Statistics Canada Article on Experiences of Serious Problems or Disputes

The Statistics Canada publication Juristat published an article today on Experiences of serious problems or disputes in the Canadian provinces, 2021.

The article looks at the frequency of serious problems experienced by people living in Canada's provinces, the actions they took to address or resolve these problems (whether they resolved the problem through informal means or through a legal process), and the impacts these problems had on their everyday life. 

Based on a new survey, the article reveals that in 2021, 18% of people aged 18 years and older, or 5.5 million people, reported experiencing at least one serious problem or civil dispute in the previous three years.

Among the highlights:

• The most commonly reported problems were problems in the neighbourhood, including vandalism and property damage (21%), receiving poor or incorrect medical treatment (16%), being harassed (16%), being discriminated against (16%), or having a problem with a large purchase or service (15%).
• Almost four in ten (39%) people living in Canada’s provinces who reported experiencing at least one serious problem said that their problem happened during the COVID-19 pandemic (after March 16, 2020).
• Among those who reported experiencing a serious legal problem, more than half (55%) experienced one problem, while 22% experienced two serious problems and an additional 23% experienced three or more serious problems over the three-year period.
• Almost nine in ten (87%) Canadians who experienced a serious problem reported taking some form of action to address it, with most seeking resolution outside of the formal justice system.
• Two in ten (21%) people living in Canada’s provinces who had experienced a serious problem in the last three years said that their most serious problem had been resolved, with just under two in ten (19%) more stating that their serious problem was still in progress of being resolved. Just over one in ten (12%) Canadians who had reported a serious problem said that they had dropped or given up on resolving their serious problem.
• More than four in ten (42%) Canadians who had experienced a serious problem said that their dispute or problem worsened or became more difficult to resolve as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no significant differences between men and women.