Edmonton Social Planning Council

Author: Susanne Urbina

  • CM: Our Aging Indigenous Population: A Conversation with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

    Written by Susanne Urbina, Capacity Support Assistant (ESPC)

    Note: This is an excerpt from our March 2025 Community Matters newsletter. You can read the full publication here.

    One in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over by 2030 (Statistics Canada, 2023). The growing interest in aging often excludes our Indigenous seniors’ voices and experiences from perspectives and comprehension on aging. We broaden our understanding of the diversity in successful aging by including older Indigenous adults in discussions.

    Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a non-profit organization that supports Edmonton’s Indigenous community. Shauna May and Brad Seneca started the Society in 1994 offering services like the Pathways program for youth who wanted to return to school, enter training or find work and later, the province’s child and family services department requested they open a group home. The success of the group home led the organization to develop other programs, resources and services for early childhood, adolescents, adult/parents, and seniors/grandparents. The organization continues to serve our Indigenous population with supports and programs including referrals, family wellness and health programs, soup and Bannock lunches, youth employment programs, family services, housing and financial services (Narine, 2016).

    We interviewed Sophie Laboucan, the Seniors Wellness Coordinator at Bent Arrow, to get a perspective on Indigenous aging.  

    How have Indigenous seniors been supported over Bent Arrow’s 30-year history? 

    We have given support by listening to their needs, offering compassion and making them feel part of the community. Our Indigenous seniors share their life experiences, teachings, and teach us how to have a good life throughout each transition.

    Historical and structural factors have influenced the health outcomes of Indigenous seniors such as the impacts  of colonization, the loss of language and  culture and the ongoing trauma they’ve  experienced. These determinants have  contributed to negative health effects.  What are other factors affecting  Indigenous older adults because of  generational trauma? 

    Exploitation of Indigenous seniors is one of the factors of generational trauma. When seniors are taken advantage of because of ignorance of their rights, this adds to systemic abuse. A lack of trust in the healthcare system causes isolation and detrimental health outcomes for Indigenous seniors. There is also a lack of culturally relevant services and programs in healthcare, which make it difficult for Indigenous older adults to navigate the healthcare system.  

    Safe housing is often a concern for Indigenous seniors. If they indeed find housing, they may be exploited by being overcharged for rent or they may not receive much needed improvements to their living space.  

    Another factor to consider is when living on one’s own is no longer an option. Indigenous seniors are reluctant to move into long-term care facilities as this may retraumatize those who are residential schools’ survivors.

    Many of the Indigenous seniors today  were involved in the Sixties Scoop and in  the Residential Schools. How might their  experience of aging be different from  others who have not experienced such  complex trauma at an early age?

    Physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, inadequate nutritious meals and inadequate health care and loss of their culture and family ties negatively impacted life expectancy and quality of life for many, with that trauma being carried into senior hood. It has created issues with mental health, housing, food and financial insecurity, and lower literacy levels. By contrast, seniors who escaped or found a way out of the trauma are very capable today. They have been successful in raising their families having learned domestic skills, and other life skills.

    “Those who can look forward and reach out, have done better and attained a good life.” 

    Aging was often thought of as a period of  decline and dependency. In the 1980’s,  a “successful aging” concept was  designed with the measurement of low   probability of disease and disability, high  physical and cognitive functional capacity, and active engagement with  life. Is there anything that Indigenous  seniors do to ensure “successful aging”  under this model? 

    Kana’wayh’ito’win (kana-wah-KOH-toh-win) translates to “Taking care of each other’s spirits.” In our community e.g.; social senior programs, having a sense of belonging, and a good support system, are the pillars we strive to support the seniors attending the Wahkomatowin senior programs.

    My first position here was as a facilitator/outreach worker, offering programs to adults aged fifty-five plus, which subsequently produced the Wahkomatowin Seniors Wellness Program. My title now is Team Lead with a full time Senior outreach worker and a part-time facilitator working with me. This program launched in 2016, is free of charge and embodies Cree natural law, Wahkomatowin. This refers to the interconnectedness and kinship between people, communities, and nature. Their programs are based on the Medicine Wheel, which helps balance health and well-being for seniors by taking the emotional self, the spiritual self and lastly, the mental self into account. Ceremony, healthy meals, community and positive family connections are our predominant model used for aging well. Every effort is made to look at each person wholistically to address their specific needs.

    Our seniors’ programs help improve and maintain physical health, and in turn, improve cognitive function. Active engagement is achieved through participation in our social groups to foster relationships. This is critical for seniors to avoid isolation, which can lead to disease and a decline in life expectancy. We schedule Kohkom’s (Grandmother’s) TeaTime offering tea, conversation, storytelling, and skill building; Mosum’s (Grandfather’s) Beer Den providing projects to encourage working with their hands and making connections; and Social Hub, a co-ed program with organized outings to places of interest in Edmonton. Crow’s Nest offers informational programing for seniors seeking resources through presentations and discussion to help make better, more informed choices, complete with healthy snacks and a bus ticket home if needed.

    Elders contribute to their community  and culture by passing down knowledge and skills, as well as mentor leaders in traditional ceremonies and ways of life. How does this contribute to the health of Indigenous seniors? 

    Our Elders are often seniors, but not all Indigenous seniors are Elders, and not all Elders are elderly. They have roles as teachers, counsellors, healers, and conflict resolvers in addition to having the responsibilities of passing down our Indigenous teachings, ceremonies, and culture. They support seniors to reconnect to culture and heal through land-based teaching by connecting with nature. The Medicine Wheel and the Seven Sacred Teachings are founding values in our culture. Also known as Grandfather Teachings these guidelines of LOVE, RESPECT, BRAVERY, HONESTY, HUMILITY, TRUTH, and WISDOM focus on the relationships with all of creation, and each other (Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia [ARPDC], 2024).

    “Successful aging” is often associated with economic or material acquisition, but those who find themselves in less favorable circumstances often experience blame or neglect. How does this mentality affect Indigenous seniors? 

    Indigenous seniors frequently face discrimination which causes social isolation in seniors often being ignored and being discriminated against or overlooked in both their communities and society at large. This marginalization has a significant impact on their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, as it leads to the neglect of their basic needs. When these seniors are disregarded, their access to essential resources—such as adequate housing, nutritious food, and a reliable income—becomes compromised. These basic needs are crucial for successful aging, as they provide the foundation for health, stability, and dignity in later years. Without these necessities, Indigenous seniors face heightened vulnerability and diminished quality of life. Indigenous seniors are considered at an elevated risk of experiencing social isolation due to factors such as racism, marginalized language, culture, poverty, and historic negative experiences.

    Statistics show that Canadian Indigenous groups have a lower life expectancy. What critical work about successful aging needs to be done for Indigenous older people to increase life expectancy? 

    Providing supportive, culturally safe health care services, more Indigenous representation via health care navigators, supports for grandparents raising their grandchildren, collaboration with knowledge keepers to provide wholistic and culturally safe spaces for ceremony; example a smudge room. Indigenous speaking interpreters in hospitals, healthy family connections and good community supports such as supportive and welcoming senior programs, safe affordable housing, financial supports, mental health supports, transportation, and food for seniors would help increase life expectancy for seniors.  

    What are the different challenges to Indigenous seniors who reside on reserve or in rural or remote areas? 

    Residents on the reserve often do not have the same access to services as urban seniors. There is little or no access to computers or the internet, which can be an added challenge to senior resource services. Seniors are often unaware that certain services even exist, more needs to be done to disseminate information. Remote residents also face a lack of transportation services. However, I am pleased to share that some reserves in this area now have senior services and programs which offer transportation and lodging for medical appointments out-of-town.

    Although these are some of the challenges that Indigenous seniors face living on the reserve or in rural and remote areas, living on traditional land, with access to traditional food and connection to culture can impact aging in a positive way.

    In some cases, healthcare personnel are not adequately informed about Indigenous culture. What support can be given to this system and other programs to increase the health and longevity of Indigenous seniors? 

    The Medicine Wheel encompasses spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Knowledge of this holistic worldview would also help healthcare workers take better care of our seniors. Many of the staff at Bent Arrow speak and understand Cree, which builds good relationships. Staff who speak in Indigenous languages would improve communication and one’s ability to heal. Being trauma informed, having cultural awareness, Indigenous navigators in hospitals to help assist the Indigenous seniors would be of significant help to bring a sense of understanding and ease to foster culturally safe health care. Visit Bent Arrow, we have cultural teachings available.  

    What non-medical models of aging can the non-Indigenous community foster to increase the longevity of Indigenous seniors? 

    As a result of how Indigenous people have been treated in Canada, our Indigenous seniors have shared, lived experiences of racism and prejudice. I suggest, building relationships to foster trust, increasing your knowledge of Indigenous culture, understanding Indigenous identity and our way of life, attending a powwow, or ceremony or sitting with elders to listen to their stories. It is important also to foster culturally safe health care and safe space as well as provide appropriate supports needed for the Indigenous senior.

    What provisions of services in  culturally appropriate manners would  assist in the challenges of Indigenous seniors?  

    Culturally providing safety for Indigenous seniors in health care, and society where they are free from prejudices, discrimination, systemic racism. This is essential for Indigenous seniors, providing traditional and holistic care. These draw on their strengths from their identity, their culture and community.  

    What service agencies are available  for Indigenous seniors in Edmonton?

    Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, The Aboriginal Seniors, Indigenous Health Centre at Anderson Hall, Red Road healing society, Sage, Ben Calf robe, Metis Nation, and others.  

    Resources

    World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health of older adults https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults

    Narine, S. (2016, August). School named in honor co-founder of Bent Arrow society. Windspeaker.com. https://windspeaker.com/news/schoolnamed-in-honour-co-founder-of-bentarrow-society

    Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia {ARPDC}. (2024). Empowering the Spirit: Seven Sacred Teachings. https://empoweringthespirit.ca/cultures-ofbelonging/seven-grandfathers-teachings/

  • Blog: Recognizing the Past, Preventing the Future: April 1st is Genocide Remembrance Day

    By Susanne Urbina

    April 1st is known for many as April Fool’s Day but in Canada, it’s also the day that marks Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month when we reflect upon the victims of genocide, honor survivors and give thought to how to prevent brutal acts from occurring in the future.

    “Genocide is defined in international law as certain prohibited acts or omissions committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected group of people” (Lafontaine, 2021).

    The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in 2015, declaring the month of April as the time to commemorate the genocides that Canada recognizes (Ukrainian Canadian Congress, 2020) with lives lost: The Holocaust with up to 17 million people exterminated; the Ukrainian Holodomor with an estimated 7.5 million death count; the death of up to 1 million Tutsis Rwandans; the 1915 Armenian Genocide with up to 1.5 million killed (Jones, 2019); the approximate 100,000 killed in The Bosnian Genocide (Montreal Holocaust Museum, n.d.)  and the ongoing atrocities of the Yezidi people of Syria and Iraq where more than 3,000 were unlawfully killed (Amnesty International, 2024).

    We are witnessing more hate in our world today. Racism and discrimination can ultimately lead to loss of life when violence erupts, and it starts with targeting and dehumanizing groups of people (Government of Canada, 2022). We can look back on our own history to see the genocide against our Indigenous Peoples. This colonial genocide is slow-moving as it has evolved over decades and continues still today with the search for unmarked graves at former residential schools as well as, the search for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, incarceration and addiction continue to plague our Indigenous population (Barker, 2025).

    While genocide falls under mass atrocities which are large-scale, systematic violent acts against civilian populations, it is not considered mass killing which is more often driven by revenge, mental illness or ideology. It is consistent with crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing, which all have the same common denominator-hate (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d.).

    Not all injustices equate to loss of life, but there have been many tragic events where many have suffered throughout history in Canada because of racism. In addition to Indigenous injustice, discrimination was the root for the enslavement of Africans until 1833, for the anti-Asian sentiment from the 1850s to the 1950s, for segregated schools in Nova Scotia and Ontario into the early mid-20th century, and for the anti-Semitism in Montreal in 1914. Post wars, we saw internment camps and hostile sentiments toward Japanese Canadians, Slavic immigrants deemed as revolutionaries, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other organizations opposing immigrants and Catholics (Palmer, Driedger, 2011).

    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination just passed, and you may not have given much thought to hate and its root causes but as we approach April 1st, don’t be the fool who doesn’t recognize that we must do our part to ensure that such unfathomable acts never happen again. We must protect human rights and the dignity of Canadians and people worldwide.

    References

    Lafontaine, F. (2021, June 11). How Canada committed genocide against Indigenous Peoples, explained by the lawyer central to the determination. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-canada-committed-genocide-against-indigenous-peoples-explained-by-the-lawyer-central-to-the-determination-162582

    Ukrainian Canadian Congress. (2020). Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month: Amid growing instances of online hate, organizations call on the Government of Canada to take action. https://www.ucc.ca/2020/04/14/april-is-genocide-remembrance-condemnation-prevention-month/

    Jones, J. (2019, April 21). 10 Largest Genocides in the World. https://largest.org/culture/genocides/

    Montreal Holocaust Museum. (n.d.). The Bosnian Genocide. https://museeholocauste.ca/en/resources-training/the-bosnian-genocide/

    Amnesty International. (2024, July 31) Syria: Yezidi survivors of Islamic State atrocities abandoned to indefinite detention in north-ease Syria. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/syria-yezidi-survivors-of-islamic-state-atrocities-abandoned-to-indefinite-detention-in-north-east-syria/

    Canadian Heritage. (2022, April 1).  Statement by Minister Hussen on Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/03/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-genocide-remembrance-condemnation-and-prevention-month.html

    Barker, R. (2025, February 14). What was the native genocide in Canada? NCESC.COM                                      https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-faq/what-was-the-native-genocide-in-canada/

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (n.d.). Definitions: Types of Mass Atrocities  https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/learn-about-genocide-and-other-mass-atrocities/definitions

    Palmer, H., Driedger, L. (2011, February 10). Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prejudice-and-discrimination

  • International Volunteer Day 2023: Celebrating How Volunteers Uplift Our Lives and Communities

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     Written by Amethyst Zapisocky, ESPC Volunteer

    Summary:

    International Volunteer Day is an international initiative to recognize and appreciate the work volunteers all over the world do to support others and various communities.

    December 5th is a day to honour the time, passion, and effort of millions of volunteers and service organizations worldwide. (1) The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (International Volunteer Day) was established in 1985 by the United Nations and has been annually observed to raise awareness of, acknowledge and promote volunteerism at the local, national, and international levels. (2) The theme this year is the power of collective action: if everyone did. (2) (3) Speaking to this theme, given the remarkable impact volunteering makes on the local and global community, if everyone was able to volunteer in some way the effects on the world would be immense. As the United Nations describes, if billions were able to donate their time to volunteering, there would be incredible opportunities for social, economic, and environmental development. (2)

    Impact of Volunteering

    There are many positive outcomes that volunteering provides, outcomes which greatly benefit individuals (volunteers and users), organizations, communities, and the world at large. Some ways in which volunteerism can be enriching are:

    • Facilitate collaboration and connection between citizens and governing authorities which can amplify the voices of marginalized communities, inform public policy, and help lessen unequal power structures. (4) (5)
    • Volunteering is imperative during individual, community and/or global crises as they are often the first to respond during emergency situations. (2)
    • Volunteers help connect those in need to available support. (4)
    • Volunteers can gain valuable skills and experiences for personal and professional growth. (5)
    • Volunteering improves mental and physical health. (5)
    • Volunteerism brings people together: Builds trust, increases social inclusion, and enhances understanding within diverse populations. (5)

    Just as there are many outcomes and reasons for volunteering, there are many different types of volunteerism. These opportunities range from formal (through an organization) to informal (work not attached to a specific organization) and can be one-time, episodic (for example, during specific times or events), or continuous. (5)

    Volunteerism in Alberta

    It is still undeniable that volunteering does a lot of positive and necessary work in the community. A 2020 report by the Government of Alberta outlines how Albertans volunteer and why. According to the report, 50% of Albertans volunteer and 85% donate, both of which are higher than the national average (44% and 82% respectively). (5) 1.6 million Albertans provide over 262 million hours of volunteer hours each year. (5) Nonprofits, which deliver vital services and programs that improve the well-being of Albertans, are majorly supported through volunteerism, with 50% of organizations in Alberta having no paid staff. The report also shows that most Albertan volunteers do so for altruistic reasons, to contribute to the health of our community. (5) Volunteerism also boosts Alberta’s economy, with volunteer work in Alberta being worth $5.6 billion annually. (5) Volunteerism in Alberta has led to great public service and quality-of-life improvements that would be otherwise impossible. For finding opportunities in Alberta, Volunteer Alberta has opportunities to consider. The City of Edmonton’s website also offers Edmonton-specific opportunities for those seeking ways to volunteer locally.

    Barriers to Volunteering

    While volunteerism is important and provides access to many benefits, there are social exclusions and gaps in opportunities that are in need of acknowledgement and action. These limitations are crucial to consider so we may address inequalities that exist within volunteerism, and identify solutions. It is widely understood that the post-pandemic world has been struggling in many ways. Economic instability, housing shortages, and increasing mental health and substance use concerns have complexified community needs and raised demand for support (i.e., non-profit) services. (6) Without sufficient support for nonprofits, the staff and volunteers within them experience increased fatigue, anxiety and frustration. (6) Additionall, those who are working full time or more and can barely make ends meet may not have the privilege to offer their time and attention to volunteering as easily as those with their basic financial and/or needs fully met. Thus, when considering the theme of collective action, we must ask: how can we ensure that individuals and service organizations are supported enough to offer volunteer services in the first place?

    Social inequities are also a factor in volunteerism. Not only have equity-seeking organizations (e.g., Black and Indigenous-focused groups) been more underserved (e.g., less funding), (7) but there are disparities among volunteer populations as well. That is, marginalized individuals are less likely to be able to access volunteer opportunities. (6) (8) According to a report authored by Mutamba & Rock (2022, p. 5), all parts of the volunteer screening process impose barriers to BIPOC applicants. (8) Women are more likely to volunteer, particularly informally, but access is often limited by caregiving responsibilities and their work is often under-valued. (4) (6) Physical accessibility is also a concern, particularly for older persons and for those with diverse-abilities (5) Addressing and working on these inequalities necessitates making sure the diverse individuals and groups are aware of ways they can volunteer and feel welcomed and accommodated doing so. (4) (5) The needs of marginalized communities should be acknowledged and met, and it should be ensured that their contributions are regarded equally–for example, given access to decision-making roles. (4) As a report by Briggs et al. (2022) writes, awareness and equity-seeking efforts should be maintained; increasing inclusivity in volunteering, and recognizing various systemic and socio-economic barriers, can help broaden the potential volunteering has for doing amazing work in our communities. To learn more, Volunteer Canada has resources, legislation, and learning modules on inclusive volunteerism.

    Conclusion and How to Honour International Volunteer Day

    Despite the barriers and gaps present in the system, volunteerism greatly enriches the lives of everyone within local and global communities. Through crisis or joys, volunteers are there to offer support which is what December 5th, International Volunteer Day, aims to acknowledge, advocate for, and celebrate. The theme of collective action: if everyone did expresses the fantastic outcomes volunteers and service organizations provide through their work. It also gives us a way to consider the inclusivity of volunteerism, who has time to give and why. Looking forward, it will be important to explore those barriers so that collective action can happen.

    There are many ways to participate in International Volunteer Day. Some ideas for getting involved are as follows:

    • Social media: Spread awareness for volunteers and the work they do
    1. Can use the UN’s hashtags #IfEveryoneDid and #IVD2023.  (3)
    2. Read and share stories from volunteers and service organizations.
      • Taking the time to thank a volunteer for their service. (1)
      • Consider opportunities to volunteer or donate.

      References

      1. Awareness Days. (n.d.). International Volunteers Day 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-volunteers-day-2023/

      2. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme. (2023, September 26). An overview of International Volunteer Day (IVD). Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.unv.org/Basic-Page/International-Volunteer-Day-overview

      3. United Nations. (n.d.). 2023 Theme: the power of collective action: if everyone did. Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/volunteer-day

      4. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme. (2021). 2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report: Building equal and inclusive societies. Bonn.  https://swvr2022.unv.org/

      5. 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

      6. Briggs, A., Ball, K., Boda, K., Little, J., & Lee, C. (2022). Alberta’s nonprofit sector: Too essential to fail. Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations.https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5aef5b46cef3728571e6c46c/t/637fa15fb9941d0aa267f2a4/1669308769500/CCVO_TooEssentialToFailReport.pdf

      7. The Centre for Young Black Professionals. (2022, May 30). The current climate: What is happening in the B3 sector?. Imagine Canada. Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.imaginecanada.ca/en/360/current-climate-what-happening-b3-sector

      8. Mutamba, M. & Rock, J. (2022). An anti-racist approach to volunteering. Volunteer Connector (Volunteer Centre of Calgary). https://www.volunteerconnector.org/content/ck-editor-uploads/2022/01/20/an-anti-racist-approach-to-volunteering_3JnSJFc.pdf

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    • Blog: Get Your House in Order: Canada Marks National Housing Day, November 22

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      Written by Carrie-Anne Cyre, ESPC Volunteer

      November 22, 2023, commemorates Canadian National Housing Day, a day for Canadians to recognize housing as a fundamental human right. Established in 2019, the Canadian Parliament passed the National Housing Strategy Act. This Act acknowledged housing as a human right, compelling governments, and organizations to revamp housing laws, policies, and programs. It also emphasized a rights-based approach and highlighted the importance of community involvement in solving the housing crisis (1). While Canada may recognize housing as a human right, the reality is that increasing numbers of Canadians are having trouble accessing adequate and safe housing. Across Canada, many advocacy and health groups have increasingly sounded the alarm regarding the growing unaffordability of the cost of living in Canada, especially housing, which has become an increasingly urgent problem in urban centers. Indeed, the cost of housing is becoming increasingly difficult not only for low-income- Canadians, but for moderate-income households, individuals on fixed incomes such as Canadian social services, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and Indigenous persons (2)

       

       

      Why is housing so expensive in Canada? The short answer is that Canadian housing is in short supply and experiencing high demand. While Canada has a low population, the nation has experienced the highest population growth among the G7 nations over the last decade. The Group of Seven, or G7, is an informal group used for comparing seven of the world’s more advanced economies: Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (5).

      Population density is also a concern in Canada. Despite being the world’s second-largest country, covering over 9,984,670 km² with a slightly more than 40 million population, Canada maintains a low average population density of 4.2 individuals per square kilometre. Approximately two-thirds of Canadians reside within 100 km of the Canada-US southern border, primarily in the major cities of Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. Although these densely populated regions cover only 4% of Canada’s territory, they accommodate close to 80% of the population (8). Notably, cities like Toronto and Vancouver exhibit lower population densities than their European or American counterparts. Vancouver, the most densely populated city in the nation, has about 18,837 inhabitants per square kilometre, about half that of Manhattan (9).

      Despite the growing population and low population density, Canadian politicians have only recently begun to address the consequences of decades of political and economic factors that have restricted housing development in Canada (10). Notably, during the 1980s and 1990s, as the Canadian government adopted increasingly neoliberal socio-economic policies, all federal funding for social housing was halted in 1993 (11). The repercussions of these spending cuts were substantial, leading to a significant reduction in construction of low or affordable housing units across the nation and the scaling back of various other Canadian social safety nets that also contributed to affordability (12). This combination of social austerity and the absence of  adequate building incentives has contributed to the rapidly developing crisis of poverty and homelessness that Canada finds itself in today.

      The housing situation in Canada has even worsened over recent decades due to a lack of prioritization of housing construction in federal policy. A combination of additional factors affecting housing construction and prices—including increasing urbanization, internal migration, immigration, foreign investments, short-term rentals, stagnant wages, resource costs, global conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and inflation rates—has intensified pressure on existing housing (13). Canadians, especially in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, face significant challenges in accessing affordable housing.

      Despite acknowledging housing as a human right every November 22, Canadian housing policy has focused on relying on market forces and incentives to fulfill this commitment. The substantial surge in rental and purchase prices in recent years has further led to a marked increase in homelessness. Estimating the number of people experiencing homelessness in Canada is challenging. Statistics Canada reported an estimated 235,000 people who were unhoused in 2021(14). Still, this count is definitely an underestimate as it does not count hidden homelessness (individuals who are staying with friends or family), individuals at risk of homelessness nor people living in unsafe conditions (15). Even without exact numbers, it is clear that the population without secure, stable housing has reached unprecedented levels (16).

      Past policies have proven ineffective as they relied on the market to determine housing availability (17). Additionally, there has been insufficient funding for social housing, and when funding is provided, it often lacks proper evaluative or accountability mechanisms. To rectify this issue, the Canadian government must urgently prioritize addressing this problem and allocate sufficient resources. Housing is expected to become a pivotal issue in the 2025 Federal election, and we will all be watching.

      It has been estimated that an additional 3.5 million affordable housing units would need to be constructed by 2030 to stabilize housing prices 18).

       

      References

      1. NRHN. (2003). Right to Housing. Retrieved from https://housingrights.ca/right-to-housing-legislation-in-canada/.

      2. Canadian Human Rights Commission. (2023). Unaffordability and lack of housing among top systemic issues reported across Canada. https://www.housingchrc.ca/en/unaffordability-and-lack-of-housing

      3. Rentals.ca. (2023). Rentals.ca June 2023 Rent Report. https://rentals.ca/blog/rentals-ca-june-2023-rent-report.

      4. Canadian Real Estate Association. (2023). National Statistics. Canadian Home Sales See Downward Trend Continue in October. https://stats.crea.ca/en-CA/

      5. Government of Canada. (2023). Canada and the G7. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/g7/index.aspx?lang=eng

      6. Hajnal, P. (2022). Whither the G7 and G20?, Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, 28:2, 127-143, DOI: 10.1080/11926422.2022.2027797

      7. Statistics Canada. (2022). Canada tops G7 growth despite COVID. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220209/dq220209a-eng.htm

      8. Statistics Canada (2022). Canada’s large urban centres continue to grow and spread. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220209/dq220209b-eng.htm

      9. Statistics Canada. (2021). Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population Canada. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/page.cfm?lang=E&topic=1&dguid=2021A000011124

      10. Perrault, J-F. (2022). Which Province Has the Largest Structural Housing Deficit? Social Bank. https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/about/economics/economics-publications/post.other-publications.housing.housing-note.housing-note–january-12-2022-.html

      11. Pablo, C. (2022).City and Culture: Vancouver tops list of Canada’s most densely populated downtowns. Georgia Straight. https://www.straight.com/news/vancouver-tops-list-of-canadas-most-densely-populated-downtowns

      12. Osberg, L. (2021). From Keynesian Consensus to Neo-Liberalism to the Green New Deal: 75 years of income inequality in Canada. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. https://policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/75-years-of-income-inequality-canada

      13. Rozworski, M. (2019, June 14). The roots of our housing crisis: Austerity, debt and extreme speculation. Retrieved from https://www.policynote.ca/the-roots-of-our-housing-crisis-austerity-debt-and-extreme-speculation/

      14. Osberg, L. (2021). From Keynesian Consensus to Neo-Liberalism to the Green New Deal 75 years of income inequality in Canada. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Retrieved from https://policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/National%20Office/2021/03/75%20Years%20of%20Income%20Inequality%20in%20Canada.pdf

      15. Statistics Canada. (2021). Health Reports: Characterizing people experiencing homelessness and trends in homelessness using population-level emergency department visit data in Ontario, Canada. https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202100100002-eng

      16. Homeless Hub. (2021). How many people are homeless in Canada? https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/homelessness-101/how-many-people-are-homeless-canada.

      17. Canadian Human Rights Commission. (2023). Unaffordability and lack of housing among top systemic issues reported across Canada.

      18. CMHC. (2023). Estimating how much housing we’ll need by 2030. Retrieved from https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/blog/2023/estimating-how-much-housing-we-need-by-2030

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