Biggest Problems Facing Canada: Canada appears to be a fantastic vacation and permanent residence destination. That is true, but there are still societal challenges in Canada today, just as there are elsewhere, that must be addressed to ensure a better future.
We shall cover the most issues confronting Canada in this article.
10 Biggest Challenges/Problems Facing Canada
1. Indigenous peoples’ Right: Racial discrimination against the first nations has been an ongoing societal issue in Canada for millennia. In Canada, the indigenous community continues to face social and economic challenges. Other Canadians and immigrants, on the other hand, succeed. When it comes to social concerns, Canada’s first nations people suffer from high rates of social issues.
Incarceration, poverty, unemployment, suicide, addiction, and health concerns are among them. Indigenous people’s rights and the demands of companies such as oil are frequently at odds.
Because of the current high levels of poverty, many of these issues are based on racism and discrimination. While the government has admitted responsibility for past wrongdoings, the problem still exists.
2. Prostitution: Selling sex is frequently seen as the first trade. However, it is one of the societal issues that is considered taboo in Canada and other countries. In Canada, selling sex is highly stigmatized. It is also thought to be the realm of the poor and drug users. Although it is illegal, pimps frequently mistreat sex workers, both physically and financially.
In Canada, charitable organizations have stepped in to assist some of these sex workers in overcoming their social problems. However, many people see the “improvement” of sex workers’ working circumstances as a step toward normalizing an objectionable industry.
3. Canada’s Poverty: Poverty affects approximately six million individuals in Canada, and it may touch anyone. People of various ages, economic origins, and ethnicities are affected by poverty. Poverty is a multifaceted issue involving unemployment, investment returns, substandard housing, health policies, and education.
Despite its reputation as an affluent country, millions of Canadians continue to struggle to meet their basic requirements. People who want to get out of poverty require assistance from others as well as government assistance. Poverty is costly to all of us because it causes high levels of stress, poor health outcomes, social marginalization, and worse educational success. In these ways, people’s potential is frequently constrained.
4. Mental Health Issues: Though being one of the most progressive countries on the planet, mental health is still victimized in 2020. It’s still one of the country’s most pressing social problems. Every year, a large number of Canadians are affected by mental illness. The most commonly diagnosed disorders are depression and substance abuse syndrome, or addiction.
Despite considerable advances, mental illness continues to be underfunded in terms of resources and assistance. Addiction therapists, in particular, continue to be scarce. Almost six million Canadians have received a diagnosis. However, because many people do not seek treatment, the ratio is estimated to be one in every three people, or around one million people.
People who seek therapy after their sickness has progressed may be saved if preventative actions are taken. The services offered might theoretically pay for themselves.
5. Violence Against Women: Women’s violence is still a big social issue in Canada. Family violence makes up roughly 15% of all violent crimes reported to Canadian cops. According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, over 5,000 women and children sleep in shelters every night, with another 400 being turned away.
First-generation Canadian women are six times more likely to be murdered by their boyfriends than non-indigenous Canadian women. In Canada, a woman is slain by her intimate partner every nine days.
These figures reflect a societal issue that continues to be a big concern in Canada.
However, there is still work to be done. Early intervention and reporting crime are two examples of such actions to improve this societal issue. Women’s attitudes, as well as available support services, must improve.
6. Drugs and Alcohol Policy: Drugs and alcohol are prevalent in almost every civilization. Legislators in Canada, like those in other countries, have dealt with one of the world’s most difficult societal concerns. Prohibition was employed to address this most divisive of social issues in twentieth-century Canada.
The limits on the sale of alcohol will certainly perplex and irritate most non-Canadian drinkers. Marijuana possession, on the other hand, has been legal since 2018. Pot stores, which can be found in urban areas, would impress and excite visiting smokers to Canada.
Despite the current opioid crisis, the government has shown little interest in cracking down on unlicensed marijuana sellers. As a result, more than 1000 people will die from overdoses in 2020. This may be because only roughly 25% of Canadians who consume marijuana do so from legal sources. The majority, on the other hand, like both licensed and illegal establishments.
7. Issues Regarding the Possession of Weapons: Hunting is popular in Canada, as it is in the United States, yet gun ownership is one of their most polarizing societal problems. With bear attacks still a possibility in rural regions, owning a rifle is less of a sport and more of a necessity.
Gun massacres, on the other hand, are nevertheless common in Canada, although a firearm is a defense against wild animals. Guns, on the other hand, are disliked by most city dwellers in Canada. They cite gang violence and massacres as justifications for making gun ownership illegal in the United States.
As a result, as of 2020, the Canadian government has confirmed that an assault weapons ban will be applied. The list now includes almost a thousand different weapon kinds. Despite this regulation, the number of homicides committed with firearms has not greatly diminished. Gun licensing and ownership in Canada are subject to stringent scrutiny. As a result, when a tragic massacre occurs in Canada, the number of people killed is usually in the single digits.
8. Gambling Addiction Issues: Since it was legalized in 1969, gambling has become ubiquitous in Canada. There are a lot of slot machines, video lottery terminals, animal races, and casinos. Allowing Canadians to try their luck in a fair and lawful game of chance is also a good idea. Despite their popularity, many Canadians would never purchase a lottery ticket.
Gambling’s pleasure is addictive. It’s currently being addressed as one of Canada’s contemporary social challenges. With the rise of online gambling, the behavior has become more problematic. To assist those who are hooked, support groups are already springing up.
For some who are severely afflicted, even rehab is essential. Fortunately, prominent Canadian online casinos are aware of their obligations and give the Canadian Gambling Addiction Help Guide to their customers.
9. Abortion law: Abortion is no longer a contentious issue in many Western countries. However, abortion remains one of the most divisive social topics in Canada. Those in government who make social policy decisions are discreetly pro-abortion.
Abortion, on the other hand, is unsurprisingly one of the most divisive societal issues. Last but not least, late abortions are lawful for any cause. In a recent poll, Canadians were virtually evenly divided on the issue of abortion.
Abortion is a very personal and often heated topic for most Canadians. As a result, bringing it up in conversation is a surefire way to start a fight, and it is rarely discussed in polite society.
Conclusion
In terms of the government’s permissiveness toward various contentious social problems, Canada is generally seen as a fairly liberal country. In Canada, abortion, divorce, gambling, and same-sex marriage are all legal and unrestricted.
Purchasing sex, marijuana, or heavy substances, however, is illegal. One of the most defining characteristics of Canadian identity in recent years has been the country’s policy choices — the set of regulations and laws that govern how Canadians live their lives, as well as the types of public protections and benefits they enjoy.
