Centre d’étude sur la pauvreté et l’exclusion

The Centre d’étude sur la pauvreté et l’exclusion (CEPE) is an observation, research and discussion centre entrusted with providing reliable and rigourous information, notably of a statistical nature, on poverty and social exclusion issues in order to guide the government and Québec society as a whole in planning and implementing actions to combat poverty, prevent its causes, reduce its effects on individuals and families, counter social exclusion and strive towards a poverty-free Québec.

The Comité consultatif de lutte contre la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale and the Minister may solicit the contribution of the CEPE.

The mandate of the CEPE is

• to gather, integrate, compile, analyze and disseminate information, mainly of a statistical nature, on poverty and social exclusion;
• to do qualitative and quantitative research on poverty and social exclusion and, to that end, to be able to call upon experts, practitioners in the field under study and persons in situations of poverty or social exclusion;
• to facilitate the transfer of knowledge about poverty and social exclusion and to promote collaboration on these issues, notably with academic institutions and research organizations;
• to develop and recommend to the Minister Responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action (the Minister) a series of indicators to be used in measuring poverty and social exclusion, social and economic disparities, including income disparities, as well as other indicators of poverty;
• to follow up on the indicators retained by the Minister in order to measure any progress realized within the framework of the Government Action Plan to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion, notably the improvement of the economic and social situation of persons and families in situations of poverty or social exclusion.

The CEPE contributes to measuring the achievement of the objective that Québec joins the ranks of industrialized societies where there is the lowest number of persons living in poverty, as laid down in section 4 of the Act to combat poverty and social exclusion.

Steering Committee

The CEPE was created in 2005. Its structure consists of a steering committee composed of eleven members and whose chair is selected by the members. They have a three-year mandate that can be renewed once.

The functions of the steering committee include

• determining the strategic thrusts, general objectives, policies and action plans of the CEPE, after consultation with the Comité consultatif de lutte contre la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale;
• evaluating the pertinence, priorities and scientific quality of research programs and projects of the CEPE.

The CEPE steering committee is composed of

• six members from the academic and research sector;
• two members working directly with individuals living in situations of poverty or social exclusion and selected after consultation with the Comité consultatif de lutte contre la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale;
• three public service representatives, including the director of research of the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.

Representatives from universities and research centres 

• Acting president: Jean-Yves Desgagnés, professor emeritus, Department of psychosociology and social work, Université du Québec à Rimouski
• Raquel Fonseca, professor, Department of economic sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal
• Elisabeth Greissler, professor, School of social work, Université de Montréal
• Sophie Gilbert, professor, Department of psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal
• Serigne Touba Mbacké Gueye, professor, School of social work, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
• Pierre Tircher, professor, School of industrial relations, Université de Montréal

Public service representatives 

• René Buron, Director of Research, Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
• Position vacant
• Position vacant

Persons working with individuals who are in situations of poverty or social exclusion

• Guillaume Couture, social worker, La Jarnigoine – Centre d’alphabétisation de Villeray
• Claudie Desmeules, community organizer – Moisson Québec (Capitale-Nationale)

Director of the CEPE

• René Buron, Director of Research

Professional staff

• Anik Labonté, coordinator, economist, M.Sc.
• Émilie Allaire, anthropologist, M.A.
• Véronique Christophe, economist, M. Sc.
• Marie-Ève Desrosiers, political scientist, M.A.
• Nancy Émond, sociologist, Ph. D.

Other government organizations address topics concerning the fight against poverty, inequalities and social exclusion. These organizations are not necessarily related to CEPE.

The Institut de la statistique du Québec provides several analyses regarding living conditions, education, health and employment.

The Institut national de santé publique du Québec publishes studies especially with regards to social disparities in health and food insecurity and the Material and Social Deprivation Index.

Fonds de recherche du Québec

The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) manages two calls for proposals under the Programme de recherche sur la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale. In 2020-2021, five projects were financed by a number of government partners, in the context of Phase 4 (605 Ko) of the program. Results are expected in 2023-2024.

January 2022 saw the launch of Phase 5 (426 Ko), which explores the following themes: community action, income support plan beneficiaries, equity and social justice in education, as well as the prevention and reduction of social inequalities in health.

In 2021, FRQSC implemented a concerted action entitled Préjugés et représentations associés aux personnes en situation de pauvreté dans les politiques publiques : analyse et développement d’indicateurs (407 Ko), financed by the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. Results are expected in 2025. 

Centre d'étude sur la pauvreté et l'exclusion (CEPE)
Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
425, rue Jacques-Parizeau, Québec (Québec) G1R 4Z1
cepe@mtess.gouv.qc.ca