A Disaster-proof safety net for Canadians

The pandemic is hurting Canada’s most vulnerable people

During the height of the pandemic, we were asked to stay home. But for many people, that wasn’t an option or it wasn’t safe. Shelters were pushed to their capacities and families experiencing domestic violence were prisoners in their own homes.

Canada needs to make sure an equitable, disaster-proof social safety net is in place before the next crisis.

In addition to accelerating and expanding construction of high quality, high efficiency, affordable housing, programs are needed to increase the supply of affordable rental housing. Those programs need to give priority to public, non-profit, and co-operative housing.

Canada’s low-wage workers were also hit the fastest and hardest in the pandemic. They would have received little from Employment Insurance (EI), even if they qualified for benefits. Canada got it right by fixing this issue and creating the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). But as we head into recovery, workers will need an inclusive, streamlined, and simplified EI program that doesn’t disadvantage low-paid workers in non-standard employment.

Equitable investments in critical social infrastructure will ensure that no one will be left behind in Canada’s recovery efforts. 

Finally, there’s no economic recovery without a plan for child care. Access to quality, affordable child care is about economic justice for women and about increasing participation in the workforce when unemployment is at record highs.