Policy Research Initiative

Untitled Document

New Approaches for Addressing Poverty and Exclusion

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Working Paper Series

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Nationally and internationally, there is growing recognition that poverty involves more than just income deprivation. It can also extend to (or result from) exclusion from essential goods and services, meaningful employment and decent earnings, adequate and affordable housing, safe neighbourhoods with public amenities, health and well-being, social networks, and basic human rights. With this change in perspective, it is generally acknowledged that today's social realities differ significantly from the time when most of Canada's current social policies were put in place.

This PRI project explored possible future directions in policies addressing poverty and exclusion in light of these changes and evaluates their relevance to the medium-planning activities of the Government of Canada. These activities have been supported by the development of new data that allows a better understanding of the dynamics of poverty, its persistence over the course of life, and the identification of groups at risk. Since establishing a diagnostic and analytic framework in November 2003, the PRI has, in collaboration with other federal departments, systematically examined a number of issues, such as the role of assets, financial literacy, the social economy, housing, and the challenges faced by the working poor.

For more information on the Poverty and Exclusion project, please click here.