low income

Canada's most vulnerable people are being denied access to banking services

| December 7, 2016

Income inequality is mounting in Canada, making an already inexcusable wealth gulf worse.

And with wealth comes privilege -- especially in Canadian banking.

Low-income residents of Canada face a significant double standard when it comes to accessing banking services despite urgently wanting them, according to a survey of 268 ACORN Canada members, whose findings were published today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' Ontario office.

The survey results show many have been denied access to very basic banking services -- such as cheque cashing or overdraft protection -- from traditional banks.

WATCH: No more delays. Fair TTC fares now.

People living on low income struggle to figure out how to pay for single TTC fares as well as monthly passes. This is because the earnings from low-wage (including minimum wage) jobs and money from income support programs (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program) and seniors’ pensions continues to be below the amount people need to meet their basic needs. Fares have increased steadily (tokens cost 31 per cent over the inflation rate; Metropass 26 per cent and cash fare 14 per cent). Benefits and wages have not.

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economic inequality public transit public transportation low income Poverty Reduction transit activism

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Regulating fringe banking in Manitoba: A work in progress

SEED Winnipeg

| March 17, 2016

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Each year there are about 59,000 visits to Ontario’s hospital Emergency Departments and 218,000 visits to doctors for dental pain and infection. But people can’t get treatment there, only painkillers. This costs our healthcare system at least $37 million/year, an expensive band- aid solution. This is not right.

The Liberal government has promised to provide the right health care at the right time in the right place. However, Ontarians have been waiting for 10 years for increased public dental coverage. Demand that the government extend public dental programs to cover low income adults and seniors.

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Ontario Anti-poverty dental health low income Dr. Eric Hoskins

Who's been naughty in Ontario's financial sector?

Tom Cooper

| December 22, 2015

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Many consider this to be the "season of giving," but for the payday loan industry in Ontario, it seems to be their favorite season for taking.

At a time of year when many Ontarians are struggling to cover basic costs, payday loan outlets have found news ways to try to reel in vulnerable consumers.

Gains are being made in the fight against poverty: State of the Inner City Report 2015

Jim Silver

| December 17, 2015

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It has recently been claimed in the media that nothing is working in the fight against poverty.

Fresh Food Fuels Change: An innovative pilot evaluation

Mihiri Witharana Joyce Slater

| August 19, 2015

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Debt: The new four-letter word for seniors

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seniors canadian poverty retirement low income household debt retirement security retiree matters Canadian debt

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Doubling contribution limit to Tax-Free Savings Accounts exposes true intent of a bad policy

Seth Klein

| April 16, 2015

Last week, federal finance minister Joe Oliver re-affirmed that his government seeks to double the annual limit to Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), from $5,500 to $11,000.

This is a terrible idea.

When the TFSA was first introduced, the claim at the time was that the policy was intended to support modest-income people wanting to save for retirement, but for whom the RRSP may not make good economic sense. There was some merit to this argument, although boosting the CPP and Old Age Security (OAS) would have been a far preferable solution.

B.C. minimum-wage increase leaves workers in poverty

Iglika Ivanova

| March 13, 2015

After close to three years of no change, the B.C. minimum wage was overdue for an increase. But the measly raise announced this week falls far short of what is necessary. The 20 cents per hour increase, scheduled to come into effect on Sept 15, 2015, amounts to a raise of just under 2 per cent over more than 3 years. A $10.45 minimum wage will leave the workers who earn it thousands of dollars below the poverty line even if they work full year, full time. A worker getting paid $10.45 per hour, 35 hours per week for the full year would earn $19,019.

low income

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2.3 million people in Ontario cannot afford dental care

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Debt: The new four-letter word for seniors

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