The Edmonton Social Planning Council produced a position paper which outlines the benefit of creating a universal transit pass that will benefit Edmontonians in need.
Category: **Digital Resources
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2014 March fACT Sheet Alberta Budget Analysis
We have released our annual analysis of the Government of Alberta’s 2014 Budget.
Budget 2014 covers the time period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 (2014-15) fiscal year (FY). Budget 2014 estimates an operational surplus of $2.6 billion, and a consolidated surplus of $1.1 billion when capital spending and net savings are included. The government’s revenue picture has brightened considerably since last year’s budget due to higher than expected energy prices and a lower Canadian dollar. As a result, operational spending will increase next year though by less than inflation and population growth. In this fACT sheet, next year refers to the 2014-15 FY and this year refers to the current 2013-14 FY.
ESPC Documents/Fact Sheets/fACT sheet Alberta Budget March 2014.pdf
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Early Cultural and Economic Adaptation Newcomers
Abstract:
Using ethnographic data, this study reports on the early sociocultural and economic experiences of the Bangladesh immigrant and non-immigrant families living in the Michener Park area in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Research findings show that newcomers experienced a wide range of social and economic constraints during their initial stage of sociocultural and economic adaptation to life in Edmonton. Lack of English language proficiency, Canadian job experience, or lack of Canadian education and training facilities, and nature of residency status in Canada led these newcomers to experience economic hardship in the earliest months of their new life in Canada. The aim of this research, therefore, was to examine: (a) why do these people come to Canada and what social and economic experiences have they had while living in Edmonton? (b) What barriers do they encounter that prevent them from obtaining their preferred job, how does this affect their household income and how do they manage to survive? This paper summarizes the responses of the newcomers who agreed to participate in this research project. The paper concludes with policy recommendations made by participants that could help newcomers overcome existing job barriers for the immigrant and non-immigrant families living in Edmonton.
Key Words: Economic hardship, Newcomers, job barriers, language proficiency, job experiences, references
F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F06 IMMIGRATION/Early-Cultural-and-Economic-Adaptation-Newcomers.pdf
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Research Update- January 2014
The January edition of the ESPC’s Research Update newsletter is available for download. This newsletter contains summaries of the latest social research publications from Alberta and other parts of Canada.
This issue contains a review of the following social research report: Making Ends Meet. Published by Citizens for Public Justice. 2013.
Click to Download:
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Fact Sheet: 2014 Federal Budget Analysis
This Fact Sheet highlights spending measures outlined in the 2014 federal budget that affect Edmontonians with low and modest incomes. While the budget focuses on the fiscal year that runs from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, it also contains spending and revenue projections for the following four years. By keeping program spending flat and allowing revenues to grow in line with the economy, the federal government forecasts a deficit of $2.9 billion in 2014-15 and plans a return to a surplus budget by 2015-16.