The research enables a more detailed analysis of local financial measures driving national trends
Not long after new research showing Canadians lacking confidence in their ability to achieve their financial goals or weather unexpected challenges was released comes a new comprehensive report to further evaluate the state of the country.
A partnership between Prosper Canada and the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD), sponsored by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), has yielded the Cross Canada Check-Up report. Based on findings from the 2016 Neighbourhood Financial Health Index (NFHI), it examines the overall financial health of households in each province and territory.
IIROC is proud to sponsor the Neighbourhood Financial Health Index – unveiled today by Prosper Canada and CCSD. This is a valuable tool for policy-makers, regulators and those who work with Canadians to help them save and invest in their futures. https://t.co/juZRlxmg7Y pic.twitter.com/ClXDE3aPai
— IIROC / OCRCVM (@IIROCinfo) November 1, 2018
The NFHI provides a score to each jurisdiction based on six factors:
- Household incomes
- Liquid assets
- Real estate assets
- Consumer debt
- Mortgage debt
- Neighbourhood poverty
The Northwest Territories and Alberta garnered the highest scores on the 2016 NFHI survey, driven by household incomes exceeding the national average by 33% and 29%, respectively. Above-average incomes were also found across all of the territories, where high wages are offered for those in the mining industry, construction, and public services.
Looking at household savings and investment, Alberta bested all other regions with asset levels 46% above the Canadian average. Ontario and British Columbia also got high NFHI scores by handily beating the national average of $485,011 for real-estate assets, with $737,433 in BC and $605,585 in Ontario. But those three provinces also had the highest levels of mortgage and consumer debt.
“In 2016, six provinces and territories had [household] debt-to-income ratios of 125 per cent or higher, but two came in at over 150 per cent,” the report said. The national average in 2016 was 148%, driven by record-low interest rates.
Three Atlantic Provinces — Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia — filled the bottom slots of the overall NFHI rankings. Below-average household incomes and above-average neighbourhood poverty levels persisted in the region as provinces in the region have struggled to attract ongoing investment and full-year employment opportunities. The result: relatively high unemployment and provincial economies that have tended to lag their peers.
“This research will be a valuable tool for policy makers, regulators and those working with Canadians to enable them to save and invest in their futures,” said IIROC Vice-President of Public Affairs and Member Education Services, Lucy Becker.
