Highlights
The highlights of this year’s Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and challenges faced by approximately two million people who call metro Vancouver “home”.
TRANSPORTATION is still the top concern. While there is applause for new initiatives that are addressing transit needs, demand continues to be strong for increased service, more affordable public transit and other initiatives that would improve our ability to get around the region.
EMPLOYMENT rates are high and a wide range of occupations and industries keep us employed. At the same time, more people are working for less pay.
HOUSING and particularly the need for affordable housing across the region, both rental and owned, continues to be a challenge, and the number of homeless continues to grow.
Overall, we are a HEALTHY community. Our life expectancy rates are high and we give positive ratings to our general health. However, worrisome trends are emerging: we are an aging population, and our physical activity levels are decreasing, while our obesity rates are rising, particularly among some groups of citizens.
We live in an incredibly DIVERSE region – today 40% of us are immigrants. In a five-year period, the immigrant population increased by 13%, while the Canadian-born population grew by only 2%.
Our actions on the ENVIRONMENT are mixed. On one hand, we are taking individual steps to recycle and compost more, and lower the temperature in our houses. On the other hand, we are creating more garbage and putting more cars on the road.
The POVERTY rate remains stubbornly high. One quarter of our children are raised in poverty, versus the national average of 16%. As well, 35% of households led by single mothers live below the poverty line.
--------------
This year’s Vital Signs suggests the glass is both half full, and half empty. There are many good things about our region, and we are making progress in some areas such as creating more public transit and bike lanes, increasing recycling, and having healthy and engaged citizens. At the same time, our communities face persistent challenges. We need to create more affordable housing, better integrate new Canadians, reduce poverty levels and decrease our reliance on the automobile.
There are implications for us as a community if we do not tackle these challenges, or if we address them in a half-hearted way. On the surface, some of these issues may not seem like problems for the average citizen, but there is both a ripple and domino effect that will touch each of us if nothing is done to address these challenges.
Our claim to “most livable region” will be slowly undermined by a lack of affordable housing, long commutes and traffic congestion, an expanding number of families living below the poverty line, poor air quality, not enough well-paying jobs, and fewer opportunities for our young people and new Canadians. These issues will make it difficult for us to attract diverse newcomers with valuable skills and talents to our communities. These challenges can create division and tension between those who have and those who cannot have.
No one person, organization or level of government alone can address the challenges facing metro Vancouver. The various governments (municipal, regional, provincial and federal) each have different scopes of responsibility and authority to address the issues. Not-for-profits, businesses and other organizations need to play a role and get involved in solving these problems.
Individuals also have a role to play in changing our own behaviors. Elections over the coming year will give citizens an opportunity to inquire, engage and educate themselves about the issues facing our region, and debate about what should be done to make this an even better place to live… for all citizens.
