Women’s Poverty and the Recession

This report by researcher Monica Townson draws attention to Canada's shockingly high rates of women's poverty and offers a strong critique of recent federal government policies that have helped contribute to it. The report reveals almost one-quarter (24%) of Canadian women raising children on their own and 14% of single older women are poor.

The report notes that, since coming into power, the Harper government has seriously undermined progress towards reducing women's poverty. Policies such as restricting pay equity, refusing to fix EI, and cutting funding for early learning and child care have only contributed to the problem.

Read the related fact sheets on women living in poverty.