Introduction
PROJECT
From 2021-2024, Campaign 2000, Citizens for Public Justice and Canada Without Poverty co-led a national community-based research project that engaged communities experiencing poverty to recommend indicators measuring progress towards eradicating poverty and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This project, Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals,builds on Campaign 2000’s ongoing monitoring of government progress towards ending child and family poverty, aiming to address the limitations of the Canadian Indicator Framework for tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1: No Poverty.
Through the project, the research team held 17 community conversations with 227 people affected by poverty and intersecting forms of marginalization in every province and territory. The project website hosts summaries of each community conversation.
This local framework is based on the knowledge and experiences shared by participants in the St. John’s community conversation, co-hosted by the Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador on September 27, 2022.
FINDINGS
Measurement of progress towards poverty eradication in Canada should reflect the lived realities of people experiencing poverty. The indicators used in the Canadian Indicator Framework for measuring progress towards SDG 1: No Poverty are the Market Basket Measure (MBM) and the prevalence of asset resilience.[i] Campaign 2000 report cards and early research from this project highlighted the limitations of these two indicators to track progress towards SDG 1.[ii] [iii]
The project set out to address these gaps with an emphasis on localizing measures of poverty reduction and centring the knowledge and experience of lived experts. Local visions of communities free from poverty emerged. The frameworks drawn from this research reflect participants’ subjective, multidimensional experience of poverty, which is wide-ranging, affects every aspect of life, and differs place to place and community to community. The frameworks also reflect poverty as a violation of human rights resulting in short- and long- term physical, mental, spiritual, and social harm.
These findings highlight the importance of community-based, culturally relevant, localized measures and indicators for ending poverty and the need to urgently recognize and address the systemic intersecting power structures that create and deepen inequities and experiences of poverty.
In addition to the 17 local frameworks, the findings are illustrated in a National Community-Based Indicator Framework, intended to supplement the Canadian Indicator Framework. It outlines dimensions, measures, indicators, and data sources for poverty eradication (including recommendations and gaps, where no indicators exist) that reflect the knowledge and experiences of lived experts and community organizations across the country.
While the findings depict a broad range of expertise from across the country, they remain a snapshot of 227 people, in 17 places, at one moment in time, and further engagement and community-based research is required to continue to centre lived experts in the work of poverty eradication and achieving the 2030 Agenda.
UNDERSTANDING THE FRAMEWORK
The entire framework falls under Sustainable Development Goal 1: End Poverty in All its Forms Everywhere.
The framework is organized by 12 interdependent dimensions of communities with no poverty. These dimensions are interconnected and non-hierarchical – all connect and contribute to the multifaceted way that people experience poverty in Canada. Many of the indicators could fall under multiple dimensions, but for the sake of length, they are each only shown under one.
Dimensions:
- Social inclusion and community connection
- Equality, justice, and freedom
- Joy, happiness, and hope for the future
- Income and material security
- Decent work
- Education for all
- Right to housing is realized
- Food security and sovereignty
- Health and mental health
- Equitable access to services, programs, and supports
- Connected and supported families and children
- Accountable and engaged governments and institutions
In each dimension, measures refer to qualities of communities with no poverty.
Indicators are statistical definitions of the measures.
As living documents, the local frameworks offer Example Indicators and Data Sources. The local frameworks are intended to complement the National Framework, highlight local priorities, and demonstrate opportunities for continued work in localizing measurement towards ending poverty in Canada. They are accompanied by living action recommendation documents.
Social inclusion and community connection
Community members feel valued and connected, have opportunities to participate in society and culture, care for and support each other, and live in harmony.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| People share with each other | ||
| People take care of each other | Example: Percentage of people who often or always feel they have people they can depend on to help them when they really need it. | Statistics Canada Social Survey and Community Health Survey |
| Communities grow together | ||
| Everybody contributes to the community according to their strengths and skills | ||
| Families pass down stories, culture, and values | ||
| Communities are self-sufficient | ||
| Community members share food, especially hunted or harvested food | ||
| Everyone is respected | ||
| Being able to access and accept opportunities | ||
| Being able to reach your potential | ||
| Having queer community | ||
| Having friends | ||
| Having friends with similar experiences to you | ||
| Having chosen family | ||
| Being able to connect with people on a deeper emotional or spiritual level | ||
| Having people who believe in you |
Equality, justice, and freedom
Everyone’s human rights are upheld. Communities are free from systemic inequality and injustice, discrimination, oppression, violence, and trauma, and the harms of colonization.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Freedom from discrimination | ||
| Freedom from violence | ||
| Communities are safe | ||
| Freedom from religious pressures | ||
| Freedom from conformity | ||
| Emotional labour is not gendered | ||
| Labour is not gendered | ||
| Women are paid equitably for their work | ||
| International students are free from discrimination, including housing discrimination | ||
| Wealth and income are distributed equally | ||
| People with wealth invest in community needs | ||
| Freedom from capitalism | ||
| Children are free from bullying |
Joy, happiness and hope for the future
Everyone is able to be happy, feel ease, and have the time and freedom to enjoy life. People have hope, can imagine the future, and don’t feel trapped in cycles of poverty and isolation.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Having a peaceful life | ||
| Freedom from stress and worry | ||
| Feeling happiness and joy | ||
| Having time for leisure and rest | ||
| Looking forward to tomorrow | ||
| Having hope for the future | ||
| Having confidence in yourself | ||
| Feeling carefree | ||
| Feeling positive | Example: Percentage of population that feels very satisfied or satisfied with life in general | Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, NL data compiled in Community Accounts |
Income and material security
Incomes reflect the cost of living. People have the ability to pay all their bills, meet all their basic needs, have some flexibility to not live paycheque to paycheque, and are able to thrive.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Being able to afford everything you need | Example: Census Family Low Income Measure | T1 Family File |
| Everyone can meet their basic needs | ||
| Having shoes and clothes in good condition | ||
| Being able to have menstrual products | ||
| Having kitchen supplies | ||
| Everyone can pay all their bills at once | ||
| Incomes reflect the cost of living | ||
| Social assistance rates reflect the cost of living | ||
| Minimum wage is a living wage | ||
| Incomes increase with inflation | ||
| Freedom from debt | ||
| Freedom from student debt | ||
| Being able to save money | ||
| Not having to worry about money | ||
| Having enough money to seek out and accept opportunities for growth | ||
| Income is not tied to employment | ||
| Freedom from relying on money for survival |
Decent work
People can work in jobs with a living wage, safe work conditions, opportunities for growth, and job training. Work is fulfilling and allows people to use their skills.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Equitable access to job opportunities | ||
| Low-barrier access to training and skills development for skilled jobs | ||
| Communities have enough jobs for everyone who wants to work | ||
| Freedom from exploitative or unsafe work | ||
| Jobs are stable and secure | ||
| Labour is not gendered | ||
| Women are paid equitably for their work | ||
| Freedom from productivity culture | ||
| Being able to work because you want to, not because you have to |
Education for all
Everyone has equitable access to affordable, quality education, training, and learning supports.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Everyone has access to free postsecondary education | ||
| Everyone has access to skill training | ||
| Freedom from student loans | ||
| Freedom from worrying about paying for school | ||
| International students have access to affordable education | ||
| Being able to commute to school safely and on time | ||
| Children and youth learn financial literacy and budgeting in school | ||
| Children and youth who experience poverty are supported to stay in school and have confidence in their abilities | ||
| Children and youth with diverse learning styles are supported |
Right to housing is realized
Everyone has a home. There is adequate, affordable secure housing for all, free from discrimination, and reflecting the needs of communities and neighbourhoods.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Everyone has a home | ||
| Everyone has access to affordable housing | ||
| Housing is safe and in good repair | ||
| Students have safe and secure housing | ||
| Freedom from having to live with people you don’t want to | ||
| Freedom from worry about housing | ||
| Housing supply reflects needs and size of population | ||
| Everyone has access to emergency shelter when they need it | ||
| Abandoned houses and empty lots are used for low-income housing and emergency shelter | ||
| Landlords are responsive and supportive | ||
| Freedom from exploitative landlords | ||
| Homes are owned by local community members | ||
| Youth can plan to buy a house one day | ||
| Equitable access to mortgages | ||
| Freedom from housing discrimination based on age | ||
| International students are free from housing discrimination | ||
| Access to supportive transitional housing for youth |
Food sovereignty and security
Everyone has access to nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate food; the ability to hunt, harvest, grow, and share food according to cultural values; and the freedom to choose what they want to eat.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Everyone has enough to eat | ||
| Food is affordable for everyone | ||
| Nutritious food is affordable for everyone | ||
| Having confidence you can afford your groceries | ||
| Being able to choose what you eat | ||
| Cities have permanent agriculture and collective farming | ||
| Communities grow their own food | ||
| People share their catch, harvest, or hunt | ||
| Everyone has access to community gardens | ||
| Being able to eat locally sourced food | ||
| Food banks offer nutritious, varied food | ||
| Cheaper, less nutritious food items are not taxed more than other items |
Health and mental health
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Having agency over your health | ||
| Everyone has access to free health care | ||
| Everyone has access to free dental care | ||
| Everyone has access to free, accessible mental health care | ||
| There are enough health care providers to care for the population in a timely and good quality manner | ||
| Having access to the medications you need | ||
| Emergency rooms have no wait time | ||
| Health care facilities are safe, resourced, and in good repair | ||
| Access to menstrual products and contraception | ||
| Everyone has access to abortion clinics with no wait time | ||
| Everyone has access to harm reduction training and supplies | ||
| People are educated about addiction | ||
| Freedom from addiction |
Equitable access to services, programs, and supports
Services and supports are accessible and coordinated, with no arbitrary bureaucratic barriers or discrimination. Community organizations are resourced and are by communities, for communities.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Access to barrier-free and cost-free services and supports | ||
| Youth have wrap-around supports as needed, including counselling, transitional housing, social workers, etc. | ||
| Everyone has access to affordable public transit | ||
| Everyone has access to affordable transportation | ||
| Freedom from religious influence in service provision | ||
| Freedom from religious influence in addiction supports |
Connected and supported families and children
Families are supported to stay together and spend time together. The child welfare system is equitable, trauma-informed, and reflects needs of children and families. Everyone has access to affordable childcare.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Everyone has access to affordable, subsidized childcare | ||
| Childcare is public, safe, and good quality | ||
| Childcare providers are well-paid and valued | ||
| Children have supervision before and after school | ||
| Parents have time to spend with children | ||
| Families are happy together | ||
| Families tell and document their stories | ||
| Children have a sense of belonging to families and know where they came from | ||
| Freedom from family violence and abuse | ||
| Children in the child welfare system have all of their basic needs met | ||
| Children in the child welfare system are supported and celebrated by adults around them | ||
| Children in the child welfare system have safe and stable housing | ||
| Seniors have safe and good quality care |
Accountable and engaged governments and institutions
Governments are accountable to communities. Policy-making is community-engaged, trauma-informed, responsive, and based on local needs and values.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Governments follow through on their promises with action |
[i] Statistics Canada. (2021). The Canadian Indicator Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-26-0004/112600042021001-eng.htm
[ii] Campaign 2000. Pandemic Lessons: Ending Child and Family Poverty is Possible. February 14, 2023. https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/English-Pandemic-Lessons_Ending-Child-and-Family-Poverty-is-Possible_2022-National-Report-Card-on-Child-and-Family-Poverty.pdf
[iii] Barrie, H., & Sarangi, L. (2022). Literature Review: Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. https://sdg.campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/Campaign-2000-Localizing-SDGs-Project-Literature-Review-May-2022.pdf