Insights on Canadian Society - Special Edition
Special edition, issue 3
Moving moments: Social progression in Canada over time
Time provides the backdrop for understanding changes within society. It lets us understand when we are experiencing periods of transformation, highlights long-term trends, and exposes the short- and long-term impacts of unique events. Examining changes over time in social statistics provides new insights into where Canada has been—and where it is heading.
This issue focuses on changes in Canadian society over time—exploring how it has changed and evolved across key dimensions, such as economics, well-being and demographics.
Articles
Changes in alcohol consumption from 2015 to 2024
by Eva Fernandes, Yu Lung, Mihojana Jhumi and Ellen Stephenson
The number of Canadians who had at least one alcoholic drink in the past year has been declining over time. Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey and the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, this article explores trends and changes in alcohol consumption in Canada over the past decade, while also exploring the factors that may be driving a decrease in heavy drinking.
Stretching the loonie: A time series analysis of financial difficulty and quality of life
by Lauren Pinault and Helen Foran
In spring 2025, more Canadians aged 15 and older found it “difficult” or “very difficult” to meet their financial needs, compared with summer 2021. Using data from the Canadian Social Survey, this study examines changes in self-reported financial difficulty between summer 2021 and spring 2025. The association between self-reported financial difficulty and age, as well as two well-being indicators, is also explored.
Making plans for the future: Canadians’ intentions to have biological children
by Victoria Jordan and Maire Sinha
A greater proportion of Canadians aged 15 to 49 expressed a desire to have children—either for the first time or to expand their families—in 2024 compared with 2021. This article uses data from the Canadian Social Survey to explore changes in Canadians’ intentions to have children between 2021 and 2024, while also exploring sociodemographic characteristics that may be driving the change.
Retirement and post-retirement employment among older Canadians
by Sharanjit Uppal, Brittany Etmanski, Vincent Hardy and Sébastien LaRochelle-Côté
The number of Canadians aged 55 and older who work after retirement is increasing. Drawing on data from the Labour Force Survey and the Survey of Financial Security, this study examines trends in retirement over time and explores reasons why older Canadians retire. It also analyzes changes in post-retirement employment and the characteristics associated with working after retirement.
Response mobility to Indigenous identification questions in Canada, 2016 to 2021
This study uses linked data from the Census of Population to examine how response mobility affected the size and composition of the Indigenous identity population from 2016 to 2021. The impacts of response mobility on demographic and socioeconomic trends of Indigenous Peoples are also explored.
Education helps reduce the risk of low income—especially among vulnerable people
Having more education can offer greater protection against having persistent low income, especially for certain sociodemographic groups—including one-parent families headed by a woman. This article uses data from the 2016 Census linked to tax files to explore the relationship between education and low income.
Visuals
Weight change over time and obesity in Canada
Over the past few decades, obesity has become more prevalent in Canada. Using data from both the Canadian Health Measures Survey and the Canadian Community Health Survey, this infographic explores trends in Canadians’ weight over time, as well as how obesity may impact health.
Audio
Canada’s happiness crisis (and why it’s not all doom and gloom)
Everyone wants to be happy, but just how happy are Canadians? On this episode of the Eh Sayers podcast, join quality of life experts from Statistics Canada and Engage Nova Scotia to explore the importance of quality of life programs and what they tell us about our well-being.
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