Tools for an Inclusive Ontario

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9: Canada and Social and Economic Inclusion Indicators

In Canada the Laidlaw Foundation and Health Canada's Population and Public Health Branch (now the Public Health Agency of Canada) have led the development of social inclusion theory and practice. Social inclusion is the new focus for Laidlaw's Children's Agenda. Health Canada, through its Population and Public Health branches, has selected social and economic inclusion as a framework for advancing healthy public policies and programs that address the determinants of health. The following is a brief review of this work.

The Laidlaw Foundation defines social inclusion as:

The capacity and willingness of our society to keep all groups within reach of what we expect as a society - the social commitment and investments necessary to ensure that socially and economically vulnerable people are within reach of our common aspirations, common life and its common wealth. ⁱ

From a research and community engagement process that included cross-Canada community roundtables and an extensive review of the literature, Laidlaw developed "Elements of Social Inclusion".ⁱⁱ

Laidlaw also commissioned a working paper series on social inclusion. These papers are available on their website.

• Social inclusion for Canadian children through early childhood education and care, by Martha Friendly and Donna Lero
• Social inclusion as solidarity: Re-thinking the child rights agenda, by Michael Bach
• Feminist perspectives on social inclusion and children's well-being, by Meg Luxton
• Leave no child behind! Social exclusion and child development, by Clyde Hertzman
• Ethical reflections on social inclusion, by Dow Marmur
• Does work include children? The effects of the labour market on family income, time and stress, by Andrew Jackson and Katherine Scot
• Thumbs up! Inclusion, rights and equality as experienced by youth with disabilities, by Catherine Frazee
• Social Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Democratic Citizenship, by Anver Saloojee
• Immigrant Settlement and Social Inclusion in Canada, by Ratna Omidvar and Ted Richmond

In June 2002, The Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Region published An Inclusion Lens: Workbook for Looking at Social and Economic Exclusion and Inclusionⁱⁱⁱ. Some excerpts from the workbook:

• The Inclusion Lens is a tool for analyzing legislation, policies, programs and practices
• Social and economic inclusion and exclusion are a new way to understand poverty and disadvantage
• Dimensions of social and economic exclusion and inclusion: Cultural, Economic, Functional, Participatory, Physical, Political, Structural, and Relational
• Elements of exclusion: poverty, disadvantage, inequality, discrimination, barriers to access, disability, isolation and marginalization
• Elements of inclusion: adequate income, reduced disparities, human rights, access, ability to participate, valued contribution, belonging, empowerment

The workbook contains a series of questions that may be asked about a policy, program or practice in order to help determine if it contributes to social inclusion or exclusion.

The work of Laidlaw and PHB Atlantic Region provides a starting pointing for developing social inclusion indicators by suggesting the elements or dimensions of social inclusion. Indicators may be developed for each element/dimension.

Researched and written by Krissa Fay.

June 1, 2003

Endnotes

ⁱ Christa Freiler, What needs to change? Towards a vision of social inclusion for children, families and communities, Laidlaw Foundation, October 2001

ⁱⁱ Peter Clutterbuck for the Laidlaw Foundation, Social Inclusion: Raising or Removing the Bar, November 2001, http://www.laidlawfdn.org/programmes/children/agenda-discuss-rt.html.

ⁱⁱⁱ Malcolm Shookner and The Social Inclusion Reference Group, Atlantic Region, The Inclusion Lens: Workbook for Looking at Social and Economic Exclusion and Inclusion, June 2002,
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/canada/regions/atlantic/pdf/inclusion_lens-E.pdf.

The opinions expressed in this project do not necessarily reflect the official views of Health Canada, Population Public Health Branch, now the Public Health Agency of Canada, or the Laidlaw Foundation.

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