Self-employed Canadians make up 10 per cent of the workforce, but are left out of many government-funded programs and policies
A number of organizations including the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, the Canadian Freelance Union and YWCA Canada are all coming together to shine a spotlight on those who are self-employed, or as they call them ‘invisible entrepreneurs,’ and how they are neglected by government policies.
Another is the Canada Digital Adoption Plan: a $4-billion program that offers grants and loans to businesses for technology adoption, but is only open to businesses that have at least one employee. Ms. Wilson says these policies that leave behind those who are self-employed perpetuate the systemic exclusion we see in society.
The first is to provide social policy and support via expanded universal pharmacare, expanded dental care and reforming employment insurance for self-employed individuals.