– Finding a Place in the Financial Mainstream

The ability to make informed financial decisions is essential for basic functioning in Canadian society.   Financial decisions have impacts on the financial security, well-being, and prosperity of individuals and families.   Increasingly, market and government activities are charging individuals with the responsibility of making financial decisions, yet no provisions have been made to ensure that those decisions are educated ones.   This creates a climate of risk for all Canadians working to secure their futures for themselves and their children.  

Around the world, however, governments are meeting this challenge. They are creating opportunities in which people from all income levels and all parts of the demographic spectrum can acquire the skills, advice and education needed to make well-informed decisions. Collectively, this set of skills, advice and education has been termed financial capability.

In Canada, SEDI is leading policy research in the area of financial capability supports and services for low income and at-risk Canadians.   As such, SEDI is actively engaged in building and pursuing a research agenda, informed by innovation and evidence.

SEDI's goal is to cooperate with leaders and stakeholders to help create an enabling environment in which all Canadians would have the opportunity to develop their financial capability.   This means that each Canadian will be able to acquire the skills and confidence to be aware of financial opportunities, to know where to go for help, to make informed choices, and to take effective action to improve their financial well-being.