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Mike Bagosy

Summary - Poverty and Social Class

Web Page 

http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2000/up/

"URBAN POVERTY IN CANADA:

A STATISTICAL PROFILE

by Kevin K. Lee

Published in April 2000 by the Canadian Council on Social Development, this study uses the most recent statistics available to compare poverty rates among Canadian cities and provide a profile of Canada's urban poor. Special attention is given to poverty rates among visible minorities, immigrants, and Aboriginal peoples living in urban areas

This web-site is a statistical overview of poverty across Canada according to 1995 census information. It is supported by "The Urban Poverty Project"

The study finds that poverty rates depend on each cities combination of variables. There are groups more vulnerable to poverty, changes in the employment picture as well as concentrations of poverty in urban areas.

The government expects to continue to provide incentives to businesses creating jobs in poverty-stricken areas. The report places strong responsibility on provate enterprise to create jobs for the poor. However I believe that focus is rarely on the minds of corporate executives unless they are looking for an inexpensive labour pool. The article suggests that "not all these new jobs are available to the poor or wouldn't raise their incomes above the poverty line anyway.

It calls for the solution to come as a coordinated response from government, the community and the provate sector.

It suggests future research into why similar low income in different cities can produce differing levels of poverty. (Cost of living I expect)

It concludes that we should collectively do more because poverty is an indicator of our community's health, difficult for those suffering through it and a predictor of the future.

Critique - Poverty and Social Class

This document provides a solid background for understanding what poverty looks like in different communities across Canada. It never ventures into causes for systemic poverty or the economic and social cost to communities. I felt the information was cold and able to look at the suffering with an objective eye without worring about real causes.

The study (government funded) seems to provide a glimpse of the proble but offer little insight to how the situation may be improved.

Levin's focus that change can be made especially with strong support through imrpoving and maintaining education opportunities for those struggling with poverty can improve their chances in a life that has barriers to lack of credentials for jobs that have reasonable challenge combined with reasonable pay. (The "good jobs")