A majority of Canadians think the income gap has grown in the last five years and that the chasm has made the country a “less fair” society, according to a survey undertaken by York University in Canada.
The survey, conducted for the Toronto Star by York University’s Institute for Social Research, found that 78 per cent of Canadians believe the income gap has grown, 70 per cent think it has made Canada less fair, 55 per cent are troubled about their financial security, while 67 per cent are worried about their children’s financial future.
Regardless of personal characteristics such as age, education, income, region of the country or political party loyalties, at least 70 per cent of every group examined in the survey thinks the income gap in Canada has grown larger.
Commenting on the survey, Rory Truell, IFSW Secretary General observed ‘this is the latest in several surveys from all around the world which have highlighted a growing sense that economic and social realities are unfair and unjust’. These feelings were also reflected in reports from the United Nations already summarised on the IFSW news website. ‘It is entirely appropriate, therefore, that IFSW with our global partners IASSW and ICSW, have chosen to focus on promoting equalities for World Social Work Day 2014 and the world social work conference in July 2014. The Global Observatory Report which will be published at the same time will highlight the work of social workers in challenging inequalities’, Rory Truell concluded.
Read the report in The Toronto Star which was distributed in the daily briefing from IFSW member, the Canadian Association of Social Workers.