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 Sydney Mines community conversation, co-hosted by Community Cares Youth Outreach and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Nova Scotia Office on April 17, 2023.
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 |
| Everyone contributes to the community | ||
| Having a sense of belonging and togetherness | Example: Percentage of population that reports very or somewhat strong sense of belonging to community | Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey |
| Neighbours help each other and share food | ||
| Knowing there is someone who you can ask for help and support | ||
| Having someone to support you and cheer you on | ||
| Feeling like you can ask for what you need from your community | ||
| Community members give and receive without expectation | ||
| Communities have gatherings and meals together | ||
| Feeling connected to friends and family | ||
| Feeling loved and cared for | ||
| Having a place to gather for the holidays | ||
| Having meals with others at the holidays | ||
| Feeling safe walking around at night | ||
| Trusting your neighbours | ||
| Children have time and space to play | ||
| Parents can say yes to opportunities for their children | ||
| Children can go to birthday parties and bring a gift | ||
| Having adequate mental health to participate in the community |
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 |
| Cycles of intergenerational poverty are broken | ||
| Freedom from the trauma of living in poverty | ||
| Freedom from judgment for experiencing poverty | ||
| Freedom from wealth and income inequality | ||
| Freedom from violence and abuse | ||
| Freedom from gun violence | ||
| Crime rates are low because people have what they need | ||
| Freedom from judgment for being a young parent | ||
| Freedom from discrimination against low income families from the child welfare system | ||
| Freedom from child abuse in the child welfare system | ||
| Freedom from stigma against drug users | ||
| Freedom from drug trafficking | ||
| Freedom from stigma and discrimination for children with disabilities | ||
| Freedom from judgment for using food banks and programs |
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 hope to break the cycle of poverty | ||
| Being able to identify things that are working well in your community | ||
| Freedom from struggling | ||
| Being able to envision a different future for your children | ||
| Feeling hopeful for the future | ||
| Feeling happy and secure | ||
| Feeling like you can ensure the health and happiness of your children |
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 |
| Everyone’s basic needs are met | Example: Census Family Low Income Measure After Tax | T1 Family File |
| Freedom from living paycheque to paycheque | ||
| Being able to pay all your bills at once | ||
| Everyone has enough money to be happy and have good mental health | ||
| Children are free from stress and worry about money | ||
| The cost of basic needs is reasonable and affordable | ||
| Everyone has enough money to pay for things up front | ||
| Single parents can pay all their bills | ||
| Everyone has furniture for their home | ||
| Everyone has the clothing they need, including for occasions and funerals | ||
| Everyone has a cell phone | ||
| Everyone has menstrual products | ||
| Having enough money for children’s recreation | ||
| Ability to meet your basic needs if a paycheque or social assistance payment is late | ||
| Having enough money to pay for emergencies, like car repairs, without creating a cycle of missed payments and debt | ||
| Social assistance rates reflect the cost of living and increase with inflation | ||
| Wages reflect the cost of living | ||
| Child support payments reflect cost of child expenses | ||
| Social assistance is low barrier and supportive |
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 |
| Job opportunities are available for people who want to work | ||
| Jobs have adequate health and dental benefits |
Education for all
Everyone has equitable access to affordable, quality education, training, and learning supports.
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Schools are supportive of young parents and flexible with accommodations | ||
| Teachers are supportive of students | ||
| Schools support and accommodate children with disabilities, including learning disabilities | ||
| Schools support diverse learning styles | ||
| Children and youth are taught financial literacy and budgeting in schools |
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 | ||
| There is enough housing for everyone | ||
| Low-income families have homes | ||
| Families with young children have homes | ||
| Couples without children have homes | ||
| Housing is in good repair | ||
| Everyone can live in the community of their choice | ||
| Ability to scale up or down according to the changing needs of a family | ||
| Everyone can afford rent | ||
| Landlords are supportive and accountable to housing law | ||
| Freedom from evictions | ||
| Boarded up or vacant houses are used for low-income housing or emergency shelter | ||
| Access to emergency shelter for everyone who needs it |
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 a home | ||
| There is enough housing for everyone | ||
| Low-income families have homes | ||
| Families with young children have homes | ||
| Couples without children have homes | ||
| Housing is in good repair | ||
| Everyone can live in the community of their choice | ||
| Ability to scale up or down according to the changing needs of a family | ||
| Everyone can afford rent | ||
| Landlords are supportive and accountable to housing law | ||
| Freedom from evictions | ||
| Boarded up or vacant houses are used for low-income housing or emergency shelter | ||
| Access to emergency shelter for everyone who needs it |
Health and mental health
| Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
| Access to free health and dental care regardless of employment or social assistance involvement | ||
| Everyone has access to free pharmacare | ||
| Everyone has timely access to mental health care | ||
| Everyone has good mental health | ||
| Children have good mental health | ||
| Mental health care is confidential and supportive | ||
| Community acceptance and openness about mental health | ||
| Children and youth are taught about mental health, resilience, and self-esteem | ||
| Receiving mental health care does not result in child apprehension | ||
| Receiving support for addiction does not result in child apprehension | ||
| Freedom from trauma | ||
| Freedom from addiction | ||
| Freedom from overdose deaths | ||
| Streets and parks are free from used needles |
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 |
| Having someone to help you navigate services and advocate for you | ||
| Services and programs are coordinated and well-communicated | ||
| Service providers trust and believe you when you say you need help | ||
| Services are affordable | ||
| Equitable access to supports and recreation programs for children with disabilities | ||
| Access to cooking classes and programs | ||
| Schools have breakfast, lunch, and take-home food programs | ||
| Food banks are accessible and judgment-free | ||
| Everyone has access to arts and recreation programs |
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 |
| Families are supported to stay together | ||
| Parents respect and understand their children | ||
| Children are safe from harm | ||
| The child welfare system supports parents to exit poverty rather than apprehending their children | ||
| Children can sleep at home without worry of violence or abuse | ||
| Children have stable housing with parents or family members | ||
| Parents are supported with housing to keep their children | ||
| Equitable standards of apprehension from child and family services | ||
| Parents are supported financially to raise their children, rather than foster parents receiving money to raise those children | ||
| Receiving mental health care does not result in child apprehension | ||
| Receiving support for addiction does not result in child apprehension | ||
| Feeling confident that your children won’t be apprehended arbitrarily | ||
| Freedom from discrimination from child and family services due to being a young parent | ||
| Freedom from discrimination from child and family services due to recreational drug use | ||
| Freedom from longing for children who have been apprehended | ||
| Children in foster care are supported to thrive and have their basic needs met | ||
| Children are free from abuse and violence, including sexual abuse, in the child welfare system | ||
| Everyone has access to good quality, affordable childcare and day care | ||
| Support groups and recovery groups for parents have childcare or allow you to bring your child | ||
| Young parents are supported to go to school and have childcare | ||
| Young parents are supported and not judged | ||
| Parents have time and capacity to support children’s needs, e.g., set up meetings with teachers | ||
| All children have equal access to opportunities | ||
| Children have agency over their care and their futures | ||
| Children are free from stress and worry about money |
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 |
| The government cares about communities | ||
| Community meetings are funded and supported | ||
| Feeling like the government understands and values your perspective | ||
| Feeling like discussion and advocacy results in change |
[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