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For nearly two decades, the Canadian economy experienced vibrant growth. However, the benefits of this growth have not been equally shared by all Canadians. Striking differences in income have caused "the wealth gap" to widen; in addition, it appears that wealthy people live longer, and that they're healthier at every stage of their lives.

• The Poverty Rate
• The Child Poverty Rate
• The Elderly Poverty Rate
• Average Monthly Social Assistance Caseload
• The Median Family Income of Lone Parent Families
• The Median Family Income of All Families
• The Ratio of Money Income in the Top and Bottom Deciles
• The Unemployment Rate for Immigrants vs. Non-Immigrants

Supplementary Local and National Comparison Information
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, references to "Kitchener" refer to the Kitchener Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).

The Poverty Rate is an indication of the size of the population that is struggling to survive. Poverty brings greater chances of poor health, high school drop-out, and social problems.

Source: Statistics Canada. "Income Trends in Canada 1980-2005". Table 202-0802 titled "Persons in low income, Canada, provinces and select CMAs". Retrieved from a CD May 18, 2007; http://cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=E&RootDir=CII/&ResultTemplate=CII/CII___&Array_Pick=1&ArrayId=2020802

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The Child Poverty Rate is an indicator of how well our children are faring.

Source: Statistics Canada. "Income Trends in Canada 1980-2005". Table 202-0802 titled "Persons in low income, Canada, provinces and select CMAs".
Accessed through CD.

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The Elderly Poverty Rate is an indicator of how well our seniors are faring in our community.

Source: Statistics Canada. "Income Trends in Canada 1980-2005". Table 202-0802 titled "Persons in low income, Canada, provinces and select CMAs".
Accessed through CD Rom.

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Social assistance recipients live well below the poverty line. The size of the Average Monthly Social Assistance Caseload is an indicator of how many of our residents are living in severe poverty.

Source: OMBI 2005 Performance Benchmarking Report; http://www.ombi.ca/docs/db2file.asp?fileid=176

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The Median Family Income of Lone Parent Families is an indicator of the ability of the most financially constrained family units to obtain the necessities of life.

Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Index.cfm?Lang=E

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The Median Family Income of All Families is an indicator of the relative wealth of our community.

Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Index.cfm?Lang=E

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The Ratio of Money Income in the Top and Bottom Decilesis an indicator of the size of the gap between the rich and the poor.

Source: Statistics Canada Special Analysis

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The Unemployment Rate for Immigrants vs. Non-Immigrants is an indicator of how well our immigrant population is doing at getting work.

Source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities http://www.fcm.ca/english/qol/indicators.html

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