Data visualization tools for municipalities
Municipal Quality of Life Dashboard

This dashboard allows users to examine the latest data for four indicators of the Quality of Life Framework for Canada: housing needs, poverty, postsecondary attainment, and knowledge of official languages. Data are visualized at the census subdivision level. Visualizations may not appear for census subdivisions where data are unavailable due to data quality and confidentiality concerns.

The data in this dashboard come from the Census of Population. The Census of Population provides a detailed statistical portrait of Canada and its people by their demographic, social and economic characteristics. The Census of Population collects data every five years. The census enumerates the entire Canadian population, on a "usual residence" basis (de jure). The population enumerated consists of usual residents of Canada who are Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization), landed immigrants and non-permanent residents and their families living with them in Canada. Non-permanent residents are persons who hold a work or student permit, or who claim refugee status.

The census also counts Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who are temporarily outside the country on Census Day. This includes federal and provincial government employees working outside Canada, Canadian embassy staff posted to other countries, members of the Canadian Forces stationed abroad, all Canadian crew members of merchant vessels and their families. Because people outside the country are enumerated, the Census' population concept is considered a "modified" de jure census.

Foreign residents such as representatives of a foreign government assigned to an embassy, high commission or other diplomatic mission in Canada, and residents of another country who are visiting Canada temporarily are not covered by the census.

Given that the non-binary population is small, data aggregation to a two-category gender variable is sometimes necessary to protect the confidentiality of responses provided. In these cases, individuals in the category “non-binary persons” are distributed into the other two gender categories and are denoted by the “+” symbol.

Census subdivision (CSD)

The general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial/territorial legislation) or areas treated as municipal equivalents for statistical purposes (e.g., Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada.

Gender

Refers to an individual’s personal and social identity as a man, woman or non-binary person (a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman). A person’s gender may differ from their sex at birth and from what is indicated on their current identification or legal documents, such as their birth certificate, passport or driver’s licence. A person’s gender may change over time. Some people may not identify with a specific gender.

Housing needs

Proportion of the population living in acceptable housing. Proportion of the population in core housing need.

Core housing need

Refers to whether a private household's housing falls below at least one of the indicator thresholds for housing adequacy, affordability or suitability, and would have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that is acceptable (attains all three housing indicator thresholds). Adequate housing is reported by their residents as not requiring any major repairs. Affordable housing has shelter costs equal to less than 30% of total before-tax household income. Suitable housing has enough bedrooms for the size and composition of resident households according to the National Occupancy Standard (NOS), conceived by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and provincial and territorial representatives.

Acceptable housing

Refers to whether a household meets each of the three indicator thresholds established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for housing adequacy, suitability and affordability. Acceptable housing identifies which thresholds the household falls below, if any. Housing that is adequate in condition, suitable in size and affordable is considered to be acceptable. See Core housing need for definitions of adequacy, affordability and suitability.

Tenure

Refers to whether a household owns or rents their private dwelling. The private dwelling may be situated on rented or leased land or be part of a condominium. A household is considered to own their dwelling if some member of the household owns the dwelling even if it is not fully paid for, for example if there is a mortgage or some other claim on it. A household is considered to rent their dwelling if no member of the household owns the dwelling. A household is considered to rent that dwelling even if the dwelling is provided without cash rent or at a reduced rent, or if the dwelling is part of a cooperative.

Market Basket Measure

Refers to Canada's official measure of poverty based on the cost of a specific basket of goods and services representing a modest, basic standard of living developed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The MBM thresholds represent the costs of specified qualities and quantities of food, clothing, shelter, transportation and other necessities for a reference family of two adults and two children.

Poverty

Poverty rate according to the Market Basket Measure.

Postsecondary attainment

Proportion of the population who have attained a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.

Knowledge of official languages

Proportion of the population able to conduct a conversation in:

1. English only;
2. French only;
3. Both official languages;
4. Neither official language.

Total single and multiple language responses

Indicates the number of respondents who reported each language, either as their only response, or in combination with another language. Total responses represent the sum of single language responses and multiple language responses received in the census.

• Selected indicators of quality of life in Canada
• Municipal Financial and Socioeconomic Data Dashboard
• Municipal Mapping
• Census Program Data Viewer
• Canadian Statistical Geospatial Explorer Hub
• Focus on Geography Series
• GeoSearch
• Housing indicators, 2021 Census
• Core housing need in Canada
• Thematic maps – Poverty
• Elementary to Postsecondary Student Education Dashboard: Enrolments, Graduations and Tuition Fees
• Mother tongue by geography, 2021 Census