The affordable housing crisis in Canada creates many challenges for millions of people trying to find a place to live that they can afford. For many marginalized renters, discrimination presents additional barriers making it even harder for them to find a home.  To better understand these...

From 2019 to 2022, among Indigenous people aged 18 years and older, 54.3% of Inuit reported having a regular healthcare provider, along with 81.4% of First Nations people living off reserve and 84.5% of Métis. This is compared with 85.7% of the non-Indigenous adult population. Released...

This article analyses results from the Canadian Housing Survey, 2022 , using new variables on homelessness and factors contributing to regaining and maintaining housing. The paper provides a descriptive overview of different types of homelessness experiences in Canada, highlighting select...

The policy brief, Provincial spending on housing and homelessness in Ontario, presents a stark reality: homelessness in Ontario is worsening, with chronic homelessness nearly doubling in just two years. The policy brief finds that:  Homelessness is worsening: Over 81,000 Ontarians experienced...

The COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery were “feast and famine” for the budgets of low-income families and individuals across Canada. Because of the income support programs put in place to help Canadians affected by workplace shutdowns, the poverty rate fell to 6.4% in 2020, down by...

In 2024, close to half of First Nations people living off reserve (45%) and Métis (44%), and more than half of Inuit (54%) (all aged 15 years and older) reported that it was "difficult" or "very difficult" in the 12 months preceding the survey to meet their financial needs in terms of...

The Embedded Financial Coaching project builds on evidence that embedding financial coaching into employment services leads to stronger employment and financial well-being outcomes. This report provides insights on the project components including delivering financial coaching services, developing...

A poverty reduction strategy lays a foundation to build a community of best practices; it identifies gaps and leverages local knowledge. This case study unpacks the conditions that have led to the success of Niagara Region’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – specifically around its community...

Money and Youth starts with an exploration of one’s values and covers how to make good decisions – and be aware of those who will try to influence decisions and how they can go about doing so. The book then proceeds through a learning framework looking at the challenges and opportunities of...

This infographic provides a helpful visual summary of tax benefits that can add to income or reduce the taxes people in Canada pay when they file their tax return. The information is especially useful for people in Canada who: Are working or living on a low income; Live with a...

The findings in this report highlight the important role of Old Age Security in reducing poverty, with payments under this program making up a large share of annual income for older adults in Toronto’s lowest income deciles. However, too many eligible older adults in Toronto are not receiving OAS...

Financial Services Regulatory Authority is responsible for registering all federally incorporated loan and trust companies that do business in Ontario. They enforce the Loan and Trust Corporations Act that govern loan and trust companies. Use this website to learn more about: How to find a...

 Under the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006 (MBLAA) all individuals and businesses in Ontario who carry out regulated mortgage brokering activities must be licensed with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority unless otherwise exempted by the Act. As regulator, their...

To give you confidence when seeking advice from anyone using a Financial Planner or Financial Advisor, or similar, title in Ontario, FSRA requires these individuals meet a minimum standard of education and be supervised by a FSRA-approved credentialing body.  Use this website to: Check...

FSRA’s role as regulator is to ensure pension plans meet the legal standards in the Pension Benefits Act. They can also help you if you can’t get the information you need from your plan administrator or want to file a complaint about your pension plan. Use this website to learn more...

Financial Services Regulatory Authority, through the Deposit Insurance Reserve Fund (DIRF), provides coverage of non-registered insurable deposits, such as a chequing or savings accounts, up to a maximum amount of $250,000, while deposits in registered accounts, such as RRSPs or TFSAs, have...

Financial Services Regulatory Authority’s role, as a regulator, is to ensure that insurance companies’ proposed rates are fair and not excessive. This website will help you learn about: What to do after an accident How to save on auto insurance Filing a complaint Getting an auto...

The Working Centre in Kitchener-Waterloo has been dedicated to aiding marginalized populations for over 40 years. In partnership with Prosper Canada, it embarked on an initiative to connect the populations they serve to government benefits and tax filing support.  Recognizing the intricate...

Financial coaching (FC) is a transformative approach that empowers individuals to take control of their financial future. Through personalized interventions such as assessing financial positions, creating budgets, managing credit, accessing benefits, and filing taxes, financial coaching equips...

This year marks the 35th anniversary since the passing of the unanimous all-party federal resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Using tax filer data from 2022, the latest available, this year’s report card found a troubling trend: child poverty increased at record rates two...

In partnership, Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank have released Who’s Hungry 2024 – an annual profile of poverty and food insecurity in the City of Toronto.   In the last year, there were 3.49 million client visits to Toronto food banks – nearly 1 million more visits...

In this 8th episode of the "What the Food?!" webinar series, we hear from Randy Hatfield, Executive Director at the Saint John Human Development Council about affording food in today's economy - the living wage vs minimum wage, the Consumer Price Index, rental rates and the salary requirements to...

Low-cost accounts cost a maximum of $4 per month in banking fees. The Government of Canada and certain financial institutions have an agreement to provide low-cost basic banking services. If you meet certain conditions, you may be eligible for a low-cost account at no cost. No-cost accounts have...

Fraudsters are master manipulators who leverage relationships to build trust and exploit you financially. Technology makes it easy to become a victim as bad actors can, pretend to be someone you know online, or use artificial intelligence to trick you. According to data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud...

The CRA has put together a website for what Indigenous Peoples should know about the tax return they send to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and how that return can result in various benefit payments. This includes information on tax exemption and who is eligible.  There is also information on...