Ottawa: The 2020 Canadian Income Survey revealed that, government’s swift action in 2020, resulted in a substantial decrease in Canada’s overall poverty rate.
Federal emergency and recovery benefits introduced in 2020 through Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan—in addition to programs at the provincial, territorial and municipal levels—played a key role in mitigating the pandemic’s impacts among vulnerable populations, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould said.
Between 2019 and 2020, the overall poverty rate fell by more than one third, from 10.3% to 6.4%, representing over 1.4 million fewer Canadians living in poverty, including 332,000 children and 162,000 seniors. In particular, the supports introduced in 2020 helped lift Canadians with the lowest income – those who were on the brink – out of poverty. In addition, income inequality in 2020 was at its lowest level in 45 years, which demonstrates meaningful progress towards the government’s goal of building a more inclusive and resilient economy.
The poverty rate in Canada has decreased steadily since 2015. While the results in the 2020 Canadian Income Survey are encouraging, they must be considered in the context of a year which saw unprecedented and temporary government income support measures.