About health regions

"Health region" refers to administrative areas defined by the provincial ministries of health. For complete Canadian coverage, each of the northern territories also represents a health region.

The following table presents an overview of health regions in Canada, by province and territory and links to maps for viewing current boundaries.

Health region in Canada - reference maps by province/ territory

Health region boundary changes

Since June 2003, changes to health regions have occurred within selected provinces. These are noted in the following table, however, many data tables within this publication continue to reflect the boundaries in effect as of 2003. These will be updated as new data tables are produced with future issues. See tables 1 and 2 in the appendices for details on the changes to health region boundaries between 2003 and 2005, and between 2000 and 2003.

Health region peer groups

In order to effectively compare health regions with similar socio-economic characteristics, health regions have been grouped into 'peer groups'. Statistics Canada used a statistical method to achieve maximum statistical differentiation between health regions. Twenty-four variables were chosen to cover as many of the social and economic determinants of health as possible, using data collected at the health region level mostly from the Census of Canada. Concepts covered include:

• basic demographics (i.e., population change and demographic structure),
• living conditions (i.e., socio-economic characteristics, housing, and income inequality), and
• working conditions (i.e., labour market conditions)

Peer groups based on 2005 health region boundaries and 2001 Census data are now available. There are currently nine peer groups identified by letters A through I.

(see Health regions 2005 by peer group)

Health regions and peer groups in Canada 2005 (PDF map of latest peer groups)

Summary table of peer groups and principal characteristics

A more detailed discussion on the rationale and methods involved in the development of peer groups is available in the Health Region (2000) Peer Groups Working Paper (PDF), Health Region (2003) Peer Groups Working Paper (PDF) and Health Region Peer Groups 2005 (PDF), see previous issue.

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