2022 Poverty Trends Update

Released annually, CPJ’s Poverty Trends reports provide readers with a review of data on poverty in Canada and the state of government action, as well as a vision for how we can move forward.

Using the latest data from Statistics Canada and research reports by advocacy groups across the country, Poverty Trends provides us with a snapshot of poverty in Canada from year to year. We maintain that poverty is a violation of people’s inherent rights and dignity and that the Government of Canada has a legal and moral obligation to take action to end poverty and inequity.

On November 7, CPJ released our 2022 Poverty Trends Update, building on previous reports’ exploration of how poverty is being experienced in Canada, and why we see persistent trends in who is most likely to be impacted by poverty.

Please note that the provincial food insecurity rates in this report were updated in December 2022 to ensure consistency with territorial estimates, which consider the number of people living in food insecure households, as opposed to the number of food insecure households. The previous version has been replaced. We thank Tim Li at PROOF for his assistance with this correction.

Our more narrative 2021 report and accompanying discussion guides explore why these inequitable trends in poverty persist, and what fundamental changes are needed to rehabilitate our socioeconomic “ecosystem” so that all people’s rights and dignity are honoured.

The purpose of these reports is to encourage readers to reflect on the root causes of poverty and the ways in which the systemic oppressions embedded in our society contribute to them. We hope that through your thoughtful contemplation of these reports, you are encouraged to take action! These reports can be a useful tool for speaking to your communities or government representatives.