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...

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...

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...

The executive summary on the progress of Opportunity for All- Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy identifies the availability and affordability of safe and suitable housing, the ever-increasing cost of feeding one's family, the long hours and low wages of work to barely keep your head above...

In recent years, social media has become a powerful platform for sharing information. A way to discover new products and lifestyle hacks, everything from gaming to fitness, meal prep, or even finance can be the niche of an online influencer. In today’s digital age, especially post-pandemic, there...

Women and girls are highlighted within Canada’s National Financial Literacy Strategy as a diverse population that can benefit from tailored approaches to strengthen financial resilience. To help close the gender gap, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) developed and tested the benefits...

A new OSC behavioural science experiment reveals Canadians are equally open to investment suggestions from AI systems and human advisors. As the use of AI increases, understanding the role of AI in supporting retail investor decision-making is important. While AI presents a range of opportunities...

Interpreting the data: Key takeaways from Welfare in Canada, 2023. For nearly 40 years, the annual Welfare in Canada series and its predecessors have documented the depth of poverty that persists for people receiving social assistance. The 2023 edition builds on this work to provide a...

This toolkit, presented by Pathways to Prosperity, features a variety of practices and programs that can be used to address and improve each of the characteristics of a welcoming community, as identified in Toolkit I: Measuring Welcoming Communities. The goal is to mobilize and facilitate the...

Individuals with lower incomes may face a range of economic challenges and barriers to upward mobility. Two types of services that may both contribute to the goal of improving individuals’ financial situations are employment and training (E&T) services, which have the goal of improving...

This 60-minute webinar for frontline practitioners, social service providers, and funders shares insights from a two-year project designed to help build financial wellness in isolated and rural First Nation communities in Manitoba and Ontario. Partnerships between First Nation communities and...

Having a small emergency fund can alleviate major stress. Putting a few dollars away each month can help you prepare for the unexpected. Watch this new video by the Ontario Securities Commission to learn...

More and more people are having difficulties in covering day-to-day expenses, saving money, and paying down debts.  The Financial Wellbeing Café Scientifique was an opportunity to bring people together to talk about how to drive action on financial wellbeing in Canada. The event included a...

In 2023, 22.9% of people in the ten provinces lived in a food-insecure household. That amounts to 8.7 million people, including 2.1 million children, living in households that struggled to afford the food they need. With another year of rising food insecurity, the percentage of people affected is...

FCAC’s new webpage, Choosing a financial institution, will help consumers determine which type of financial institution best meets their needs. The topics covered include: Identifying the financial products and services you need Deciding if you want all your products and services with one...