The Canada We Want in 2020

The Canada We Want in 2020: Income Disparity and Polarization

January 19, 2012
6

Income inequality has been a creeping problem in Canada and other advanced economies for many years now. Yet income polarization has not, up until now, been a big issue on the federal agenda.

It is time for the federal government to analyze and consider the longer term effects of income polarization, and to consider strategic policy reforms to head off a looming problem.

This event took place in Ottawa on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Visit our home page for this area.

Recommended links:

Read the related book section (pdf)
Read the event summary
Download the presentation slides (pdf)
Watch the OECD video (video link)
Read the OECD report, Divided We Stand
Replay the Ottawa Citizen panel on inequality

Featured Participants

Alessandro Goglio

OECD and contributor to Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising Panelist

Andrew Sharpe

Centre for the Study of Living Standards Panelist, LinkedIn

Chrystia Freeland

Thomson Reuters Panelist

Mark Cameron

Former Director of Policy and Research, Prime Minister’s Office Panellist, LinkedIn

Sherri Torjman

Caledon Institute of Social Policy Panelist

Related Content

Event Summary: Panelists get to grips with the Canadian dream

Over 350 people came out to the Château Laurier Hotel on February 26 where they were treated to a lively, progressive and sometimes contentious debate about the various options for governmental action to help ensure continued economic mobility in Canada.

Opinion: Productivity and pay – why Canadians are (somewhat) better off

Comparing ourselves with the United States is a national pastime in Canada. Sometimes the comparison makes us look good (health care, public education). Sometimes it makes us look bad (consumer prices, productivity). Sometimes it reveals an altogether more nuanced story. Sadly, we often miss the nuance.

Opinion: Inequality – defining the defining issue of our time

Diana Carney analyses the facts, figures and sentiment behind our growing concern with inequality. The story is not as simple as one might think.

Zanny Minton Beddoes, Economics Editor, The EconomistMiles Corak, Professor, University of OttawaRon Haskins, Senior Fellow, Brookings InstitutionCarolyn Acker, C.M., Founder, Pathways to Education

Barry Davis on January 20, 2012 at 4:36 pm said:

I found yesterday’s presentation on income disparities very forthright and useful. Will you be making available the panellists’ presentations?

regards
Barry Davis

Reply ↓
- Canada 2020 on January 20, 2012 at 4:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Barry.
  
  CPAC will be airing a broadcast of the presentations tonight (January 20th) at 9 PM; we will also make a copy of the presentation available on the website.
  
  Reply ↓
Pingback: Equal Debtor | brucelarochelle
Daniel Saindon on February 22, 2012 at 10:53 pm said:

La présentation de Chrystia Freeland est extraordinaire!
entre les minutes 31 et 43 sur le vidéo du 19 janvier 2012.

Elle fait un portrait très éclairant sur le changement de paradigme par rapport aux enjeux politiques et sociales aux Etats-Unis.

Elle nous fait comprendre les causes du changement de paradigme et résume très bien l’état de la question en disant que d’une part une majorité de personnes et non seulement la classemoyenne sont affectés et conscientisés par les inagilités des revenus surtout chez les personnes les plus affluentes (le mot “personnes riches” est tabou) et d’ autre part un désenchantement et une conviction profonde que l’Etat est incapable de répondre adéquatement à ce problèeme parce que l’ Etat est perçu comme inefficace.
Les présentations et les articles de Chrystia Freeland sont à lire absolument. Merci de nous la présenter.

Reply ↓
Pingback: Our 2013 Speaker Series kicks off in front of a packed house | Canada 2020
Pingback: Our 2013 Speaker Series kicks off in front of a packed house | Canada 2020

The Canada We Want in 2020