Professor leads campaign to improve the lives of ‘Generation Squeeze’

By Léo Charbonneau. In the mi-1970s, nearly one-third of seniors in Canada were considered low-income. Today, it’s closer to five percent. There are many factors accounting for this improvement in seniors’ lives, chief among them changes to public policy. Paul Kershaw believes government policy now needs to focus on another generation feeling the pinch: those in their mid-40s and younger. Dr. Kershaw, an associate professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, says this generation is being squeezed simultaneously by lower incomes, higher housing costs and less time compared to older generations. In an attempt to foster “inter-generational equality,” Dr. Kershaw has founded Generation Squeeze, an organization that he hopes will grow the clout of younger generations in politics and public policy. He recently spoke to University Affairs about this work. More...