A measure of poverty in Canada

A guide to the debate about poverty lines.

Who is poor in Canada? That is a controversial question for some. According to any of the poverty measures available in Canada, poverty has been on the rise in recent years. But not everyone agrees on what measure to use and what degree of concern poverty should receive.

Economist Greg deGroot-Maggetti has plunged into the labyrinth of poverty lines and helps us see our way through the debate in his 22-page paper, A Measure of Poverty in Canada [PDF 128kB]. It examines the different measures and the factors that influence them, and gives the biblical roots for concern about poverty. As well, the 2002 paper discusses the impact of poverty on children, and how the various measures reflect the concern for poor families.