Gap Between Rich & Poor
How many children live in poverty? How many seniors?
What does it take to make a living?
Child Poverty - In 2006, 19.2% of the children 17 years and under in Greater Victoria were considered to be living in poverty compared to 24.0% in 2000. In Canada, 23.1% of children were living in poverty in 2006 and 24.9% in BC.
Living Wage - The living wage for a two-parent, two-child family working 70 hours per week in 2008 is $16.39 per hour, for a combined annual income of approximately $60,000. In the Capital Region, 27.2% of two-parent families with two children earn less than a living wage.
Social Safety Net Dependence - In December 2007, 2.8% of the people in the Capital Region were dependent on the social safety net – employment insurance or basic income assistance – compared with 3.9% in the province. The social safety net supported 2.9% of the population in the Capital Region in 2006.
Consumer Price Index - Consumers in Greater Victoria paid 1.4% more in March 2008 for the goods and services in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket than they did in April 2007. This rate of inflation compares with annual increases of 1.3% in 2007 and 1.6% in 2005. Other capital cities such as Edmonton had one of the highest increases at 3.6%, and Ottawa the lowest at 0.9%.
Elder Poverty - In 2006, 12.5% of people age 65 and older in Greater Victoria were considered to be living in poverty compared to 13.4% in 2005. In Canada, 12.9% of seniors were living in poverty in 2006 and 11.0% in BC.
Economic Hardship - Of 26 regions in the province ranked from best to worst on economic hardship indicators in 2007, the Capital region ranked fourth best in the province and the best on Vancouver Island. The Economic Hardship Index combines data from a variety of areas to determine the level of socio-economic stress in a community.
View Chart from Report
Top 5 Household Expenditures in Greater Victoria
> Source: Statistics Canada
View Chart from Report
Median Family Income in Canadian Cities Publishing Vital Signs, 2006
> Source: Statistics Canada
