Housing Statistics in Canada
Housing Experiences in Canada: Métis in 2016
by Jeff Randle and Zachary Thurston
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The Housing Experiences in Canada series of fact sheets highlight the diversity of housing situations experienced by different groups of people living across Canada.
This fact sheet focuses on Métis living in private dwellings. The statistics below are derived from the 2016 Census. For the purposes of this analysis, Métis were identified based on responses to the Indigenous identity questions on the long-form questionnaire.Note 1 Only individuals who reported a single Indigenous identity of Métis are included in the analysis.Note 2 Since this fact sheet focuses on Métis in private dwellings, those living in collective dwellings such as shelters are not included in the data.Note 3 More fact sheets are available on the Housing Experiences in Canada issue page.
The National Housing Strategy Act (2019) declared that “the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right affirmed in international law.” This right is reaffirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as an important element of the right to life and dignity for Indigenous peoples. The UNDRIP recognizes the important connections between the right to housing and the right to self-determination, rights related to lands, resources and territories, social and economic rights, and rights related to non-discrimination. The declaration also underscores the importance of Indigenous peoples’ right to development, including the right to determine their own housing institutions, programs and policies.
Adequate housing is understood in international law as housing that provides secure tenure; is affordable; is habitable; provides access to basic infrastructure; is located close to employment, services and amenities; is accessible for people of all abilities; and is culturally appropriate.
This fact sheet focuses on the experience of Métis living in private dwellings using the following indicators collected and produced by Statistics Canada: tenure status of household, shelter costs, housing affordability and suitability, condition of dwelling, core housing need, and household living arrangements. While these indicators together do not perfectly measure adequate housing as defined in international law, or Indigenous people’s understanding of adequate housing, they are nevertheless useful proxies for understanding the housing experiences of people living in Canada.
Métis living on the eight Métis Settlements in Alberta are included in the data. These are the Settlements of: Buffalo Lake, East Prairie, Elizabeth, Fishing Lake, Gift Lake, Kikino, Paddle Prairie, and Peavine.
To provide additional insight, this fact sheet differentiates urban and rural areas to discuss the differences in housing need between people living in urban and rural areas. The differences for Métis are contrasted against the total population to examine whether living in rural areas affects the housing experience of Métis in a similar way.
Tenure status of household
The tenure status of a household refers to whether the household owns or rents its private dwelling.Note 4 Homeownership is an important aspect of Canadian society and can affect outcomes for many housing indicators. For this reason, owner and renter households are often considered separately in housing analyses. In many cases, researchers further examine whether households in owner-occupied dwellings have mortgages on their dwellings and whether renter households pay subsidized rent.
According to the 2016 Census, two-thirds (66.6%) of the 587,545 Métis in Canada lived in a private dwelling owned by a member of their household. This proportion was smaller than the share of the total population (71.6%) living in owner-occupied dwellings.Note 5
Of the 391,115 Métis who owned their homes or lived with someone who owned their home, 286,330 (48.7%) lived in a dwelling with a mortgage, and the remaining 97,685 (16.6%) lived in a dwelling without a mortgage. Métis were less likely to live in an owner-occupied dwelling without a mortgage than the total population (23.3%).
The remaining 194,750 Métis lived in rented dwellings. Of these Métis, 35,585 (6.1%) lived in subsidized housing and 158,920 (27.0%) lived in non-subsidized housing. Métis were more likely to live in subsidized rented dwellings than the total population (3.3%).
| Métis | Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| count | percent | count | percent | |
| Total, tenure status | 587,545 | 100.0 | 34,460,065 | 100.0 |
| Owner | 391,115 | 66.6 | 24,683,880 | 71.6 |
| With a mortgage | 286,330 | 48.7 | 16,670,675 | 48.4 |
| Without a mortgage | 97,685 | 16.6 | 8,013,205 | 23.3 |
| Renter | 194,750 | 33.1 | 9,164,150 | 26.6 |
| Subsidized housing | 35,585 | 6.1 | 1,135,275 | 3.3 |
| Not subsidized housing | 158,920 | 27.0 | 8,028,875 | 23.3 |
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Note: Figures may not add up to 100% because of rounding Source: 2016 Census of Population |
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Shelter costs
Shelter costs refer to the monthly dwelling-related expenses paid by households, including mortgage or rent. For owner-occupied dwellings, shelter costs include, where applicable, mortgage payments, property taxes and condominium fees, along with the costs of electricity, heat, water and other municipal services. For renter households, shelter costs include, where applicable, rent and the costs of electricity, heat, water and other municipal services.
In Canada, the median shelter cost paid by Métis households was $1,000 in 2016.Note 6 This was similar to the median shelter cost of $1,020 for all private households.
Métis households living in owner-occupied dwellings had similar median shelter costs compared with all households in owner-occupied dwellings. This was also true for renters. The median shelter cost paid by Métis households in owner-occupied dwellings was $1,160, compared with $1,130 for all owner households. For Métis households in rented dwellings, the median shelter cost was $900, which was similar to that of all renter households ($910).
The median shelter cost paid by households in owner-occupied dwellings is typically larger when there is a mortgage, which can represent a large portion of monthly shelter costs. Métis households with a mortgage on their dwelling ($1,470) had a lower median shelter cost than all households in Canada with a mortgage ($1,620). The same was true for Métis households without a mortgage when compared with all households without a mortgage. Since Métis owner households were more likely to have a mortgage, the median shelter cost of all Métis owner households was similar to that of all owner households.
The median shelter cost paid by renter households is usually reduced significantly when a rent subsidy is received.Note 7 Métis households in rented dwellings with a subsidy ($524) had similar median monthly shelter costs compared with all households with a subsidy ($524). Median shelter costs for Métis households in rented dwellings without a subsidy ($970) were also comparable with the shelter costs for all households in rented dwellings without a subsidy ($960).
| Métis households | All households | |
|---|---|---|
| median (dollars) | ||
| Total, shelter costsTable 2 Note 1 | 1,000 | 1,020 |
| Owner | 1,160 | 1,130 |
| With a mortgage | 1,470 | 1,620 |
| Without a mortgage | 452 | 540 |
| Renter | 900 | 910 |
| Subsidized housing | 524 | 524 |
| Not subsidized housing | 970 | 960 |
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Housing affordability
Housing affordability is derived using the shelter-cost-to-income ratio, which refers to the proportion of average total income households spend on shelter costs. A household is said to have affordable housing if it spends less than 30% of its total income on shelter costs.Note 8
According to the 2016 Census, 114,250 Métis (19.8%) lived in households that spent more than 30% of their total household income on shelter. This was similar to the 20.0% of the total population who lived in private households that spent more than 30% of their total household income on shelter.
Métis living in owner-occupied dwellings (11.9%) experienced a lower rate of unaffordable housing than the total population in owner-occupied dwellings (14.7%). However, Métis in rented dwellings (35.6%) experienced a similar rate of unaffordable housing as the total population (34.5%).
The difference in rates between Métis and the total population living in owner-occupied dwellings was driven mainly by the difference seen among those with a mortgage. Métis living in households with a mortgage (14.5%) were less likely to be in unaffordable housing than the total population with a mortgage (19.6%). Among Métis in owner-occupied dwellings without a mortgage, 4.2% were living in unaffordable housing. This was nearly equivalent to the rate for the total population without a mortgage (4.4%).
The rates of unaffordable housing for Métis in renter households with a subsidy (33.6%) and without a subsidy (36.1%) were similar to those of the total population (32.3% and 34.8%, respectively).
| Métis | Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| count | percent | count | percent | |
| Total, shelter-cost-to-income ratioTable 3 Note 1 | 575,620 | 100.0 | 33,642,820 | 100.0 |
| Spending more than 30% of income on shelter costs | 114,250 | 19.8 | 6,742,050 | 20.0 |
| Owner | 45,330 | 11.9 | 3,605,535 | 14.7 |
| With a mortgage | 41,295 | 14.5 | 3,257,230 | 19.6 |
| Without a mortgage | 4,035 | 4.2 | 348,300 | 4.4 |
| Renter | 68,915 | 35.6 | 3,136,520 | 34.5 |
| Subsidized housing | 11,900 | 33.6 | 361,270 | 32.3 |
| Not subsidized housing | 57,015 | 36.1 | 2,775,245 | 34.8 |
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Housing suitability
Housing suitability refers to whether a private household is living in suitable accommodations according to the National Occupancy Standard (NOS), that is, whether the dwelling has enough bedrooms for the size and composition of the household. The indicator assesses the required number of bedrooms for a household based on the age and sex of household members, and the relationships between them.
According to the 2016 Census, 50,340 Métis (8.6%) lived in unsuitable housing, meaning that there were not enough bedrooms in the dwelling to meet the needs of their household, according to the National Occupancy Standard. This was comparable with the total population (8.9%) living in unsuitable housing.
Métis living in owner-occupied dwellings (5.4%) experienced the same rate of unsuitable housing as the total population in owner-occupied dwellings (5.4%). However, the share of Métis living in rented dwellings (14.7%) that were unsuitable was lower than the share for the total population (17.8%).
Differentiating owners based on whether or not there was a mortgage showed little difference in the rate of unsuitable housing between Métis and the total population. However, among those without a mortgage, 6.1% of Métis lived in unsuitable housing compared with 3.4% of the total population.
Métis in renter households with and without a subsidy had lower rates of unsuitable housing than the total population. There was a 5.6 percentage point difference in the unsuitable housing rate of Métis living in subsidized housing (13.6%) and the total population living in subsidized housing (19.2%). For Métis living in rented dwellings without a subsidy (15.0%), the rate of unsuitable housing was lower than that of the total population living in non-subsidized housing (17.6%).
| Métis | Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| count | percent | count | percent | |
| Total, housing suitability | 587,545 | 100.0 | 34,460,065 | 100.0 |
| Not suitable | 50,340 | 8.6 | 3,081,315 | 8.9 |
| Owner | 21,170 | 5.4 | 1,335,345 | 5.4 |
| With a mortgage | 14,695 | 5.1 | 1,062,985 | 6.4 |
| Without a mortgage | 5,940 | 6.1 | 272,365 | 3.4 |
| Renter | 28,595 | 14.7 | 1,631,845 | 17.8 |
| Subsidized housing | 4,830 | 13.6 | 218,130 | 19.2 |
| Not subsidized housing | 23,765 | 15.0 | 1,413,720 | 17.6 |
| Source: 2016 Census of Population | ||||
Condition of dwelling
Data on condition of dwelling are used to provide some insight into whether housing is habitable. Dwellings are classified into three groups by condition: needing regular maintenance only, needing minor repairs and needing major repairs. Dwellings in need of major repairs are considered to be inadequate housing. Examples of dwellings in need of major repairs include homes with defective plumbing or electrical wiring, and housing needing structural repairs to walls, floors, or ceilings.
According to the 2016 Census, 11.3% of Métis lived in private dwellings that were in need of major repairs. This is higher than the 6.7% of the total population that reported living in dwellings in need of major repairs.
Métis living in owner-occupied (10.1%) and rented (13.3%) dwellings lived in dwellings in need of major repairs at a higher rate than the total population. Within the total population in owner-occupied dwellings, 5.5% of individuals lived in dwellings in need of major repairs. This was the case for 8.8% of the total population in rented dwellings.
Among Métis living in owner-occupied dwellings, those with a mortgage (9.7%) and those without a mortgage (11.1%) were living in dwellings in need of major repairs at about twice the rate of their counterparts in the total population. For the total population, the rate for those living in owner-occupied dwellings with a mortgage was 5.7% and the rate for those without a mortgage was 4.9%.
Among Métis in renter households with a subsidy, 14.0% lived in dwellings in need of major repairs. This was higher than the total population (11.6%). Métis in renter households without a subsidy (13.2%) also lived in dwellings in need of major repairs at a higher rate than the total population without a subsidy (8.4%).
| Métis | Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| count | percent | count | percent | |
| Total, dwelling condition | 587,545 | 100.0 | 34,460,065 | 100.0 |
| Dwelling in need of major repairs | 66,135 | 11.3 | 2,298,760 | 6.7 |
| Owner | 39,430 | 10.1 | 1,351,740 | 5.5 |
| With a mortgage | 27,815 | 9.7 | 956,105 | 5.7 |
| Without a mortgage | 10,870 | 11.1 | 395,640 | 4.9 |
| Renter | 25,915 | 13.3 | 807,125 | 8.8 |
| Subsidized housing | 4,990 | 14.0 | 131,670 | 11.6 |
| Not subsidized housing | 20,905 | 13.2 | 675,460 | 8.4 |
| Source: 2016 Census of Population | ||||
Core housing need
Core housing need touches on several elements of the right to adequate housing. It considers whether the affordability, suitability, and condition of dwelling needs of the household are being met and if not, whether affordable rental housing is available that meets all these needs. A household is said to be in core housing need if their dwelling falls below at least one of the affordability, suitability, or condition of dwelling standards, and would have to spend 30% or more of their total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that is acceptable (meets all three housing standards).
According to the 2016 Census, 14.1% of Métis were living in households in core housing need. This was higher than the 10.6% of the total population living in core housing need.
Métis living in owner-occupied dwellings (6.2%) were in core housing need at a slightly higher rate than the total population (5.4%). The difference with the total population was greater for Métis in rented dwellings (30.2%), who also experienced a higher rate of core housing need than the total population in rented dwellings (25.3%).
The incidence of core housing need was similar for Métis in owner-occupied dwellings with a mortgage (5.8%) and the total population with a mortgage (6.0%). However, the rate of core housing need was higher for Métis without a mortgage (7.5%) than for the total population without a mortgage (4.3%).
When rates of core housing need for Métis in renter households are compared with those of the total population, the rate of core housing need was similar for those in subsidized housing. However, for Métis in renter households without a subsidy (27.5%), the rate of core housing need was higher than that of the total population without a subsidy (23.2%).
| Métis | Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| count | percent | count | percent | |
| Total, core housing needTable 6 Note 1 | 564,475 | 100.0 | 32,803,125 | 100.0 |
| In core housing need | 79,750 | 14.1 | 3,492,080 | 10.6 |
| Owner | 23,390 | 6.2 | 1,307,620 | 5.4 |
| With a mortgage | 16,205 | 5.8 | 971,150 | 6.0 |
| Without a mortgage | 7,190 | 7.5 | 336,470 | 4.3 |
| Renter | 56,360 | 30.2 | 2,184,455 | 25.3 |
| Subsidized housing | 14,550 | 42.1 | 433,190 | 39.9 |
| Not subsidized housing | 41,810 | 27.5 | 1,751,265 | 23.2 |
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Housing experiences of Métis men and women
In 1995, the Government of Canada committed to using Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) to advance gender equality in Canada, as part of the ratification of the United Nations’ Beijing Platform for Action.
Gender equality is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is part of the Constitution of Canada. Gender equality means that diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people are able to participate fully in all spheres of Canadian life, contributing to an inclusive and democratic society.
GBA Plus is an analytical process used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people may experience policies, programs and initiatives. The “plus” in GBA Plus is not just about differences between people on the basis of gender. Everyone has multiple characteristics that intersect and contribute to who they are. GBA Plus considers many other identity factors, such as race, ethnicity, immigrant status, religion, age, presence of a mental or physical disability, and how the interaction between these factors influences the way people experience government policies and initiatives.
The data presented here highlight differences in housing experiences for Métis men and women. Compared with Métis men, Métis women were less likely to live in owner-occupied dwellings and more likely to live in unaffordable housing and be in core housing need.
| Métis men | Métis women | |
|---|---|---|
| percent | ||
| In an owner-occupied dwelling | 68.2 | 65.0 |
| In a household spending 30% or more of income on shelter costsTable 7 Note 1 | 18.6 | 21.1 |
| In unsuitable housing | 8.4 | 8.8 |
| In a dwelling requiring major repairs | 11.1 | 11.4 |
| In core housing needTable 7 Note 2 | 12.8 | 15.4 |
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More information on GBA Plus can be found at the Government of Canada’s Status of Women web page.
More information on the housing experiences of other subpopulations, broken down by age and gender groups, immigrant status, population groups designated as visible minorities, Indigenous populations, and other groups can be found in the additional fact sheets on the Housing Experiences in Canada issue page. Additional data products that focus more on an intersectional GBA Plus analysis of housing experiences will also be released through the Housing Experiences in Canada issue page as they become available.Household living arrangements
Household living arrangements refer to whether a person lives with another person or people, and, if so, whether they are related to that person or those people. Households can be further differentiated based on whether they are census family households or non-census-family households. Census family households contain at least one census family.Note 9 Non-census-family households are either one person living alone or a group of two or more people who live together but do not constitute a census family (for example, roommates).
According to the 2016 Census, 71.4% of Métis lived as part of a one-census-family household. This was lower than the rate for the total population (79.6%). Métis living in one-census-family households were more likely to live in a couple family household with children (40.2%) than to live in one without children (17.5%). For the total population, 45.7% of individuals lived in couple family households with children and 22.5% lived in couple family households without children. Métis were more likely to live in a one-parent family household (13.7%) than the total population (11.3%).
Métis were more likely to live in a multiple-census-family household (13.8%) than the total population (5.1%). The greater proportion of multiple-census-family households is partly attributable to multigenerational households.Note 10 Cultural preferences likely contribute to the higher rate of multigenerational households, but the situation could also be exacerbated by housing supply shortages in remote areas that put pressure on families who wish to remain in the same region to combine households.
Métis (14.8%) lived in non-census-family households at a similar rate as the total population (15.4%). This is because Métis (10.4%) lived alone at a similar rate as the total population (11.5%).
| Métis | Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| count | percent | count | percent | |
| Total, household type | 587,545 | 100.0 | 34,460,065 | 100.0 |
| One-census-family householdTable 8 Note 1 | 419,545 | 71.4 | 27,414,900 | 79.6 |
| Couple family without children | 102,915 | 17.5 | 7,761,355 | 22.5 |
| Couple family with children | 235,945 | 40.2 | 15,754,465 | 45.7 |
| One parent family | 80,685 | 13.7 | 3,899,085 | 11.3 |
| Multiple-census-family householdTable 8 Note 1 | 80,895 | 13.8 | 1,746,110 | 5.1 |
| Non-census-family household | 87,105 | 14.8 | 5,299,050 | 15.4 |
| One-person household | 61,000 | 10.4 | 3,967,770 | 11.5 |
| Two- or more person household | 26,105 | 4.4 | 1,331,280 | 3.9 |
Source: 2016 Census of Population |
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Housing experiences of Métis living in urban and rural areas
In Canada, living in an urban or a rural area can have a profound impact on one’s housing experience. Typically, in an urban setting, individuals face higher shelter costs to be closer to employment and other basic social services such as childcare, education and health care. Because of these higher shelter costs, individuals may be forced to rent rather than own a home, or live in dwellings that are less affordable or have less space.
The data presented here highlight the differences in housing experiences for Métis living in urban and rural areas and how these differences compare with the total population living in urban and rural areas. Of the 587,500 Métis living in private dwellings in Canada, 411,400 (70.0%) lived in urban areas and 176,100 (30.0%) lived in rural areas.
The percentage of Métis who lived in owner-occupied dwellings in rural areas (78.8%) was similar to the corresponding rate for the total population (79.1%). However, the proportion of Métis living in owner-occupied dwellings in urban areas (59.6%) was about 10 percentage points lower than that of the total population living in urban areas (69.9%).
In terms of the percentage of people who lived in dwellings in need of major repair, rates were highest in rural areas. This could be because of the challenges of providing resources and supplies that are more readily available in urban areas. Métis in urban (10.1%) and rural (13.8%) areas were more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs when compared with the total population living in urban (5.9%) and rural (10.0%) areas.
Housing affordability challenges were greater in urban areas compared with rural areas for Métis and the total population, and the rates were similar when comparing Métis with the total population in urban and rural areas. The incidence of core housing need, however, was always slightly higher for Métis in urban and rural areas.
| Métis (urban) | Métis (rural) | Total population (urban) | Total population (rural) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| percent | ||||
| Share of population living in urban or rural area | 70.0 | 30.0 | 81.3 | 18.7 |
| In an owner-occupied dwelling | 59.6 | 78.8 | 69.9 | 79.1 |
| In a household spending 30% or more of income on shelter costsTable 9 Note 1 | 22.2 | 14.0 | 21.5 | 12.8 |
| Owners | 12.1 | 11.5 | 15.6 | 11.0 |
| Renters | 37.1 | 26.7 | 35.3 | 24.8 |
| In unsuitable housing | 8.9 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 6.1 |
| Owners | 4.8 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 3.9 |
| Renters | 14.8 | 14.0 | 18.4 | 11.9 |
| In a dwelling requiring major repairs | 10.1 | 13.8 | 5.9 | 10.0 |
| Owners | 8.5 | 12.9 | 4.8 | 8.1 |
| Renters | 12.6 | 17.4 | 8.4 | 13.1 |
| In core housing needTable 9 Note 2 | 14.8 | 12.5 | 11.4 | 7.1 |
| Owners | 4.7 | 8.9 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Renters | 30.1 | 30.4 | 25.7 | 21.0 |
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About the data
The estimates presented in this fact sheet are from the 2016 Census of Population. For detailed information on any of the indicators in this fact sheet, please refer to the Census of Population main page.
The Census of Population data on housing are collected on the long-form questionnaire, which draws its sample from a frame of private dwellings across Canada. Because the survey sample is drawn from private households, individuals in the following situations are not included in the data:
- official representatives of foreign countries living in Canada and their families
- members of religious and other communal colonies
- members of the Canadian Armed Forces living on military bases
- people living in seniors’ residences
- people living full time in institutions (e.g., inmates of penal institutions, and chronic care patients living in hospitals and nursing homes)
- people living in other types of collective dwellings (e.g., shelters, campgrounds and hotels).
Due to data limitations, not all aspects of Métis people’s housing experience could be covered. These aspects include, but are not limited to: homelessness, increased maintenance costs for those living in remote areas, mould, sense of belonging, and proximity to health and social services.
For housing statistics on non-Status and Status First Nations, and Inuit, please see the Housing Experiences in Canada issue page.
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