Portraits 2017: Economic Security and the Social Safety Net

Abstract

A decade after the financial crisis of 2008, many Ontarians remain somewhat uncertain about the future, expressing concerns about job security and opportunities for economic mobility, and mixed views about their social safety net. This is the main finding from a new Mowat report analyzing our Portraits 2017 survey data. Drawing on polling conducted in November 2017, the report finds, for example, that roughly three in five Ontarians are worried about themselves or an immediate family member getting and keeping a stable, full-time job. A similar proportion believes both the quality of life and standard of living for young Canadians will be worse than their parents’ generation. Moreover, while many Ontarians remain confident in being covered by a public pension or Employment Insurance, confidence is lower when it comes to support for child care, drug costs or postsecondary education. And expectations of receiving support are not always higher among those to whom these means-tested benefits are targeted. Finally, the report finds that, as in other Western democracies, many Ontarians are generally feeling wary of government as an institution. This, we conclude, is a potential challenge to governments seeking to advance policy initiatives designed to help citizens face the future with optimism and confidence.