Low Income Inequality In Canada

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Every individual has the right to receive a quality education, to have their health care needs met, and to live a healthy, fulfilling life, with opportunities for recreation and leisure, regardless of one’s income level. Unfortunately, many low income Canadians do not have the same amount of opportunities that higher income Canadians do. This is due to limited financial resources. While no official definition exists for the term, low income, Statistics Canada uses the Low Income Cut-off (LICOs) and the Low Income Measure to measure income levels. The Low Income Cut-off (LICOs) is a measurement used to determine the percentage of the population that can be classified as low income, “…that is, who spend 55 per cent or more of their income on …show more content…

It is also important to question how and why income inequality occurs and why the social welfare system, a program which provides financial assistance to individuals and families in need, are insufficient in meeting the financial needs of individuals and families (Investopedia, 2010, “Social Welfare System Definition”). As a result of this questioning, throughout this essay, the effects of low income on one’s education, health and recreation will be explored. Individuals with low incomes do not have the same opportunities and access to services as middle and high income individuals. Therefore, it can be said that individuals with lower incomes face a discerning inequality with regards to their access and quality of health care, education and recreational activities. The effects of this inequality are harmful to low income individuals themselves, in addition to their quality of life, because they do not have the same opportunities and resources as higher income individuals do. This is unjust because every one of us deserves to have a high quality of life and access to these services, regardless of one’s income …show more content…

3). Canada’s education systems, nevertheless requires further social changes to ensure the success of all students, despite their families’ incomes and backgrounds. This statistic, in particular, is an example of social change, in that more individuals are graduating with a secondary school diploma. It is known that children who come from middle and higher income families do better in school than those who come from lower income backgrounds. This is because low income parents do not have the financial and environmental resources to provide their children with the material items, and services and to instill beliefs; making success possible for students from higher income backgrounds much more attainable. For example, children require an environment within their homes that is conducive to their learning (Statistics Canada, 2014, “Intergenerational education mobility: University completion in relation to parents’ education level,” para. 4). More often, parents from higher incomes recognize this importance, and have the means to provide this for their children. Having an environment that is conducive to learning means that likely more time and effort will be placed into one’s school work.

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