Social Policy in Ontario

The Canada Social Report… So Far

Posted on November 26, 2015 in Social Security Delivery System

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CaledonInst.org – What’s New/Publications
November 2015.   Sherri Torjman,

On June 16, 2015, the Caledon Institute of Social Policy announced a new initiative called the Canada Social Report. It is a compilation of various sources of economic and social data and information. Unlike most reports, the Canada Social Report is not a single printed document. Rather, it is a set of web-based materials, which are evolving on an ongoing basis. They are updated as work is completed from Caledon’s analysis, as new data sets are produced and as we learn about the relevant findings of other researchers and organizations.

The Canada Social Report was launched in response to the withdrawal of the long-form Census and the dismantling of the National Council of Welfare. The current Liberal government has announced its commitment to restore the long-form Census, which is good news for all researchers and policy-makers. Canada will, once again, have a strong and reliable body of evidence. Does this mean that the Canada Social Report will no longer be necessary? Not at all. The Canada Social Report provides information that includes, but goes well beyond, Census-based data. The Welfare Incomes, Social Assistance Summaries, Social Policy Record and Minimum Wage sections are prime examples.

This paper describes the current content of the Canada Social Report. It also highlights possible sections for future development, based on feedback we have received to date through a national webinar and in workshops held at various conferences. The report discusses some of the challenges that we experienced and continue to face in carrying out this work.

The Canada Social Report is emerging as a major portal for social information. It is a resource for the entire social sector – to give all of us a strong voice and a powerful evidence base for informed policy conversations and the formulation of intelligent policy solutions.

To download full document:  http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/1085ENG%2Epdf

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Member Update:
November 16, 2015

The Canada Social Report continues to evolve and to include new collaborators and partners.  Here are some additions since its launch in June 2015.

The Canada Social Report: A Compendium of Social Information

On the recommendation of colleagues at the Canadian Council of the Blind, we added the descriptor “A Compendium of Social Information” to make clear the initiative’s purpose.

New pages added

• The new section on Indigenous Peoples includes data that focus on the well-being of indigenous and northern communities. 
• Quality-of-Life Indicators include measures developed by leading Canadian organizations to assess the quality of life in this country. 
• The Canadian Tax and Credit Simulator (CTaCS) – was developed by Economics Professor Kevin Milligan at the University of British Columbia.  It is an open software package that simulates the Canadian personal income tax and transfer system.
• Composite reports of the Social Assistance Summaries and Poverty Reduction Strategies have been added (all provinces and territories in one file).  A data file with the figures and graphs used in the Social Assistance Summaries, and a summary chart of the Poverty Reduction Strategies are now available.

Check out the new tool for searching information in the Policy Monitors.

New report: “Minimum Wage Rates in Canada: 1965-2015”

This report tracks the value of minimum wages in inflation-adjusted dollars over time; compares them to average earnings; and calculates them as a percentage of two different poverty lines – the after-tax low income cut-offs (LICO) and after-tax low income measures (LIM).

Help us continue to build the Canada Social Report! 

Use the site’s response boxes or contact caledon@caledoninst.org with ideas, reports and links you want to share.  Bookmark the site!

< http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/Detail/?ID=1085 >

Tags: economy, featured, Health, homelessness, jurisdiction, poverty, standard of living, tax

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