(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in two North American nations are worried about financial inequality, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 89 per cent of respondents in the United States—and 80 per cent of respondents in Canada—believe poverty is a very or moderately serious problem in their respective countries.

In addition, 51 per cent of Canadian respondents believe circumstances beyond their control cause people to be poor, and 47 per cent of Americans concur. Conversely, 43 per cent of respondents in the U.S. believe people are not doing enough to help themselves out of poverty, a view shared by 37 per cent of Canadians.

On Sept. 5, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg called for changes in the allocation of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)—a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families in the U.S.—saying, "(It) incentivized work among women with young children, (but) fathers are missing from our strategy to drive down the poverty rate."

Yesterday, the "Colour of Poverty" project was launched in Toronto. Ryerson University professor Grace-Edward Galabuzi discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "Racialized communities are experiencing a disproportionate level of poverty. In Toronto, they are three times more likely to be poor than others because of the barriers and challenges they face in the job market."

When asked to assess the effect of government programs that try to improve the condition of poor people in their countries, 46 per cent of respondents in Canada said these initiatives are having no impact, while 32 per cent of Americans believe they are actually making things worse.

Polling Data

In your view, is poverty in Canada / America a very serious problem, moderately serious, not too serious, or not a problem?

In your view, which is the bigger cause of poverty in Canada / America today?

Do you think government programs that try to improve the condition of poor people in Canada / America are making things better, making things worse, or having no impact either way?

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