Causes Of Poverty In Canada

Poverty is a complicated issue. It is a phenomenon not limited to the third world. It’s an issue even faced by the wealthiest countries. There are many reasons and causes, and there are equally as many disagreements on where the blame should lay. People who are not poor often blame the less fortunate for their own situation and tend to have little sympathy. Those who are in poverty often blame society for making it impossible to escape from their situation. Poverty also tends to affect groups within society differently. One of the main divides is gender based where women are more likely to find themselves falling within the lower levels and in greater numbers into poverty. Regardless of the causes and who is to blame, this is an issue that
Throughout history, the most common reaction by those who are not in poverty is to blame the poor and that it’s their own fault. There tends to be little sympathy and the poor are often viewed as a burden on society. It may be more difficult for those in advanced countries to understand how it’s possible for one to become poor as there are no perceived barriers to being able to escape poverty. In Canada we generally feel that there are many opportunities for anyone who is willing to get ahead. There is free education for everyone up to high school and there are many post-secondary opportunities to get more advanced skills and training including loans and other government assistance. There is nothing forcing people to live in areas within the country that have high unemployment. This is common among developed countries. The thought is that if people in first world countries work
This can be linked to the country’s specific tax and social security measures (Bárcena-Martín, & Moro-Egido, 2013, p. 72). There is evidence that in countries that have increased benefits for single parent families, there is a significant decrease in the level of poverty women faced as they are usually the head of the household.
To reduce the level of poverty, some actions that government can take include:
1. Inexpensive childcare and child support are essential to overcome differences in earnings
2. Specific policy actions to ensure that women receive the pay they deserve, enjoy equal paid working conditions, and have access to higher paying jobs
3. Women in the workforce must have access to quality flexible work and paid family leave, among other opportunities
Policy solutions to address women’s poverty must combine a range of decent employment opportunities with a network of social services that support healthy families. These approaches must promote the equal social and economic status of all women. (Bárcena-Martín, & Moro-Egido, 2013, p.