Did you know that British Columbia is the only province without any government intention to create an anti-poverty strategy? Or that in 2014 Newfoundland and Labrador was tied with Saskatchewan for having the second lowest poverty rate in Canada? In a few weeks CWP will be releasing our updated Poverty Progress Profiles which provide an overview of poverty in all thirteen provinces and territories from coast-to-coast-to-coast!
Since 2012, CWP has been publishing updated Poverty Progress Profiles (PPPs) every year. This summer we’ve been working on a brand new updated version of our PPPs to be released at the beginning of September!
In the meantime we thought we would share a sneak peek of highlights from a particularly interesting PPP which features the territory of Nunavut. Here are some excerpts that may interest you:
Income Support:
“In 2010 the median income levels in Nunavut were the lowest in the country.[i] When compared to the national dependency ratio (59.2), income-earning Nunavummiut support more dependents than anywhere else in Canada (82.1).[ii] Nunavut’s Income Assistance Program (IA) is framed as a last resort for individuals and families struggling to meet their basic needs.[iii] In 2013, 40% of the Nunavut population (or 14,578 individuals) received social assistance from the Nunavut Income Support Program.”
Housing:
“Nunavut’s housing need is very high, marked by levels of overcrowding twice that of the national average.[iv] The 2010 Nunavut Housing Needs Survey showed that 49% of occupied dwellings are overcrowded or in need of major repairs.[v] Currently the Government of Nunavut directly subsidizes more than 80% of all housing in the territory.[vi]”
Food Insecurity:
“Almost 70% of Inuit households in Nunavut are food insecure.[vii] Not only is this eight times higher than the Canadian national average, but it is also among the highest documented food insecurity rates for an indigenous population in a developed country.[viii]”
Health:
“Health outcomes in Nunavut are among the poorest in Canada. In a health report card published by the Conference Board of Canada, Nunavut ranks near the bottom of all health indicators.[ix] In the report card, which uses letter grades to rate provincial and territorial health indicators, Nunavut receives a “D-” in life expectancy, premature mortality, infant mortality, suicides, mortality due to cancer and mortality due to respiratory disease.[x] Notably, only 20% of Nunavut residents have a regular doctor compared to 83% of Canadian residents overall.[xi]”
The Makimaniq Plan
“The Makimaniq Plan has received significant attention for its collaborative approach. During its early stages the emphasis has remained on reaching out to communities and public engagement. The unique social and economic history surrounding poverty in Aboriginal communities is a contributing factor to this approach as is the importance of community development. The government has asserted that the approach is meant to help restore self-reliance in Inuit communities. This approach has been met with approval and optimism in Nunavut and elsewhere. In fact, experts suggest that other solutions for homelessness policy, programs and services aimed at Aboriginals should be culturally sensitive and collaborative as in Nunavut.[xii] The government’s newest initiatives continue to emphasize this collaborative practice.”
Want to read about your province or territory? Stay tuned for CWP’s updated PPPs coming in a few weeks! Sign up for our newsletter to make sure that you don’t miss the release.
Endnotes
[i] Nunavut Housing Corporation, 2013: “The GN Long-Term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy,” p 11. Retrieved from http://www.nunavuthousing.ca/apps/fetch/download.aspx?file=PUBLICATIONS/635042192475664951-693754701-Housing%20and%20Homelessness%20Strategy.pdf
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Nunavut Department of Family Services, 2015: “Income Assistance (IA).” Retrieved from http://gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/income-assistance-ia
[iv] Nunavut Housing Corporation, 2009: “Housing in Nunavut.” Retrieved from http://www.nunavuthousing.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=housing
[v] Nunavut Housing Corporation, 2013: “The GN Long-Term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy,” p 18. Retrieved from http://www.nunavuthousing.ca/apps/fetch/download.aspx?file=PUBLICATIONS/635042192475664951-693754701-Housing%20and%20Homelessness%20Strategy.pdf
[vi] Ibid, p 19.
[vii] Nunavut Food Security Coalition, 2014: “Nunavut Food Security Strategy and Action Plan 2014-16,” p 2. Retrieved from http://www.makiliqta.ca/sites/default/files/nunavutfoodsecuritystrategy_english.pdf
[viii] Ibid.
[ix] The Conference Board of Canada, 2015: “How Canada Performs: Health.” Retrieved from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/provincial/health.aspx
[x] Ibid.
[xi] Statistics Canada, 2015: “CANSIM Table 105-0503 Health indicator profile, age standardized rate, annual estimates, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, occasional.” Retrieved from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a47
[xii] Gaetz, Stephen and Jesse Donaldson, Tim Richter, Tanya Gulliver, 2013: “The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013,” p 41. Retrieved from http://www.homelesshub.ca/ResourceFiles/SOHC2103.pdf
