The Growing Gap Between the Rich and Us

Web site exposes inequalities in what Canadians earn.

In 2004, the richest 10 per cent of Canadian families raising children earned 82 times more than the poorest 10 per cent - almost triple the ratio of 1976, when they earned 31 times more. The bottom half of families raising children earned 27 per cent of total earnings in Canada in 1976-79. By 2001-04, that share dropped to 20.5 per cent - even though those families put in more time in the workplace. Up to 80 per cent of families lost ground or stayed put compared to the previous generation, in both earnings and after-tax terms.

Canada's economy has doubled in size since 1981. It is now the 9th richest nation in the world. Unemployment is at a 30-year low, more Canadian families raising children are working, and they’re working more. But still the gap between the rich and the rest of us continues to grow wider.

Why is this gap growing? What can we do about it? Those are the issues explored on the The Growing Gap Web site. An initiative of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Inequality Project, The Growing Gap is intended to increase public awareness about the alarming spread of income and wealth inequality in Canada.

More information about this issue can be found on the GrowingGap.ca web site. There is also a 12-page publication on the Great CEO Pay Race which you can download in PDF format. (12 pages, 326kb)