Edmonton Social Planning Council

Author: ESPC Team

  • Blog post: Taking the Pulse on SDG #5 – Gender Equality and Empowerment

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    Written by Harman Khinda, ESPC Volunteer.

     

    With heart health month over and International Women’s Day around the corner, it seems appropriate to take the pulse on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #5 – Gender Equality and Empowerment.

    SDGs are an urgent call for action which are aimed at achieving developmental milestones and priorities for the betterment and prosperity of the planet as well as, people through global partnership. SDG #5 states to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. There are many indicators that suggest the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development1. It is likely that efforts have been partially hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. International Women’s Day is observed and celebrated globally on March 8th, which is a day of collective global activism and celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.2

    Recently, many announcements have been made for initiatives launched both at the local and provincial levels which directly impact Albertans with respect to their goal of advocating for and advancing gender equality.

    The Women’s Health Coalition-Alberta Chapter is working to advance the movement to speak openly, learn, engage, address barriers, gaps, and biases in menstrual reproductive and sexual health.3 In May 2022, the British Columbia government expanded access to free menstrual products for those in need, in an effort to reduce period poverty and alleviate the burdens of the pink tax – a widely-used term to describe not an actual tax, but a gender-discriminatory yet legal pricing practice.4,5 Similar efforts to provide free menstruation products in public spaces are being explored in Alberta.

    Childcare and access to education are effective tools to promote and achieve gender equality for women across the world. Alberta had the 2nd lowest percentage of women in the working age population among the 10 provinces at 49.7%. The proportion of women in 2019 that have attained a university education increased to 29.2% from 19.5% in 2009. Between 2009 and 2019, the number of women with no degree, certificate or diploma decreased by 10.6% while the number of women with university degrees rose 81.9%.6 Women are attaining higher education in greater numbers which has a positive correlation to employment opportunities, economic security, and financial freedom. An announcement was made by the Alberta government to decrease childcare fees as the federal-provincial program expands across the country.7 This is a positive program announcement which will help alleviate the financial cost of childcare for parents and aid in increasing women’s participation in the workforce.

     There are critical issues which impact achieving gender equality and empowerment. Women’s health is under researched and underfunded, with less than 4% of federal funding to women’s health research allocated to Alberta.8 Recently, the federal government announced a national pharmacare program including coverage for birth control and diabetes medication, however the Alberta government has indicated it does not intend to be part of the agreement.9 This is a financial barrier for many individuals and impacts their access to healthcare and individual autonomy. Maternal mortality is a major global occurrence. Approximately 287,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020, with almost 95% of all maternal deaths occurring in low and lower middle-income countries and most could have been prevented.10 In Canada, maternal mortality rates are measured differently across provinces and territories. Different definitions are used and applied across the country, which include maternal mortality during pregnancy, within 42 days postpartum, and other ranges. It is difficult to understand the full scope of the problem which is likely leading to an undercount of maternal mortality cases.

    Women and girls deserve the ability to access and participate equally in the social, economic, financial, cultural, and political realms of the world. They require support, resources, and radical change to create change. These changes will not happen overnight, however there are a few ways a person could contribute to these efforts. A person should educate themselves on local, provincial, and national efforts and initiatives focused on an area of interest. Another option is an incredible book titled “Invisible Women – Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez. The path to progress is not linear, but if we choose to educate ourselves, engage in efforts within our communities and advocate for those who cannot, we will continue making progress.

     Source for graphic: United Nations. (n.d.). SDG Report 2023. https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/SDG_report_2023_infographics_Goal%205.jpg

    In-Text Citations Sources (APA Format)

    1. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
    2. International Women’s Day. (n.d.). International Women’s Day 2024 campaign theme: Inspire Inclusion. https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
    3. Women’s Health Coalition. (n.d.). Women’s Health Coalition. https://thewhc.ca/about-us/
    4. C. spending $750K to expand access to free menstrual products. (2022, May 27). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/free-menstrual-products-in-bc-1.6468643
    5. Think pink: Analyzing the history and future of the pink tax. (2022, January 10). The Varsity. https://thevarsity.ca/2022/01/09/history-and-future-of-pink-tax/
    6. Labour and Immigration, Government of Alberta. (2021). Alberta Labour Force Profiles I Women | 2019. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/7bb5845d-5b9f-4026-ad6f-15b1f1be735a/resource/09420573-ec9f-4fa8-a9d8-e606686e59b7/download/lbr-alberta-labour-force-profiles-women-2019.pdf
    7. Fletcher, R. (2023, December 9). Alberta child-care fees set to decrease — again — as federal-provincial program expands in January. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-childcare-daycare-fees-grant-increases-2024-1.7053677
    8. Alberta Womens Health Foundation (2021) Finding the Fractures: The Pandemic, Women’s Health Disparities, and the Path to Equity https://www.albertawomenshealthfoundation.org/public/download/files/195790
    9. De Castillo, C. K. (2024, February 28). Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare plan. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10316372/alberta-intends-to-opt-out-of-national-pharmacare-plan/
    10. World Health Organization: WHO. (2023, February 22). Maternal mortality. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
    11. Gomez, C., & Carman, T. (2022, October 6). Canada significantly undercounts maternal deaths, and doctors are sounding the alarm. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-maternal-deaths-undercount-1.6600905
    12. United Nations. (n.d.). SDG Report 2023. https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/SDG_report_2023_infographics_Goal%205.jpg.

    Sources (APA Format)

    1. Alberta Womens Health Foundation (2021) Finding the Fractures: The Pandemic, Women’s Health Disparities, and the Path to Equity https://www.albertawomenshealthfoundation.org/public/download/files/195790
    2. C. spending $750K to expand access to free menstrual products. (2022, May 27). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/free-menstrual-products-in-bc-1.6468643
    3. De Castillo, C. K. (2024, February 28). Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare plan. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10316372/alberta-intends-to-opt-out-of-national-pharmacare-plan/
    4. Fletcher, R. (2023, December 9). Alberta child-care fees set to decrease — again — as federal-provincial program expands in January. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-childcare-daycare-fees-grant-increases-2024-1.7053677
    5. Goal 5 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5
    6. Gomez, C., & Carman, T. (2022, October 6). Canada significantly undercounts maternal deaths, and doctors are sounding the alarm. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-maternal-deaths-undercount-1.6600905
    7. International Women’s Day. (n.d.). International Women’s Day 2024 campaign theme: Inspire Inclusion. https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
    8. Labour and Immigration, Government of Alberta. (2021). Alberta Labour Force Profiles I Women | 2019. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/7bb5845d-5b9f-4026-ad6f-15b1f1be735a/resource/09420573-ec9f-4fa8-a9d8-e606686e59b7/download/lbr-alberta-labour-force-profiles-women-2019.pdf
    9. Think pink: Analyzing the history and future of the pink tax. (2022, January 10). The Varsity. https://thevarsity.ca/2022/01/09/history-and-future-of-pink-tax/
    10. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
    11. United Nations Statistics Division. (n.d.). — SDG indicators. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/Goal-05/
    12. United Nations. (n.d.). SDG Report 2023. https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/SDG_report_2023_infographics_Goal%205.jpg.
    13. Women’s Health Coalition. (n.d.). Women’s Health Coalition. https://thewhc.ca/about-us/
    14. World Health Organization: WHO. (2023, February 22). Maternal mortality. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality

     

     

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  • fACT Sheet: 2024 Alberta Provincial Budget

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    Introduction 

    The 2024-25 Alberta budget, titled A Responsible Plan for a Growing Province, covers finances from April 1, 2024 until March 31, 2025. This is the sixth budget of the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) as they enter their second term in government. This budget seeks to address the challenges a growing province faces while ensuring a sustainable future for the next generation. 

    This budget is in line with the government’s fiscal framework introduced in 2023, which prioritizes a balanced budget, controlled spending, and using surplus revenue to pay off debt and save for the future. 

    As with previous budgets, Budget 2024 boasts low taxation, which limits important investments in public services that support Albertans. If Alberta had the same tax structure as the next lowest taxed province (British Columbia), the government would generate an additional $19.0 billion in revenue (2024-25).*  

    The 2024 Budget also contains investments into the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, with the government committing to depositing an additional $2 billion into the fund, increasing the value of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund to a forecast $25 billion. 

    This fACT Sheet will focus on developments related to social programming that impact those living in low-income and poverty. Investments that positively impact marginalized populations result in long-term savings in other public services, such as health care and the criminal justice system, and increase the overall well-being of our communities.  

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  • Blog post: World Day of Social Justice 2024

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    Written by Alanna Molzahn,  ESPC Volunteer.

    Each year, the UN observes World Day of Social Justice, which encourages member nations to promote social justice in their countries. This year, we reflect on social justice advancements in the world, as well as shortcomings in our own communities.  

    February 20, 2024, marks the 15th World Day of Social Justice. Since 2009, this day has been observed to focus on social injustice in the world and to push for improvements, as well as solutions (1). In their discussion of 2023’s World Day of Social Justice, the UN notes the exacerbating effects of COVID-19, climate change, and geopolitical tensions on economic and social crises (2). As such, the year’s theme focused on UN recommendations to strengthen solidarity and rebuild trust in government.  At this time, the theme for 2024 has not yet been revealed, allowing us to reflect on the issues that impact our communities the most, as well as explore possible solutions. We may also reflect on the past 15 years to note how far we have come while remaining mindful of where there is still room for improvement. 

    A Look at Social Justice in the Past 15 Years 

     The past 15 years have seen numerous advances for social justice, relating to improved health outcomes, increased gender equality, and climate change activism. Some examples include: 

    • In 2011, the last polio case in India was confirmed, and since then, the country has been polio-free (3).  
    • In 2015, Cuba became the first country to elimination mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (4). 
    • In 2018, Greta Thunberg encouraged school strikes every Friday, to address climate change and sparking a global movement (5).  

     We should not, however, lose sight of the poverty, racism, and systemic inequalities that are endemic in our societies. In 2021, nearly 1 in 5 Canadian children were living in poverty (6). From January to June 2023, an average of 22 people died per day as a result of apparent opioid toxicity (7). Inflation continues to climb, and Canadians are facing increased food insecurity (8).  

     Since the pandemic, Edmonton’s unhoused population has doubled (9). Despite an inadequate number of safe and accessible shelter spaces, the City of Edmonton authorized the destruction of encampments, undermining the health and safety of an already vulnerable demographic. Furthermore, the unhoused population in Edmonton is predominantly Indigenous, encouraging us to think critically about the legacies of colonialism and how the encampment sweeps and related policies function as a form of continued colonial violence.  

     World Day of Social Justice and Beyond 

     As we approach this year’s World Day of Social Justice, we should consider the most pressing issues in our communities and brainstorm for ways to hold our elected representatives accountable. Simultaneously, we need to encourage them to take positive steps toward harm reduction, providing affordable housing, and eradicating the conditions and systems that result in poverty, houselessness, and addiction. However, we cannot solely rely on governments and international organizations. Important work has been done by ordinary citizens, reinforcing the importance of building community and fighting for our friends, families, and neighbours.  

     Today, I encourage all readers to turn inward and reflect on ways we can advance social justice in our own communities. This may take the form of mutual aid, writing a letter to city council, or even challenging ingrained beliefs of who deserves what. Social justice requires more than just government action, and by having compassion and empathy for those around us, we can continue to bolster the rights of vulnerable and marginalized peoples.   

     

    Sources 

    1. World Day of Social Justice 2024. World Day of Social Justice 2024 | South African Government. (n.d.).  https://www.gov.za/WorldDayofSocialJustice2024 

    2. United Nations. (n.d.). UN Observances. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/observances 

    3. World Health Organization. (n.d.-a). Polio-free India: It seemed impossible until it was done. World Health Organization. https://www.emro.who.int/polio-eradication/news/polio-free-india-it-seemed-impossible- until-it-was-done.html   

    4. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Who validates elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in Cuba. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2015-who-validates-elimination-of-mother-to-child-transmission-of-hiv-and-syphilis-in-cuba  

    5. How Greta started a Global Movement. Fridays For Future. (2021, June 24). https://fridaysforfuture.org/what-we-do/who-we-are/  

    6. Racine, N.  Analysis: Child poverty rises in Canada to 1 million | National Post. National Post. (2024, February 5).  https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/child-poverty-is-on the-rise-in-canada 

     7. Opioid- and stimulant-related harms. Government of Canada. (2023, December 15).  https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/ 

    8. Government of Canada, S. C.  Study: Food insecurity among Canadian families, 2022. (2023, November 14).  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231114/dq231114a-eng.htm 

    9. Riebe, N., & Snowdon, W.  Edmonton declares homelessness emergency, while judge scraps lawsuit against City’s dismantling of Encampments | CBC news. CBC News. (2024, January 17). https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-council-alberta-cabinet-homeless-housing-1.7085148 

      

     

     

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  • Media release: New Alberta Child Poverty Report Shows That a Return to Normal Should Not Mean a Return to Rising Poverty Levels.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     

    EDMONTON – The Edmonton Social Planning Council and Public Interest Alberta have jointly released a report on the state of child poverty in Alberta. The report finds that 1 in 6 children, or over 160,000 children, in Alberta are living in poverty. This is a return to pre-pandemic levels of poverty after a temporary decrease in poverty due to COVID-era supports that were in place in 2020. While many welcome a post-pandemic “return to normal,” this should not include a return to increasing rates of child poverty.

     “The onset of COVID times was challenging for many, but governments providing stability and a temporarily boosted safety net definitely alleviated the worst poverty,” said Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “However, a ‘return to normal’ has meant too many people returning to precarious low-wage jobs that do not pay a livable wage. During times of high costs of living and stagnant wages, governments have to dramatically rethink our social safety net to lift people out of poverty.”

     “The House of Commons’ original goal to end child poverty by the year 2000 has been missed, and child poverty continues to persist nearly a quarter century later,” said Sydney Sheloff, the Strategic Research Coordinator at the Edmonton Social Planning Council. “We have the knowledge and the resources to meaningfully make a difference for those living in poverty, but governments are lacking the political will to follow through. It is our hope that these reports serve as a wake up call to foster conversations on the current dire situation and ways forward to improve the lives of those who feel the impacts of poverty every day.”

     The report examines common sense policy solutions to the crisis of child poverty, including robust investment into affordable and non-market housing and a robust and accessible network of high-quality and affordable child care options to foster healthy childhood development and allow for greater workforce participation.

     

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Sydney Sheloff, Strategic Research Coordinator

    Edmonton Social Planning Council

    sydneys@edmontonsocialplanning.ca

     

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  • Alberta Child Poverty Report 2023

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    The Alberta Child Poverty Report is an annual report produced by the Edmonton Social Planning Council and Public Interest Alberta. It is designed to inform policy-makers, advocates, and decision-makers in their work to end child poverty and create an equitable Alberta for all.

    This year’s report explores some of the current issues faced by children living in poverty, including: child poverty statistics, lifting children out of poverty, poverty within Indigenous and racialized communities, the state of childcare, food insecurity, housing, and taxation and income redistribution. It concludes with recommendations in all these domains that will contribute towards reducing and ending child poverty.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

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    Alberta Child Poverty Report – 2023

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    Alberta Child Poverty Report – 2022

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  • Blog post: “Play (your) Cards Right”

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    Written by Susanne Urbina, Capacity Support Assistant

    If you’re not familiar with this gambling idiom, it refers to “leveraging a situation to your best possible advantage to increase the likelihood of a positive result” (Translation Royal, 2020).

    If we play our cards right by recruiting enthusiastic, passionate volunteers to work at our upcoming casino, we will raise the much-needed funds to continue the good work Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) does for our community.

    Operating a casino to fundraise is known as charitable gaming. Charity gambling is a “form of incentivized giving” where a charity (or a group of charities), rather than a municipality or private casino, oversees gambling activities such as bingo, roulette, lottery, and slot machine then uses a portion of the proceeds to further its charitable aim. In Alberta, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) also includes bingo, raffles, pull tickets and casinos in its gaming activities.

    Thousands of charities in Alberta have earned nearly $7 billion through charity gambling since 1995. Even through the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, $137.2 million was earned by charitable organizations. The revenues from gaming benefit everybody in Alberta by supporting programs such as healthcare, education, community development and youth programs (AGLC, 2024).

    Being a volunteer may not consume a lot of your time, especially when some organizations offer one-time or episodic activities, during specific times or events.

    Our fundraising casino takes place on June 3rd and June 4th, 2024. We need volunteers for shifts that range throughout the day, evening, night and into the early morning hours. This is a great one-off opportunity where you may discover you want to investigate volunteering further.

    Individuals returning to the work force and newcomers are encouraged to volunteer to add the experience to their resumes as volunteering can give you valuable skills and experiences for professional growth. In addition to having fun and meeting people, it improves your mental and physical health and by bringing people together, volunteering builds trust, increases social inclusion, as well as enhances understanding within diverse populations (Government of Alberta, 2020).

    Play your cards right and volunteer for our casino. The likelihood of a positive result is a sure bet as you will meet friends, have fun, and contribute to our organization’s overall success.

    References

    AGLC (2024). aglc.ca/gaming/charitablegaming

    Government of Alberta (2020), as cited by Amethyst Zapisocky (2023). edmontonsocialplanning.ca/2023/12/01/international-volunteer-day-2023-celebrating-how- volunteers-uplift-our-lives-and-communities/

    Government of Alberta (2020), as cited by Amethyst Zapisocky (2023).

    The Government of Alberta. (2020). Profiling volunteerism: An Alberta nonprofit/voluntary sector initiative discussion paper of the value and contribution of Alberta volunteers. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ab4480ca-ece9-4e1d-93e1- 6607ceec1ade/resource/cc32c020-dee5-48db-bd7b-6617e42f334a/download/cmsw- profiling-volunteerism-alberta-nonprofit-voluntary-sector-initiative-discussion-paper-  2020.pdf

    Translation Royal (2020). translationroyal.com

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