Moving Forward Together – Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy was launched in support of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to eradicate poverty, protect the climate, and ensure that citizens live in peace and prosperity. One of the goals is to ‘Reduce inequality within and among countries.’
Despite the fact that cities now account for nearly 80% of global GDP, they still have the largest economic inequalities. The majority of today’s disparities, on the other hand, are the product of a combination of poor economic growth and planning, as well as rapid and unregulated urbanization processes.
Instead of dramatically reducing poverty, poorly controlled urban processes will deepen economic disparities between people and create even more inequality and social fragmentation.
We are all affected by persistent inequality, which results in poorer health, lost opportunity, higher social costs, and decreased community relations. Younger generations face an equal, if not greater, challenge. According to recent Canadian studies, gaps in economic well-being are expanding.
Role of the government
The Canadian government is serious about encouraging philanthropic organizations, private sector firms, and private investors to collaborate on issues like sustainable development and procurement processes, resource quality, renewable energy, and the regenerative use of natural resources, expanded social security for workers, and the adoption of a circular economic approach to help achieve the SDGs.
Provide vulnerable communities with equitable access to urban services and safe land/property tenure (incl. formal land title registration where necessary)
Foster transparency and fight corruption to strengthen governance.
Direct administrative and financial services to the poorest parts of the country.
Increase inclusive education to improve employability and workforce diversity.
Target human settlement planning that distributes new arriving dwellers, while maintaining social cohesion
Prepare information on how to recover from disasters and poverty
Urge local businesses to practice responsible business practices because their activities have a direct impact on disadvantaged and rural communities – both locally and internationally
Multiple objectives
In order to achieve this goal, the Canadian government has a list of objectives it seeks to achieve by 2030, this includes:
- Progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
- Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
- Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
- Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality
- Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations
- Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions
- Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies
Canada’s determination to reduce inequality for its residents is a testimony of its desire to meet the U. N’s agenda will ensure a better quality of life for everyone living in Canada including immigrants.