7. Indicators based on Census data (Statistics Canada)

Health region level rates are based on the boundaries in effect as of June 2003 unless otherwise noted.

• Regional data on non-medical determinants of health and certain community characteristics were extracted from the Census, based on enumeration areas (EA) (for the 1996 Census) and census blocks (CBs) and Dissemination Areas (DA) (for the 2001 Census). A correspondence file, linking the Census geography to current health regions has been developed by the Health Statistics Division of Statistics Canada with the cooperation of provincial Ministries of Health, Alberta Treasury and BC Stats.

• Income-related indicators from any Census are based on income from the previous year.

• Low income rate, children in low income families: Low income data were not derived for economic families or unattached individuals in the Territories or on Indian reserves. For health regions containing Indian reserves, analysis of low income data should only be done with this caveat explicitly noted.

• Housing affordability: Farm homes and band housing on Indian reserves were not included in the calculation of housing affordability. For health regions containing Indian reserves, analysis of housing affordability should only be done with this caveat explicitly noted.

• Proportion Aboriginal population: This variable is derived from three questions asked in the Census (20% sample). Aboriginal population refers to those persons who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, i.e. North American Indian, Métis or Inuit and/or those who reported being a treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada and/or who were members of an Indian Band or First Nation. Census coverage studies were used to adjust these data with the population estimates for incompletely enumerated Indian Bands or reserves. The STC demographic population estimates (which adjusts for census under coverage and refusal reserves) for the particular Census year were used as the denominator for these percentages.

• Owner-occupied dwellings: Band housing on Indian reserves and collective dwellings were not included. For health regions containing Indian reserves, analysis of owner-occupied dwellings should only be done with this caveat explicitly noted.

• Average expected dwelling values: The same exclusions for owner-occupied dwellings apply for this variable, in addition to farms.

For more information on census concepts, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, 92-378-XIE.