Frequently Asked Questions
- How many people in Canada receive welfare?
- What is the poverty line in Canada?
- How do I order a publication?
- How do I apply for welfare/social assistance?
- Can I volunteer with the National Council of Welfare?
- What is the National Council of Welfare?
How many people in Canada receive welfare?
This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer. Welfare, also called social assistance, is a provincial and territorial jurisdiction. This means that each province and territory has its own definitions of welfare and its own statistics. The federal government publishes the Social Assistance Statistical Report that covers all provinces and territories. The most recent edition available is for 2008.
For more up-to-date information, six provinces release data on a regular basis, usually monthly.
- Newfoundland and Labrador (scroll down to "Income Support Assistance")
- New Brunswick
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Alberta
- British Columbia
For historical data covering all provinces and territories, see our factsheet on the Number of People on Welfare by Province and Territory, March 1995 to March 2005.
What is the poverty line in Canada?
There is no official poverty line in Canada, unlike in many other countries. In its absence, governments and non-governmental organizations use several different indicators to measure poverty. The poverty line varies by the number of people in a family and where the family lives in Canada. The most commonly used indicators are:
- low income cut-off (LICO)
- low income measure (LIM)
- Market Basket Measure (MBM).
As as example, the poverty line for a family of two adults and two children living in Vancouver was:
- $35,469 using the after-tax LICO (for 2010)
- $37,360 using the after-tax LIM (for 2009)
- $31,414 using the MBM (for 2009).
Source: Statistics Canada. Low Income Lines, 2009-2010.
For more information about the different measures, see the Poverty Profile 2007 bulletin on Methodology, Definitions and Information Sources.
How do I order a publication?
The National Council of Welfare makes its research reports, fact sheets and public statements available free on this website.
Printed copies of some of our publications are available. Search for the publication you would like to receive to find out if a printed version can be ordered. Click on the 'Order a copy' button to place your order.
Publications are free of charge. However, we may limit the number of copies sent to any person or group.
How do I apply for welfare/social assistance?
The National Council of Welfare does not provide direct welfare services. Welfare, also known as social assistance, is legislated by each province and territory. Please contact your provincial or territorial government for help with such matters.
Can I volunteer with the National Council of Welfare?
The Council is not able to offer any volunteer positions. We encourage you to explore volunteer opportunities in your community.
What is the National Council of Welfare?
The National Council of Welfare was established as an advisory group to the Minister of National Health and Welfare by the Government Organization Act of 1969. The Council now reports to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). The mandate of the Council is to advise the Minister regarding any matter relating to social development that the Minister may refer to the Council for its consideration or that the Council considers appropriate.