Canada's 25 Major Metropolitan Centres

Vanessa passes along a recent report from the Canada Research Chair in Urban Change. Thanks!

Canada's 25 Major Metropolitan Centres: a Comparison (pdf)

"Canada's urban system is characterized by growing diversity. This diversity is manifested in a number of ways: the percentage of foreign born, differences in income, housing characteristics, rates of population growth and levels of education just to name a few. The following brief discussion and accompanying charts of key indicators highlight some of the differences that exist between Canada’s 25 major metropolitan centres. The analysis also illustrates the position of Winnipeg for each indicator that is profiled. The analysis is based on the 2001 census data with some indicators illustrating change over the 1996-2001 period. The discussion suggests a growing concentration of Canada's population in the major metropolitan centres, particularly the largest of these centres."

The report covers population change, education, employment, household income, households falling below the poverty level, tenure, dwellings in need of major repair, dwellings built prior to 1946, dwelling values, renters and owners, housing affordability, lone parent families, persons of aboriginal identity, foreign born and recent immigrants.

Looking at local conditions, Ottawa-Hull has grown more rapidly than the national average, has a higher percentage of people with more than one university degree, a lower unemployment rate, lower poverty rates, newer housing, higher rents and less affordable housing. unfortunately, the report doesn't give information on Ottawa's social and ethnic make-up.

What do you think of the mandate and research objectives of the Canada Research Chair in Urban Change and Adaptation?

After reading the last post, what do you think of the indicators this study used?

Does this research tell you what you want to know about quality of life in Canadian urban areas?