Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: ESPC Publications: Fact Sheets

  • fACT Sheet: The True Impact of Immigration on Housing and Employment

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    Introduction 

    In the past few months, more and more attention has been given to immigration and its purported effects on local economies. In September of 2022, 5% of Canadians rated immigration as one of the top 3 issues facing Canada, in September of 2024, 21% did, a four-fold increase (Angus Reid Institute, 2024a). As this issue has gained more prominence in the public eye, misinformation has flourished, with immigrants being blamed for many social and economic issues. The purpose of this fACT sheet is to dispel a lot of the misinformation surrounding immigration to Canada and its effects on jobs, employment, and housing.

    Immigrants are an essential part of Edmonton’s fabric. According to the 2021 Census of Canada, almost one-third (32.6%) of people living in the city of Edmonton were immigrants (Statistics Canada, 2023a). Aside from Indigenous Peoples, everyone living in Canada is a descendant of immigrants. Conversations surrounding immigration often boil down to an “us” versus “them” mentality – “they” are coming into “our” country and destroying “our” labour and housing markets. We need to recognize that immigrants are not outsiders, but part of what makes our communities vibrant. As this fACT sheet will illustrate, many of these issues are really the fault of government policy and systemic inequities.

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  • FACT Sheet: Capital Gains Increase Helps Us All

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    Introduction 

    With every new policy around taxation, citizens are rightfully interested and concerned about how their personal finances will be affected. As Canadians face pressing issues like inflation, stagnant wages, and rising living costs, the need for a fair and predictable tax system becomes increasingly important. A fair and predictable tax system supports individuals in making informed financial decisions, such as investments, business planning, and retirement. It also ensures they receive the benefits they are entitled to from their tax contributions. 

    In today’s digital era, where misinformation can easily spread, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of new tax policies to avoid misunderstandings and undue fear about their financial implications. The recent amendments to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT), introduced in the 2024 federal budget, are a prime example of such policy changes (Canada Department of Finance, 2024). While these amendments have sparked considerable discussion, some of which is based on misinformation, their purpose is to ensure that taxes are reinvested into the communities that need them most, rather than exacerbating financial concerns. 

    To address the widening gap in income inequality and to enhance funding for essential social services, the Canadian government has revised the Capital Gains Tax. This FACT Sheet provides a detailed overview of these policy changes, outlining who will be affected, the extent of the impact, and dispelling common myths surrounding the new regulations. It also emphasizes the role of the updated Capital Gains Tax in directing funds towards initiatives that benefit socio-economically marginalized Canadians. 

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  • fACT Sheet: Canadian Dental Care Plan

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    Introduction 

    Although Canada is known for universal health care, the scope of this program is fairly limited, and does not cover all health needs a person may have. Prescription drugs, eyeglasses, medical supplies, and dental care, all require a workplace or personal health benefit program to fully or partially cover the cost, or else be entirely paid out of pocket. 

    In order to address the barrier to access for all, the Canadian government has been phasing in universal access to dental care. This fACT Sheet seeks to inform the reader on recent developments into a federal dental care program. In light of the Alberta government’s recent declaration that they intend to opt out of the program by 2026, we will outline the implications of what is at stake for marginalized populations seeking dental care if this were to happen. 

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  • fACT Sheet: Minimum Wage Revisited

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    Introduction 

    In June 2016, the Edmonton Social Planning Council released a Minimum Wage fACT Sheet providing an overview of the minimum wage, the impacts of increasing it, and countering some common myths and misconceptions. This was published when the Alberta government was gradually increasing the minimum wage in yearly increments between 2015 and 2018 to $15 per hour. Since that timeframe, the minimum wage has remained frozen. 

    This fACT Sheet will provide an update to the situation and provide recommendations for a path forward to meaningfully improve the situation of low wage earners. 

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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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  • fACT Sheet: Encampments in Edmonton

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    Introduction and Recent History 

    Edmonton has seen a dramatic increase in the rate of homelessness since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As of December 2023, there are 2,987 people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton according to Homeward Trust’s Homelessness By-Names List. Among this group of people, 57% (1,714) are provisionally accommodated, 17% (518) are staying in overnight shelters, while 22% (656) are living unsheltered (Homeward Trust, 2024). 

    As a result of this situation, more and more encampments, defined as “temporary outdoor campsites on public property or privately owned land” (Office of the Federal Housing Advocate, 2023) have been set up throughout the city among the unhoused population who do not use overnight shelters. 

    Prominent examples of encampments in recent years include Camp Pekiwewin in the Rossdale neighbourhood, which was temporarily set up in summer 2020 as “an anti-police violence, emergency relief and prayer camp with a harm reduction approach for house-less people sleeping rough” (Indigenous Climate Action, n.d.). Around this same time, another temporary encampment called the Peace Camp was set up in the Old Strathcona area to raise awareness for supportive housing and the need for a safe supply of drugs to prevent overdoses. It voluntarily closed in fall 2020 when new shelter spaces opened (Omstead, 2020). 

    As long as there have been encampments, there has been resistance against them. The matter has continued to come up as encampments – both large and small – continue to proliferate not only in and around Edmonton’s downtown core but also in other quadrants of the city, such as the west end and the south side (Parsons, 2024). The situation reached a fever pitch when the Edmonton Police Service targeted eight encampments in and around the inner city considered to be “high-risk” for closure through a series of actions between December 2023 and January 2024. 

    This fACT Sheet takes a human-rights approach to understanding encampments, and aims to provide context to the houselessness situation, why encampments form even if shelter spaces are available, and suggests ways forward that prioritize the well-being and dignity of these marginalized groups. 

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