...Family and child poverty in Canada By Maram Ghadban June 7th 2013 Canada is notorious for being a country of freedom, democracy and diversity. These are our crowning glories that as Canadians, we take pride in. The issues faced by Canadians are not seen or noticed by others. They are invisible. The fabrication of Canada being a country of opportunity is a false attribute to this greatness. The poverty in Canada has increased rather than decreased (Finnie and Sweetman, 2003). It is sufficient to say that Canada, and Ontario in specific, are better off than other countries and provinces. However, this is not the matter at hand; the matter is that the people of Ontario are in a state of poverty. Through this I will discuss the matters of poverty, its effects on family and child poverty in Ontario, and its effects on ethnic minorities. It is creating a vicious cycle that will forever more haunt these children and create discourses that will affect them as they get older. This is a national problem, and is a linchpin for bigger conflicts within this nation, if it is not solved. List of references Ahmed, Zahid Shahab, “Poverty, Family Stress & Parenting” http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/AhmedPovertyFamilyStressParenting.pdf, 2005 Covell, Katherine and Howe, R. Brian, “Child Poverty in Canada and the Rights of the Child, Source: Human Rights Quarterly”, Vol. 25, No. 4, Nov., 2003 Charles Michalopoulos and Philip K. Robins “Employment and Child-Care Choices...
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...Poverty and Family: A threat to Marriage and Family happiness Poverty is one of the many factors contributing to severe problems faced by the world today. Causes of poverty are diverse but unemployment and wages below minimum are the most commonly known causes of poverty. It is unfortunate that some people inherit poverty, thus people born in particular social groups defined by race or location where poverty is prominent. Poverty is occurs on many levels and its effects are not only detrimental to individual families but to society as a whole. The effects of poverty on families are beyond measure. Noticeable effects of poverty on families include stress on bread-winners of the family and on children. Disease and inadequate parenting which is associated with numerous problems are also effects poverty noticeable in our everyday communities. Parents living under poverty conditions find it very hard to provide the basic needs such clothing, shelter and food needed for a decent living,” about 330,000 people, roughly the population of Windsor, turn to food banks every month in Ontario” (Par Health Nexus Santé). Economic hardships cause parents to think too much as they try to figure out possible ways of getting off their financial mess resulting in extensive stress. Anxiety and frustration due to failure to provide generates a sense of less self-worthy and causes sleepless nights to parents. Adults who find it difficult to bear the thought of failing to provide for their families...
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...Introduction: In Canada, for many years there has been growing concern and controversy about the over-representation of Aboriginals within the Criminal Justice System, a considerable problem that has been found to be more even extreme with Aboriginals female offenders. For Aboriginal women the rates of incarceration are particularly disturbing. Aboriginal women are over-represented in the federal prison system. They represent only 4% of the women in Canada yet account for 32% of the women in federal prisons. The number of Aboriginal women federally incarcerated has increased by 151% between 1997 and 2006 (Elizabeth Fry Society, 4). Aboriginal women are not only disproportionately over-represented but also the fastest growing population sentenced to federal prisons. The over-representation is even more pronounced in terms of Aboriginal women incarceration rates: As of April 2010, Aboriginal women accounted for 32.6% of the total female offender population (SOURCE 5). This means that one out of every three women federally incarcerated is of Aboriginal descent (Correctional Service Canada, 2009/2010, at 18). Furthermore they are over-represented in the maximum security prison population, making up 45% of the maximum security federally sentenced women, 44% of the medium security population and 18% of minimum security women in 2006 (Elizabeth Fry Society, 4). The justice system has played a major role in the creation of poor social conditions in Aboriginal communities today...
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...framework for looking further into the understandings on perspective effects poverty has on individuals through a Canadian’s perspective. Although, they noted limitations about this study this literature critique will address some others in order to improve a better understanding of the effects poverty has on individuals and by recognizing these limitations as a way to further more research. Reutter et al. conducted individual interviews with 59 low income and 60 higher income individuals (Reutter, et al., 2005, p. 524), and this clearly does not make any significant dent in these two cities populations that they examined, which does not lead us to believe the results could be very reliable....
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...Poverty and health care are considerable issues that are affecting us Canadians. Poverty is on the rise as our population continues to grow, more people have an effect on our health care now. The Canadian health care system is not up to date and Canadians are wanting change and a better health care place. Poverty has always been a problem anywhere and now with the increase population the demand for food and a living space is higher but not all needs are met creating a higher poverty and homeless rate within Canadians. There is an increase in poverty around Canada. Over two years poverty has risen 19% in Edmonton with 2,618 homeless people. Poverty also has an economic cost. These costs include the impact on our healthcare system, loss of productivity and increased policing and judicial costs as social breakdown results in crime. The governments now have the ability to change structures and policies that greatly impact those living in poverty. Poverty rates among Aboriginal Canadians are significantly higher. They are frequently the last hired and the first laid off, but even when they are employed they work for low wages and poor benefits. Therefore, it is not a country's total wealth that is relevant, but how that country distributes...
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...Poverty increasing rates during the last 10 years have been an issue in Canada in general, and a huge one for aboriginal communities on the reservations and in their territories. This is brought to mind because of a recent surge in suicide attempts in the Cree community which has drown a national attention to the effects of poor living conditions on First Nation's children. The reality is that these children live in poverty, and the situation is getting worse. The most recent available data from the national household survey was last updated back in 2011, and it shows that child poverty rates in aboriginal communities living on the reserves rose to staggering 60% in 2010 (MacDonald, Wilson. 4) The indigenous child poverty at the reservations is structural and systematic: it reveals a history of racism that goes back to the time of colonization. Canada's long history of residential schools and the under-funding of basic services on reserves have left aboriginal communities experiencing living conditions many would expect to see only in developing countries, not in a rich nation such as Canada. Too many aboriginal children live in abject poverty, and in many cases, without hope of improved prospects in the future....
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...Introduction Since ages poverty has been a major problem across globe, and with every passing day this issue is spreading and engulfing different classes of society. Poverty is one critical reason for many socio-economic problems including population explosion, unemployment, rampant rise in child labour and rising graph of crimes. Poverty can’t be ignored as an issue of a specific class, or any specific nation. In the present scenario when every class, society or for that matter every nation is interlinked with each other, this issue of poverty cannot be overlooked. Important to note is that poverty today is not just a problem of third world countries like India, or Africa but developed nations like Canada, America and one major part of Europe are also pondering on this serious issue. Based on Salvation Army Report, 2011 “Canadians ranked poverty as the third most important issue facing the country today, after the economy and health care.” (S. Army, 1-8) Thus it underlines the fact that how poverty remains a cause of concern for developed countries like Canada. For a country like Canada where more than 1 in 10 Canadians between 18 to 65 live in poverty this fact highlights that how poverty is impacting people across different age groups. Poverty today is not about problem of one specific individual it is every body`s problem, if one part of society experiences success then the other part experiences poverty. Poverty eradication should be taken up as a matter of fundamental...
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...Introduction In my final paper I will be discussing the health inequality in the social stratification in Canada and how our socioeconomic status can affect our health to be good or poor. Our health is determined by society and what level of power, authority and accomplishment that people achieve in the social hierarchy. In my essay I will be addressing and comparing the health inequalities people in different scale in the social economic face when it comes to income, education, housing, transportation, employment and health service. These are just the few things that effect our ability of achieve good health. I will also explain how race and immigrants can also determines inequalities, when it comes to their health, especially people of color...
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...with the grim realities of poverty and poor health in the third world; she compares them to her experiences in the first world. Klass implies that the health issues in India do not exist in North America. She states that in her world, where she got her medical training, "all children are supposed to grow up" with only a few exceptions to the rule (p.104). My intent is to confirm that Canada has a similar group of people living in poverty and poor health, and that the problems of India exist in our first world country too. I will do this by identifying the poorest people of each country and show how each group suffers from social and economic exclusion. I will also clarify how the health of each group suffers, and demonstrate how these groups are marginalized. Social exclusion can be defined as, 'the process through which individuals or groups are wholly or partially excluded from full participation in the society within which they live' (Thorat, 2007, n.p.). Dalits (formerly known as the 'Untouchables'), of India and most of the Natives (ironically, they are also known as North American Indians) of Canada live under adverse conditions and poverty. In India the Dalits are the poorest of the poor. They have been kept from getting an education and from possessing land. They are left to do the heavy manual labour, and menial jobs for survival (Azad, n.d., n.p.). When they are employed, they receive lower wages than other castes. Dalits have a poverty rate of 35 percent compared...
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...Canada, by international standards is a rich country; however, Canada has plenty of families struggling to make ends meet. It can be seen in “The Health of Canada’s Children” by Dennis Raphael, (2010) many social determinants influence health. One of the major determinants of health is living circumstances. The many different qualities of living within Canada have resulted in the health inequalities among children. This article in particular gives the reader the information needed to understand how living circumstances come about as well as how they affect health. Infant mortality rate or the number of newborns who die within their first year of life is considered to be one of the best ways to judge how healthy a population is. Low birth weight is also very important because it is affiliated with a wide range of health problems throughout a person’s lifespan. While there are many circumstances that play a role in infant mortality and low birth weight, a major component is living conditions the expected mothers are exposed to. This can be linked to the financial status of the parents. In Canada, the infant mortality rate is 60% higher and the low birth rate is 43% higher in the poorest income quintile than the richest quintile (Raphael, 2010). The effects of income on health are best portrayed by the living conditions to which children are exposed to. Income not only has a direct relationship with children’s health but various developmental outcomes as well. Income is a...
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...Struggle of Aboriginals in Canada “We owe the aboriginal peoples a debt that is four centuries old. It is their turn to become full partners in developing an even greater Canada. And the reconciliation required may be less a matter of legal texts than of attitudes of the heart.” - Roméo LeBlanc Aboriginal people are called the people from “First Nations” in Canada who have rich historical, cultural and spiritual traditions. However, many of these traditions were altered or even taken away upon the arrival of British and French settlers in Canada. Since then, forcing colonial culture and values on Aboriginal societies, the dispossession of Aboriginal lands and the seclusion of Aboriginals from modern amenities created a sequence of social, physical and spiritual devastation of their culture. Effect of these is quite noticeable even today. This is mainly because the Federal Government is not taking enough responsibility for providing proper support to Aboriginals with growing problems in the reserves. The Government of Canada recognizes the inherent right of self-government as an existing Aboriginal right under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (AANDC). It recognizes that the inherent right may find expression in treaties, and in the context of the Crown's relationship with treaty First Nations. Recognition of the inherent right is based on the view that the Aboriginal peoples of Canada have the right to govern themselves in relation to matters that...
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...“To investigate how the Canadian capitalistic structure exploits its workers today.” Ever since the development of currency, individuals have exploited others for the benefit of themselves – due to the origination of the social system Capitalism, there are new ruthless forms of exploitation that has resulted in millions suffering. In a capitalistic society such as Canada, exploitation in the workplace occurs daily. Exploitation can be defined as the utilization of another person for selfish purposes (William Morris, 2000). Since the rise of the social structure Capitalism, there has been a distinctive split between two classes of people – the bourgeoisie and proletarian (Karl Marx, 1848). To some, capitalism is the ‘end-all be-all ‘ social system, but these people are more than likely one of the fortunate few who have benefitted from it. By the fortunate few I mean the bourgeoisie class - the owners of the means of production. They own the capital and the resources (factories, farms, stores) to grow their wealth further, but they need labor to do so. Then there is the proletariat class - the labor. I reference them as the labor because in order to feed their families, they need money, and they have no means to make money other then to sell their labor. It is between these two classes that exploitation occurs. The bourgeoisies offer the lowest wages that the proletariats are willing accept, that way the bourgeoisie consume all the available profit for themselves...
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...Introduction Canada boasts about being a multi-cultural mosaic, a land of opportunity, with a vision to build “a stronger Canada – a safe and secure country with a shared bond of citizenship and values; a country that continues to support our humanitarian tradition and draws the best from the world to help build a nation that is economically, socially and culturally prosperous” (Government of Canada, 2011). Yet a look at the income statistics for Canadian immigrants makes one wonder whom is prospering economically. Are Canadian immigrants given equal economic opportunity when they arrive here, or are they subject to economic inequality? To answer this question, one can first look at earnings statistics and reports from Statistics Canada. This information can provide basic earnings information on immigrants, which will show how much Canadian immigrants earn in comparison to their native Canadian counterparts. A few drawbacks of using this information are that the statistics haven’t been updated since 2006, so the numbers may not be completely accurate, and numbers alone do not tell the whole story. As such, peer reviewed research articles and papers on the subject of economic inequality in Canadian immigrants can be used. These articles and papers provide both qualitative and quantitative information that paints a clearer picture of the situation. However, many of these papers are usually biased towards writer’s point-of-view, so there may be a lack of complete information...
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...Unit 1: All about culture. Eating betel nut- A traditional culture of Vietnamese According to old legends and documents, the custom of "Eating betel culture" has long existed since the reign of Hung Kings. Through ups and downs in society, eating and inviting betel still maintains it important position in Vietnamese traditional cultural value, especially in countryside and spiritual rituals. Eating betel nut is not only the custom of Vietnamese but also tropical Asian, Central Asian, Southeast Asian and people in Pacific archipelagoes. However, the communicative meanings of betel nut varies among countries. In Vietnam, betel nut is the symbol of social relations and means of expressing mutual human affection. Normally, A quid of betel consist of a folded leaf with white limestone and a piece of yellow arena nut. Some people prefer to mix betel nut, cinnamon bark and straw wisps together. The combination drives people to exotic feeling: sweetness of areca, pungency of betel leaf and bitter of areca nut and cinnamon bark. Apart from health benefits, eating betel nut also enhance the beauty. Polyphenol extract from betel leaf has antibacteria agent. Or arecoline in areca nut combined with limestone redden lips. The girl with crimson lips and checks and a smile revealing black teeth because of chewing betel nut used to be the hallmark of female beauty in traditional society. In spiritual life, betel nut is considered a conversation starter. They serve as offerings during...
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...programs that provide a right to healthcare for certain segments of the population, totaled less than 10% of the federal budget in 1985, but by 2012 these programs took up 21% of the federal budget. Studies have concluded that the expansion of insurance coverage under universal right to healthcare will increase the federal deficit by $340-$700 billion in the first 10 years, and could increase the deficit to $1.5 trillion in the second 10 years. A right to healthcare could also increase the wait time for medical services and lower the quality and availability of disease screening and treatment. Countries with a universal right to healthcare have longer wait times than in the United States. In 2013 the average wait time to see a specialist in Canada was 8.6 weeks,...
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