, Canada, Child poverty, Children, Housing, Inequality, Lone parents, Policy, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Social assistance, Tax benefits, Wealth inequality Campaign 2000 Research Report Canada /by John Smith

The Canadian student financial aid system: the case for modernization

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Policy Options / Options Politiques Asset building and saving Aboriginal peoples, Asset building, Assets, Debt, Education savings, Financial aid, Policy, Policy recommendations, Post-secondary education, Research, Student debt, Tax credits Andrew Parkin, Noel Baldwin Miscellaneous Article Canada /by John Smith

How are we doing on social policy? Is the recession paralyzing or transformative?

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in TD Bank Group Financial well-being Aboriginal peoples, Canada, Education, Employment, Employment insecurity, Financial well-being, Immigrants, Lending, Outcomes, Policy, Policy recommendations, Post-secondary education, RESP, Social assistance, Tax benefits TD Bank Group Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Out of the Shadows: Shining a light on Canada’s unequal distribution of federal tax expenditures

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CCPA - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Tax filing and benefits Assets, Canada, Government spending, High income, Income tax, Inequality, Low income, Moderate income, Policy, Policy recommendations, Saving, Tax benefits, Tax credits, Wealth inequality David Macdonald Research Report Canada /by John Smith

A Policymaker’s Guide to Basic Income

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CCPA - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Tax filing and benefits Canada, Children, Guaranteed income, Lone adults, Policy, Policy recommendations, Seniors, Social assistance, Tax benefits David Macdonald Research Guide Canada /by John Smith

Precarious Positions: Policy Options to Mitigate Risks in Non-standard Employment

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in C.D. Howe Institute Financial well-being Canada, Employment, Employment insecurity, Financial well-being, Gender/sex, Income volatility, Millennials, Policy, Policy recommendations, Research, Urban Colin Busby, Ramya Muthukumaran Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Divided City: Life in Canada’s Child Poverty Capital. 2016 Toronto Child and Family Poverty Report Card

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Children's Aid Society Poverty issues Canada, Child poverty, Children, Education, Families, Food insecurity, Housing, Inequality, Municipalities, Policy, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Research, Statistics, Transportation Children's Aid Society Research Report Canada /by John Smith

2016 BC Child Poverty Report Card

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in First Call - BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition Poverty issues Child poverty, Children, Employment insecurity, Families, Inequality, Lone parents, Low income, Measurement, Minimum wage, Policy, Policy recommendations, Poverty, Social assistance, Statistics, Urban, Welfare, Working poor First Call BC Research Report Canada /by John Smith

The statistics and stories in this report tell a painful truth about British Columbia
We like to think of ourselves as a caring, civilized society, but in fact we have
been tolerating and sustaining shameful levels of child and family poverty for
decade