Thanks to Jean Swanson for drawing to my attention a new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities called Mending Canada’s frayed social safety net: The role of municipal governments. The report looks at key social indicators in 24 Canadian municipalities, and contains some stark findings for Vancouver. Jean summarizes these in a blog post on the Vancouver Sun site, found here. Among the stats:
Of the 24 cities, Vancouver has the highest percent of population with low income; the highest percent of working poor families; and the largest and fastest growing income gap between rich and poor. Welfare income was also very low in Vancouver, and Vancouver had the second highest number of households which paid more than 30% of their income for rent and/or lived in inadequate housing. Vancouver was also worst for “community affordability.” That means that the combination of low income plus high cost of living makes the poorest fifth of Vancouver residents worse off than those in other cities.
stephen elliott-buckley // Apr 7, 2010 at 10:45 pm
While I’ve enjoyed the speculation about the next governor-general…William Shatner being my favourite offering…I’d put Jean Swanson up there.
The downside is that it would take her away from all sorts of for more significant contributions she is making to the country.
Wendi Galczik // Apr 13, 2010 at 3:07 pm
While I applaud Mr. Buckley’s choice, I too think that Ms Swanson needs to be where she is, now more than ever, and feel that the urbane Leonard Cohen would fill the bill…he has the irony and gravitas for the role, and would put anyone’s feet to the fire who wanted to Prorogue with a smirk on his face and a song in his heart…