As the U.S. expands work conditions for income assistance, Canada takes a different tack

Work conditions have largely been absent from Canada's federal income support network — an approach that differs greatly from the United States. (Shutterstock)

Only days before a government default, United States President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an agreement to raise the country’s debt ceiling and avoid financial turmoil.

One important feature of this agreement is an expansion of the work requirements for recipients of Medicaid and food stamps. These new work conditions could affect millions of low-income Americans.