GROWING GLOBAL SOCIAL TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

WEALTH AND POVERTY  INCOME DISPARITY  In 2011, the top 10% earned 10 times as much as the bottom 10%  Technology and globalization are two major factors  1.  2.  3.  4.  How can this gap be bridged?

 Literacy  Closely linked to poverty  Provides greater access to higher education and higher paying employment  In Canada, half of all adults have below-standard literacy  Employment and Education  The level of education is closely linked to income  Employment rate with a diploma is 77%, without is 55%  Additional training in a post-secondary institution is necessary in a knowledge-based economy  The growing costs limits the number of people who can afford this to enter higher-paying professions

 POVERTY: A Social Problem and a Money Problem  Social supports are not adequate or not adequately funded  Poverty has no single cause  Poverty “costs” up to $38 billion per year in health care, crime, lost taxes  Solutions:  Affordable child care, skills training, recognition of credentials

 POVERTY: A Global Problem  The World Bank – provides technical and financial assistance to help countries develop sustainable economies  Provides resources, builds capacity, forges partnerships with public and private sectors

 Child Poverty  1 billion children live in poverty  640 million children live without adequate shelter  400 million children have no access to safe water

HUMAN RIGHTS  1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights  “the inherent dignity and worth of a human being”  1960 Canadian Bill of Rights  “the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person… and the right not to be deprived thereof”  1962 Ontario Human Rights Code  “… having as its aim the creation of a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and worth of each person so that each person feels a part of the community and able to contribute fully…”  1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  Equality rights entrenched in the Constitution

 not-know-about-poverty-in-canada not-know-about-poverty-in-canada Has Canada kept its promise?