Canada’s economy is growing, but according to Professor Bryan Smale, Canadians’ health and quality of life are not keeping pace.
WATERLOO, Ont. (Friday, May 31, 2013) — Canada’s economy is growing, but according to Professor Bryan Smale, Director of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW) at the University of Waterloo, Canadians’ health and quality of life are not keeping pace.
Statistics Canada announced today that Canada’s GDP rate grew 2.5 per cent in the first quarter, the fastest in six quarters.
“When we look at the trends, our economic growth is not translating into a better life for all Canadians. When Canada’s economy was thriving, Canadians saw only modest improvements in their overall quality of life, and in 2008 when the economy faltered, our wellbeing took a disproportionate step backward—and it is continuing to stall,” said Professor Smale.
The CIW’s most recent report, published in October, found that despite living longer, Canadians are not necessarily living healthier lives. Self-reported cases of depression have increased 3.6 per cent between 1994 and 2010, while incidences of diabetes have risen 53.1 per cent in less than two decades.
The report also found that Canadians are spending more and more time in the car. Between 1994 and 2010, Canadians’ commuting time to work increased by almost 20 per cent.
“The increase in commuting time translates into approximately 45 hours annually. In other words, working Canadians have lost about a week’s worth of free time that could have been used to enhance their wellbeing.”
In development for over a decade, The Canadian Index of Wellbeing uses 64 indicators within eight quality-of-life categories to measure how Canadians are really doing. From living standards to education, the CIW is designed to paint a comprehensive picture of life in Canada.
Professor Smale hopes the insights gained from the CIW will encourage policy makers and government leaders to make decisions based on solid evidence in areas of life that go beyond the economy.
“We want to provide Canadians with the means to advocate for changes that respond to their needs and values,” said Professor Smale.
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s technology hub, has become one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
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Pamela Smyth
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4777
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