Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: Social Issues: Income

  • Tracking the Trends 2018

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) today released the 2018 edition of its flagship publication Tracking the Trends.  The 131-page publication provides a detailed analysis of social and economic trends in Edmonton. Information is provided about population demographics, education and employment, living costs & housing, income & wealth, poverty & government transfers, and key indicators of Edmonton’s social health.

    “Timely, accurate information is critical to informed decision-making,” said Kolkman. “Tracking the Trends 2018 is a one-stop resource for identifying and analyzing a broad range of social and economic trends impacting those with low and modest incomes in our community,” he concluded.

    Download: Tracking the Trends 2018

  • Keep Investing in Alberta’s Children: The Government’s Role in Ending Child and Family Poverty

    Prepared in partnership with the Edmonton Social Planning Council, Public Interest Alberta, Alberta College of Social Workers.

    While it is crucial for government programs to focus on poverty reduction among all vulnerable populations in the country, this report focuses specifically on child poverty. This is because when children experience poverty, they are more vulnerable to various disadvantages and barriers later in life in the areas of employment, education, health, home ownership, and others. If governments of all levels can address the root causes of poverty such as inadequate income, lack of affordable housing, violence, food insecurity, discrimination, and others, the cycle of poverty can be broken and all children in Canada could have access to the resources needed for them to thrive (Boros and Pettes, 2015). Children and teens living in poverty are also more vulnerable to experiencing poor academic achievement, dropping out of school, abuse, neglect, behavioural and emotional problems, physical health struggles, and developmental delays. These challenges are worsened by the barriers that families and children living in poverty experience when they try to access health services (American Psychological Association, 2017).

    ESPC Documents/PUBLICATIONS/A.06.G REPORTS/POVERTY REPORT 20171122v5.pdf

  • Child Benefit Enhancements Making a Difference for Low Income Families

    Child Benefit Enhancements Making a Difference for Low Income Families
    Prepared by John Kolkman
    Research Associate, Edmonton Social Planning Council

    ESPC Documents/PUBLICATIONS/A.06.G REPORTS/ESPC CHILD BENEFIT ENHANCEMENT 20170930.pdf

  • Edmonton’s Living Wage – 2017 Update

    Click here to download: Edmonton's Living Wage – 2017 Update

     

    For immediate release

    June 28, 2017

    Edmonton’s 2017 living wage calculated to be $16.31 per hour

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) estimates that two adults working for the full year with two children would each need to earn $16.31/hour to cover their basic expenses, to avoid severe financial stress and to participate in their communities.

    The living wage is based on the actual cost of living in the City of Edmonton with government transfers, taxes and deductions included. 

    (more…)

  • Edmonton’s Living Wage – 2017 Update

    Making the Minimum

    Calculating Edmonton’s Living Wage

    2017 Update

    This report outlines the 2017 update to our calculation of Edmonton’s 2017 Living Wage.

    Edmonton’s living wage for 2017 is $16.31/hour. This represents the wage that two adults, each working full time, in a family of four requires to live in economic stability and to maintain a modest standard of living. The living wage amount allows a family to afford basic necessities, to avoid financial stress, to encourage healthy child development and to fully participate in their communities (Canadian Living Wage Framework, 2015).

    The living wage for 2017 is $0.38 less than the 2016 amount of $16.69/hour and $1.05 less than the 2015 amount of $17.36/hour. This difference is mainly due to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) being in place for a full year and the enhanced Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit (AFETC). Both the income threshold and benefit amounts of the AFETC were increased and indexed to inflation in the 2017 provincial budget. Unlike the AFETC, the CCB is not scheduled to be indexed to inflation until 2020 (Edmonton Social Planning Council, 2017).

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.05 INCOME/2017_LIVINGWAGE_UPDATE_20170626_V4.pdf

  • Community Agency Roundtable Report: Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Youth in Edmonton and Area

    The purpose of these consultations were to:
    (1) Examine the issues facing LGBTQ youth in Edmonton and area.
    (2) Share work currently being done by agencies to support LGBTQ youth.
    (3) Identify gaps, absences, and needs to better support LGBTQ youth.
    (4) Develop and share recommendations.

    Recommended report citation:
    Wells, K., & de Vos, P. (2017). Community Agency Roundtable Report: Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Youth in Edmonton and Area. Edmonton, AB: Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services.

    We also wish to acknowledge and thank the Ministry of Human Services, City of Edmonton (FCSS), United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, and Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services for supporting these consultations and making this report possible. We hope you will find the report of interest and value to your work.

    Lastly, a special thank you to all the individuals and agencies who participated in our consultations. We hope the report has captured the intent and spirit of our collective discussions.

    —Dr. Kristopher Wells, University of Alberta

    B. NON PROFITS/B.06 PUBLICATIONS/Roundtable Report – Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Youth in Edmonton & Area (Wells & de Vos, 2017).pdf