Waterloo Region Profile
Statistics, Trends & Forecasts
Towards understanding implications for the future
Background Document
For the 2011 – 2014 Strategic Planning Process
Draft – Updated February 4, 2011
For internal planning purposes – not for circulation
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Background
In order to effectively plan for the future we need to review a broad range of information on issues and
trends that are likely to impact the community and this organization over the short, medium and long
term. This summary is one piece of information that will help generate conversation as we begin to
identify priorities for our future. We will need to hear different perspectives of those experts working in
the field as well as learn and listen to the lived experiences of individuals in the community in order to
understand if this information is still relevant and what implications it may have for the future.
Purpose
This profile is designed to provide background information on significant statistics, forecasts and trends,
which begin to paint a picture of the emerging opportunities and challenges for the community and the
organization as we being to plan for future priorities. This background information is intended to help
inform discussions and decisions about future strategic objectives and actions. The Waterloo Region
Profile has 7 main sections:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Demographics
The Natural Environment
Managing growth
Health and Social Well-being
Human Services
Infrastructure
Service Excellence
Data Sources
For the most part information found in sections 1 – 7 is compiled mostly from Region of Waterloo staff
reports:
2006 Census Bulletins completed by Planning, Housing and Community Services:
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/DocID/A288897047333422852573700060C1D7
?OpenDocument
Health Status reports completed by Public Health:
http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/health.nsf/DocID/D2A33208D1CE83BB85256EED005C331
0?OpenDocument
Transportation planning reports completed by Planning, Housing and Community Services, as
well as Transportation and Environmental Services:
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/c56e308f49bfeb7885256abc0071ec9a/b035cc0
357b6e3e585256e440068bc7b!OpenDocument and Rapid Transit information found at:
http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/
Social Services Reports:
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/social.nsf/DocID/8A471D6B587030678525700C004DF718
?OpenDocument#spre
In some cases additional information was obtained from community reports and statistics and where this
is the case they are noted as such. Some of this work was done in partnership with Ernie Ginsler from
Ginsler and Associates. It is recognized that the information will not comprehensive or all inclusive;
rather it is a selection of relevant information which may provide useful context for planning. It is also
recognized that in some cases the 2006 census data will not provide as reliable information as it has in
previous census years, as the world has changed due to the recession.
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Waterloo Region Profile Issue
Highlights - Executive Summary
Demographics: Growing, Aging, Diversifying
Our population growth rate surpasses both the provincial and national averages and is the sixth
highest in Ontario. With a population of just over half a million, Waterloo Region is one of the
fastest growing areas in Ontario and is projected to grow from 542,100 in 2010 to 729,000 people
by 2031.
The population over age 75 is the fastest growing segment of the population, and as the front end
of the baby boom hits 65 in 2011, that will begin a seniors boom that will last 20 years.
Our economic base is making a fundamental shift. Manufacturing and processing jobs which
totaled 50,000 in 1987 now total 40,000 despite significant job growth in the last two decades.
Jobs in the service sector, finance and administration, and education are taking their place, with
the service sector providing significantly more jobs than any other. Service jobs tend to be
characterized by lower wages, fewer benefits, and greater part-time employment.
Growth in the immigrant population far outpaced that in the non-immigrant population, and is
expected to be the most significant source of population growth across Canada in the future.
Despite being the home of two leading universities, and a leading community college, high school
completion rates and post-secondary education rates sit at the provincial and national averages.
Environment: Diverting Waste, Saving Water, Protecting our
Land, Improving our Air
The Rapid Transit plan will shift people from cars to transit,
reducing greenhouse gases.
We continue to reduce water consumption even as we grow. It
will be important to continue on this track both to conserve
water, but also to save on greenhouse gases produced in its
purification.
We continue to successfully divert waste from our landfill – a
51% reduction since 1989.
We need to work with community partners to plan to meet our
provincially mandated GHG emission targets in 10 years.
We must design our communities in ways that promote health.
Growth Management: Growing Quickly, Facing Changes in Culture
Home ownership is increasing despite increases in
housing prices, however new housing starts have been
decreasing. Rental housing starts have been flat for a
number of years.
Most land in the Region is devoted to agricultural use,
although agriculture-related jobs are few and declining –
even in the townships. Although direct employment
numbers on the farm are minimal, the impact of our access
to agricultural land and product on employment across the
entire food industry, from research, processing and end
users is enormous.
790,000 people visited friends and relatives in 2009 – our largest tourist category.
Our cultural workforce has declined and the income of full-time, full-year workers in culture has
declined as well.
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Healthy and Safe Communities: Safer than Most, Challenged by Health Issues, Widening Income
Gap, and Workforce Changes
During the recession we moved from having one of the
lowest unemployment rates in the country to one of the
highest. Our unemployment rate has been declining
rapidly through 2010.
Our median family incomes are higher than in many
communities; however we have a persistent poverty rate
of 10% to 11%.
Incomes of new immigrants (<5 years) have been
decreasing.
Low income is associated with poor nutrition, and both
are associated with low birth weights, reduced life
expectancy, increased infant mortality, and diminished success in school.
Major chronic diseases and injuries account for over 33% of direct health care costs. Although
chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems facing Canadians, they
are also among the most preventable.
Our population is engaging in less healthy behaviour. This includes decreased physical activity
and less fruit and vegetable consumption. As a result, our percentage of people who are
overweight or obese has increased by 4.1 per cent. Unsurprisingly then, the percentage of our
population with diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure has also increased by 1.4 per cent, 0.8
per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively.
Life expectancy trend over the last 100 years has continued to rise, however with obesity,
diabetes and high blood pressure rates also on the rise this long winning streak may be coming to
an end.
A nutritious diet in Waterloo Region cost a family of four $168.45 in 2010, up from $120.78 in
2006.
Both violent and non-violent crimes have been on a downward trend here and across Canada for
a number of years. Generally, our crime rates are below those of major Canadian communities.
Our community is still lacking in general and specialist physicians, and will continue to lag for
some time. Our rapid growth rate compounds the difficulty.
Human Services: Early Learning Challenges, Affordable Housing Challenges
30% of our grade 8 students are below the provincial
standard for reading.
Only a small percentage of children from birth to age
5 have access to licensed child care. This will be
change with the unfolding of full-day school for
children age 4-5, but we will still be lacking spaces
for children age birth through three.
Almost a quarter of our households spent 30% or
more of their income on housing. 30% is the
recommended ceiling.
The private market is building very little housing that
could be classified as affordable for low- to middleincome earners.
We have fewer low-income seniors than the Ontario average.
Ontario has a slightly higher rate of disabilities than the Canadian average. Disabilities increase
as age increases. About 47% of seniors report some limitation in their daily activities.
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Many people have few savings. The median income from interest for all savers in the Kitchener
CMA was $310 in 2008, down from $320 in 2007.
Infrastructure:
Meet Current Needs and Future Growth: Growing Transit
Use, Mounting Road Pressure
Annual transit ridership has increased from 9.5 million
rides in 2000 to 16.5 million rides in 2009.
4.8% of residents used transit to get to work in 2006.
Forecasts of future travel demands in 2031 suggest
that the transportation network would need to be
expanded by about 25% to ensure all roadways are
operating at no more than 100% of their capacity.
We will need to significantly increase transit service and usage to meet future transit demands in
a sustainable way.
Rail and bus transit connecting Waterloo Region with the GTA are expected to increase over the
next few years.
We need to continue to expand our active transportation infrastructure (bikes, walking).
Our physical infrastructure (roads, water and wastewater systems) are aging, and will
have significant repair and replacement needs in the future.
Service Excellence: Challenges of Accountability,
Accessibility, and Participation
During the past year, businesses, governments and
people around the world have been shocked by the
wave of the global financial crisis. Public service
organizations are expected to take on new
responsibilities to provide services and support citizens
and the economy and do so under a spotlight on
performance.
With the expanded role of public service organizations in
their daily lives, citizens expect organizations to make
significant changes quickly and adapt to the new reality
of this role. Public expectations are increasing as the bar
has been raised in terms of customer satisfaction – being satisfied is no longer good enough.
Because service is critical in shaping the public‟s confidence in government, it is vital that the
focus on service increase, not diminish.
The challenge for the public sector is bigger now than ever before and even more complex in a
two tier system.
Changing demographics of customers - in terms of growth of demand and the changing nature of
demand, e.g., language diversity are also other factors impacting the need to prioritize and
improve service, as is new legislation regarding access for people with disabilities.
44% stated that governments have a more difficult task than the private sector – as they must
protect the public interest as well as meet the needs of citizens.
Median charitable donation for tax-filers who claimed donations was the same as the Ontario
median, at $300. The proportion of Waterloo Region tax-filers who claim donations decreased
from 31.2% to 27.8% from 1997 to 2008, although it is still higher than the Provincial and National
rates.
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Our volunteer rate decreased from 45% of adults to 41% of adults between 2004 and 2007 – a
rate that is significantly lower than either the Provincial or National rates.
69% of Canadians think that “knowing where to start” is the biggest challenge in getting
government services.
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1. Demographics: Growing, Aging, Diversifying
Officially established on January 1, 1973 Waterloo Region includes the three cities of Cambridge,
Kitchener and Waterloo, and the townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich,
blending a unique balance of urban and rural centres. Located in the heart of Southwestern Ontario
Waterloo Region covers 1369 square kilometers. With a population of just over half a million, Waterloo
Region is one of the fastest growing areas in Ontario and is projected to grow from 542,100 in 2010 to
729,000 people by 2031. Internationally known for its leading-edge technology and advanced
manufacturing industries, innovative educational institutions, vibrant agricultural communities and the
historically significant Grand River, Waterloo Region continues to earn its reputation as a forwardthinking community and as an attractive place to live, work and play. Waterloo Region is currently the
fourth largest urban area in Ontario and the 10th largest urban area in Canada.
Our population is aging
As of 2006, people 65 years or older numbered over 55,000 and comprised 11.6% of the Region‟s total
population. Some of the highest percentage increases in the ten years from 1996 to 2006 occurred in the
population over the age of 75. More recently, in the five years from 2001 to 2006, those over 80 years of
age had the highest per cent increase among all age groups, reflecting a steady increase in life
expectancy.
The demographic group known as the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1966) is a
significant segment of the Region‟s population, both in terms of absolute numbers and growth.
Numbering 137,710 people in 2006, this segment, aged between 40 and 59 years represents almost a
third of the total population, as shown in Table 1. Within the Boomers, the largest absolute counts were
individuals who are between 40 and 44 years old, and were still two decades (now fifteen years) away
from the years typically associated with retirement. Over the ten year period from 1996 to 2006, the
single largest percentage increase within any age group also occurred in this Baby Boomer group,
specifically in the age bracket from 55 to 59.
Table 1: Population Growth by Select Age Groups, 2001 and 2006
Age Group
0-4
Population 2001
27,960
Population 2006
29,345
Absolute growth
1,385
% Growth
5%
5-19
93,845
96,910
3,065
3%
20-39
133,770
138,180
4,410
3%
40-59
117,580
137,710
20,130
17%
60-79
53,820
60,610
6,790
13%
80+
11,520
15,350
Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2001 and 2006
3,830
33%
Higher proportion of women with increasing age
The overall population distribution in Waterloo Region is almost even between the sexes, with 49.3%
males and 50.7% females in 2006. However, the balance changes with increasing age. The difference in
population distribution by sex is particularly evident in age groups above 80 years, where females make
up 65% of the population.
Our children and youth population is decreasing
Of the total population, 126,255 or 26.4% are under the age of 20. Since 1996, this demographic group
has been decreasing as a percentage of the total population. In absolute numbers, children from 0 to 4
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have demonstrated a slight rebound over the period from 2001 to 2006, overall statistics show this age
group has declined as a per cent of the total population, falling from 7.3% in 1996 to 6.1% in 2006.
The demographic imbalance caused by low birth rates and an aging population will alter the functioning
labour markets. Organizations will need to:
Modify their products and services to meet the needs of an older customer base.
Attract and retain older workers.
Establish flexible working arrangements that allow employees of all ages to meet personal and
familial demands.
Provide older employees with opportunities for continuous learning so they remain creative and
current.
Young workforce
The group aged 25 to 54 years, who make up the majority of the workforce, increased their involvement
by just 6.5% from 2001 to 2006. The Region has a relatively young workforce – the median age for the
employed population in Waterloo Region (over 15 years) was 39.5 years, the lowest across all of
Ontario.
Employment forecasts
Employment is forecast to grow to approximately 359,000 jobs by the year 2029, from 257,655 in 2006.
A further 14,880 people (4% of this age group) was unemployed and 108,460 (28%) were not in the
labour force. Full time employment (more than 30 hours worked per week) between 2001 and 2006
actually decreased by 14%, while part time employment increased over the same timeframe by a
remarkable 112% and affected nearly all employment sectors.
Employment by industry
One approach to analyzing employment is by categorizing jobs by industry or sector. In 2006,
„manufacturing‟ accounted for almost one quarter of all jobs held by Waterloo Region‟s workforce,
representing 60,375 employees. This was a decrease of 2,020 jobs (3.2%) from 2001. „Retail trade‟ was
the second largest employment sector for the Region‟s residents, accounting for half as many jobs as
„manufacturing‟. This sector grew from 2001 to 2006 by 3,395 employees. „Healthcare and social
assistance,‟ together with „educational services‟ made up the next largest portion of employment at
approximately 20,000 jobs each.
There is a structural change in employment. In previous recessions (80-82, 91-92) the sectors that lost
jobs came back, but manufacturing has been falling since well before the recent recession and won‟t be
coming back in the same way.
High youth unemployment – the expanding parts of the economy either demand more education than
they have, or pay at the low end of the scale and have few benefits.
Employment by Occupation
Another method used to measure employment is by considering occupation types. Occupations related
to „sales and service‟ employs the largest segment of Waterloo Region‟s population, with a total of
58,875 people in 2006, followed by „business, finance and administration‟ and „trades, transport and
equipment operators‟ occupations. Because „manufacturing‟ was the top industry of employment when
looking at jobs by industry, it is not surprising that occupations related to manufacturing rank high as well.
Farming is 1.3% of the total labour force in Waterloo Region
There were 1,444 farm operations based out of Waterloo Region in 2006, employing approximately
3,510 people and accounting for 1.3% of the total labour force. The total number farm operators across
the Region increased from 1,955 reported in 2001 to 2,035 in 2006. The average age for a farm operator
in 2006 was 47 years, below both the provincial and national averages. Half (51%) of all farm operators
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work full-time on their operation, spending on average more than 40 hours per week working on the farm.
Of the remaining operators, 23% spend between 20 and 40 hours, while 27% spend less than 20 hours
per week. Total gross farm receipts in 2005 for all farms in Waterloo Region totaled almost $400 million.
The average of approximately $275,000 per farm, is surpassed provincially only by Niagara Region.
Our population is becoming more diverse
Immigration is an important component of population growth in Waterloo Region. In 2006, there were
105,375 residents who were born outside of Canada which accounted for 22.3% of the Region‟s total
population. From 2001 to 2006 the immigrant population in Waterloo Region grew by 13.6%, almost
twice the growth seen in the nonimmigrant population. Over the same time period, the non-immigrant
population grew by 7.3%. The arrival of foreign-born residents to Waterloo Region will continue to be
influential in the evolving characteristics of our local population in terms of population growth, age,
language and cultural composition.
A big proportion of immigrants are new to Waterloo Region
Immigrants who arrived over the most recent five-year span made up 16.2% of the total immigrant
population in Waterloo Region. Almost 70% of immigrants to Canada from 2001 to 2006 settled in
Canada‟s three largest metropolitan areas, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. However, Waterloo
Region was one of the top ten destinations in Canada, and top five in Ontario.
Europe remains the most common place of birth for the total immigrant population
Europe remains the most common place of birth for the total immigrant population in Waterloo Region,
representing just over half of the population born outside of Canada. However, other regions have begun
to emerge as key contributors to our population. As of 2006, Asia and the Middle East represent the
birth places for more than a quarter of Waterloo Region‟s immigrant population, while the United States,
Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda, and Africa account for most of the
remaining quarter.
Waterloo Region’s diversity continues to grow
In 2006, the population of Waterloo Region reported
195 different ethnic origins. Individually, the most
widely reported ethnic origin was English, followed
closely by Canadian and German. While English is
the most prevalent mother tongue spoken by three
quarters of the population, in 2006 there were
106,855 people whose mother tongue was a nonofficial language, an increase of 21% from 88,495
people in 2001.
Projections of Foreign Born
Kitchener, CMA
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
Knowledge of Official Languages Remains High
0
Foreign Born
Foreign Born Visible Minority Visible Minority
Despite the increased prevalence of nonofficial
2006
2031
2006
2031
languages, Waterloo Region‟s knowledge of English
Waterloo Region Canada
and French remains high. In total, 98.5% of the
Region‟s population has knowledge of at least one of
Canada‟s two official languages. Among those,
91.8% knew English only. Knowledge of these languages has remained consistent since 2001. Although
French is not as well known, the Census showed that 6.7% of the Region‟s population had some
knowledge of the French language.
Source: Statistics Canada, http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100309/t100309a1-eng.htm
Aboriginal People increased in Waterloo Region
In 2006, 4,810 people in Waterloo Region reported having an Aboriginal identity, specifically North
American Indian (First Nations People), Métis or Inuit. This represented 1% of the total population.
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The changing face of families in our region
There were 114,385 census families led by either a married couple or common-law couple in Waterloo
Region. Married couples were more likely to have children compared to common-law families.
Contributing to the changing face of families, common-law relationships increased from 12,060 in 2001 to
14,538 in 2006. This 21% increase is similar to trends seen on a national level where record numbers of
common-law marriages were identified. Noteworthy changes were apparent in lone parent families, with
an increase of 13% over values in 2001. Single parent families make up 15% of all families in the
Region. From 2001 to 2006, increases occurred in all forms of family structure except for married
couples with three or more children. This decline of larger families is consistent with the overall decline in
fertility since the 1960‟s.
Across the Region, there are more married people than unmarried people.
Unmarried is defined as having never been legally married or having been divorced, widowed or
separated. This statistic differs from the national trend: 2006 marked the first Census that indicated there
were more unmarried than married people in Canada. Although the majority of our population is married,
the single or never legally married group has increased 34% from 1996 and 17% from 2001. This was
the largest increase across all categories and supports the trend of people waiting longer to get married.
Within the Kitchener Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), 480 couples were in a same-sex relationship. Of
these, 400 were considered common-law while 80 were legally married. Female same-sex relationships
outnumbered male same-sex relationships by a ratio of 5:1.
Children over the age of 25 at home increased
Among census families, the average number of children living at home was 2.1, remaining the same from
the 2001 Census. Nevertheless, a significant change was seen in the ages of these children living at
home; children over the age of 25 at home
increased by a remarkable 23%. The average
Proportion of the Population (15+) with a
family size in the Region is 3.0, the same as the
Post-Secondary Education: 2000-2009
provincial average.
60
Less than half of the Region’s population above
50
15 has achieved post-secondary education
40
Just less than half of the Region‟s population above
30
the age of 15 has achieved some type of post20
secondary education. This represents a total of
10
181,735 people within that age bracket. A high
0
percentage (92%) of these earned their post2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
secondary certificate within Canada. Waterloo
Waterloo Region
Ontario
Canada
Region places 9th in Ontario in terms of the number
„10
of people who hold a university certificate above
the bachelor‟s degree level. Just over 92,000
people in Waterloo Region have no education certificate; this represents 24% of the total population 15
years and over. More specifically, 44% of all people 65 years and over hold no certificate, while only 16%
of all people between 25 and 64 have less than a high school education.
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, available by special request program A050705.
The level of education achieved by residents in Waterloo Region does correlate to the labour force
activity. Numbers indicate that the population with less than a high school education (hold no education
certificate) have the lowest participation rate by more than 20% and at the same time have the highest
rate of unemployment. The population that has achieved a post-secondary education has a much lower
rate of unemployment. Of this group (fifteen years and over with a post-secondary education), the group
that has the highest rate of participation in the labour force and therefore lowest unemployment rate hold
a non-university certificate (i.e. college diploma).
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Households Characteristics
In 2006, there were 470,705 people living in private households in Waterloo Region. Over 70% of these
households were home to one family, while less than 2% were home to multiple families. The remaining
28% of households consisted of people living alone or with non-relatives. This group showed the largest
per cent increase between Censuses.
Population moves around
Almost 200,000 residents of Waterloo Region moved during the five year period between 2001 and
2006. This represents 44% of the Region’s population. The five-year mobility rate for Waterloo Region is
similar to that of Canada and Ontario which stand at 41%. From 2001 to 2006, Census data shows that
47,495 people moved to Waterloo Region from other areas in Canada. During the same period, 41,760
people moved away, resulting in a net gain of 5,735 people to the Region through internal migration.
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2. Environment: Diverting Waste, Saving Water, Protecting our Land,
Improving our Air
Health is impacted by air quality
Over the past several years ambient levels of some air pollutants have decreased in Ontario. However,
Ground-level ozone (a key component of smog) is still a problem in many cities within Ontario. The
Ontario Ministry of the Environment estimates that the transportation sector in Ontario is responsible for
65 per cent of the emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which are the main
components in smog (ground level ozone) and are related to a variety of health problems. Between 2002
and 2006, in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo there were an estimated 677 hospital admissions for
cardiovascular problems and an estimated 255 admissions for respiratory problems related to acute
exposure of nitrogen dioxide in the air.
Future trends for air quality
Although the Region of Waterloo has no direct authority over air quality in this community, there are
several Regional programs and initiatives oriented towards public health protection and reduction of air
emissions within the community. For example, Reduce the Juice is a community-based social marketing
campaign aimed at changing behaviour around vehicular idling. In 2008, over 1500 pledges to reduce
idling were signed by local residents during the campaign. Other Regional programs oriented towards
improving air quality in the Region include promotion of transit and active transportation (e.g. cycling,
walking) by reducing traffic congestion. The introduction of rapid transit in Waterloo Region will nearly
triple transit ridership along the Central Transit Corridor. The Region‟s rapid transit project will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, by shifting travel to transit and out of private cars. The
shift away from auto usage is projected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9,000
tonnes in 2014 and more than 14,000 tonnes in 2031. In addition, the project will reduce annual Criteria
Air Contaminants by 325 tonnes in 2031.
These pollutants contribute to poor air quality and damage human health. The reduction in pollutants
with rapid transit will reduce hospital admissions, saving the health care system an estimated $10.5
million during the first 25 years of the project.
Reducing the use of pesticides will promote the health, safety and well-being of people in our
community
In 2006, Council enacted a pesticide reduction by-law that became effective January 1st, 2007. Council
directed that a review of the by-law and related enforcement be carried out after 2 years (end of 2008).
In June of 2008, the Ontario legislature passed the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act. This act lays out the
framework for a ban on the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes across Ontario. The act will
apply to all of Ontario and replace any municipal by laws
Megalitres of Treated Water per
currently in place. The province‟s cosmetic pesticides ban
100,000 Population
came into effect on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. The
provincial ban overrides municipal pesticide bylaws,
14000
protecting all Ontarians, not just those in some
13500
13000
communities. It also establishes one clear set of rules,
12500
which makes it easier for Ontario businesses to follow.
12000
11500
Water Consumption is reduced but efforts still needed
Waterloo Region consumed 54,266 ML of water in 2009,
2,000 ML less than 10 years ago. As population has
increased by almost 100,000 people over the past decade,
the water consumption per capita has decreased
significantly during this period. The Region of Waterloo
11000
10500
10000
2006
2007
Waterloo Region
2008
Ontario Median
10
Source: OMBI 2008
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influences community water consumption via its many water conservation and efficiency programs such
as the water conservation by-law, toilet rebate/replacement and rain barrel programs. Other influences
on community water consumption include changes in industrial, commercial and institutional practices,
economic trends, leakage control. Reduced water consumption decreases the large energy demand
needed to provide essential water services and in turn reduces air and GHG emissions associated with
Regional operations.
Need for continued protection of natural areas
The Region uses the following environmental land designations to protect sensitive landscapes and
biological diversity: Environmental Sensitive Policy Areas (ESPA), Environmental Sensitive Landscapes
(ESLs), and Forests and Woodlots managed by the Region. In 2009 two new ESLs were proposed as
part of the new Regional Official Plan (pending final provincial approval) bringing the total land protected
under this designation to approximately 16,500 hectares or 165 km2. Preservation of sensitive
environmental areas is consistent with the goals of the Regional Growth Management Strategy. Regional
lands protected under these environmental designations also play an ecosystem related role by
influencing air and water quality. These designations are a result of environmental stewardship efforts of
Regional staff in collaboration with area municipalities, the GRCA, private landowners and the citizen
based Ecological and Environmental Advisory Committee.
More waste is being diverted for reuse and recycling
In 2009, the amount of residential waste reaching our landfill was as low as 2001 levels despite steady
population growth. Residential waste diversion reached 51% in 2009 up significantly from 37% in 1999.
This means more waste is being diverted for reuse and recycling than being disposed in our local landfill
through effective diversion programs such as blue box and more recently the green bin. Total waste
reaching our landfill (including industrial, commercial and institutional sources) has decreased by 51%
since 1989. Waste diversion programs are prolonging the useful life of the local land allocated to landfill
space and provide feedstock‟s into recycled products (e.g. metals, plastics).
Collaboration with community partners will be needed to reduce Greenhouse gases (GHG)
Ontario‟s committed GHG emission targets with significant reductions required in the next 10 years. A
recent FCM report indicated that municipalities have direct or indirect control of 44% of GHG emissions
in Canada. Earlier in 2010, Regional Council recognized the importance of Climate Change by
committing to the FCM Partners for Climate Protection program as well as the Regional Carbon Initiative
developed by a local non-profit group called Sustainable Waterloo. Both initiatives require an inventory
of emissions and action plan including reduction targets. By the end of 2010, the corporate inventory
and reduction plan (Regional operations) should be complete for Council‟s consideration in the New
Year. In 2011, collaborative work will be needed to develop a community GHG inventory and action plan
with other local stakeholders in order to fulfill the Region‟s strategic commitment to FCM and Sustainable
Waterloo. Controls on summer watering and other measures have helped us decrease the amount of
treated water used from 12,200 megalitres per 100,000 residents in 2006 to 11,500 in 2008. This was
9% below the provincial rate. Ground-Level Ozone monitoring indicates that for most days between
January and October, 2009, levels measured at noon in Kitchener were above the 20 level, with
numerous peaks at 50 or greater. Only 3 days were above 65ppb. Only one day had particulate matter
over 30 (ug/m3).
The Design of Our Neighbourhoods Impacts Our Health
The built environment includes buildings, roads, homes, parks, and other structures that form the
physical character of a place. It includes those things which are human-made (streets, sidewalks,
railroad tracks, bike lanes) as opposed to those that are naturally occurring. Individual choices about how
to get to places are influenced by the built environment, the size of our family, our age, health, attitudes,
schedule, and the social conditions in which we live. Factors such as the distance between home and
work, the look and feel of the neighbourhood and streets, the presence or absence of stores, recreation
facilities, and parks affect the choice of whether to walk, cycle, take transit, or drive. These transportation
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choices have long-term impacts on our health, air quality and physical well-being. Regular physical
activity can reduce the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes by as much as 50 per cent. It
decreases the impact of osteoporosis, arthritis and is a critical step in avoiding becoming overweight or
obese.
Some other interesting Waterloo Region environmental statistics:
The percentage of households with programmable thermostats increased from 55% in 2007 to 62% in
2007.
 In 2007, 74% of households used compact fluorescent light bulbs and 48% used fluorescent tubes.
 65% of households had a low-flow showerhead and 55% had a low-volume toilet in 2007.
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3. Growth Management: Growing Quickly; Facing Challenges in
Culture
Our population is growing
About 534,900 people live in Waterloo Region, including full time University and College students (yearend 2009 estimate). The majority of
its population resides in the cities of
Region of Waterloo Population Projection
Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.
Since 1994, the Region's population
has grown on average 1.8 per cent,
800,000
per year and has consistently been
ranked as one of the fastest growing
700,000
communities in Canada. From 2001
to 2006, the Region‟s population
increased by 9%, representing about
600,000
8,000 people per year, compared to
an 8.2% increase from 1996 to 2001.
500,000
The 9% increase made Waterloo
Region the sixth fastest growing
municipality in Ontario, outpacing
400,000
both the provincial and national
growth rates. The Region‟s absolute
300,000
population change surpassed that of
2001
2006
2011
2016
2021
2026
2031
Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton.
Dwelling Counts and Growth
The 2006 Census reported 187,088 total private dwellings in Waterloo Region, an increase of 12% from
2001. The largest per cent increase over the five-year period occurred in the Township of Wilmot (17.3%)
and the cities of Waterloo (14.7%), Kitchener (11.6%) and Cambridge (11.3%)
On a provincial scale, the Region ranked seventh in terms of per cent growth of occupied private
dwellings after York, Halton, Peel, Simcoe, Durham and Muskoka.
The majority of dwellings in Waterloo Region remains single-detached houses. Singles account for 57%
of total dwellings, similar to 55% of Canada‟s total dwellings and 56% of dwellings in Ontario. While
singles dominate, the type of dwellings being constructed in the Region continues to evolve. Over the
past five years, row houses have seen the biggest per cent increase, growing by 17%, followed by
apartments with less than 5 storeys at 12%. The age of the Region‟s housing stock is relatively young,
with 75% of our housing built after 1960.
Home ownership is a key indicator of the current economic environment of an area. From 2001 to 2006,
despite a significant increase in housing prices, the home ownership rate in Waterloo Region increased
by 16%. Proportionally the percentage of those households renting dropped. The home ownership rate
in Waterloo Region is 71%. As a comparison, the national ownership rate is 68% and the provincial
ownership rate is 71%.
New rental construction
New rental construction has been more-or-less flat for a number of years; new home construction has
been declining. The total value of building permits issued in 2009 for new construction in Waterloo
Region was $876.4 million, a decrease of 13 per cent from 2008 values. However, this was still the third
highest value recorded in the last 10 years. Total new construction value was comprised of
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approximately 63 per cent in the residential sector, and 37 per cent in the non-residential. CMHC (spring
2010) projects significant increases in purchase and rent costs.
In residential activity, permits were issued for 2,770 units in 2009, down 7 per cent from the 2,968 units in
2008. Relative to long-term trends, the 2,770 units are 11 per cent below the 30-year regional average of
3,099 units. The value of these permits, however actually increased 5 per cent to $548.2 million from
$521.6 million in 2008.
Value of Building Permits
1,200
$ millions
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
2007 Value of Building Permits
2008 Value of Building Permits
2009 Value of Building Permits
2010 Value of Building Permits
Agriculture represents the largest land use activity in Waterloo Region
In 2006, over 65% of all land classified by Statistics Canada was farmland, representing 226,384 acres
(91,614 hectares). Across the Region, the number of farms between 2001 and 2006 stabilized after the
large decrease in the previous 5-year timeframe. Trends over a twenty year time period show a decline
of about 12% in the number of farms whereas the area of farmland only decreased by 5%.
In 2006, of the total farm area for all land tenure types, 69% was owned by operators in Waterloo
Region, while 31% of the land was leased, rented, crop shared or used through other arrangements. For
agricultural land, crop production was the predominant land use in 2006, representing almost 80% of
agricultural land. This is down slightly from its share in 2001.
Livestock farming was the predominant farm type in 2006, accounting for about 74% of all farms or 1,068
total farms throughout Waterloo Region.
Most land in the Region is devoted to agricultural use, although agriculture-related jobs are few and
declining – even in the townships. Although direct employment numbers on the farm are minimal, the
impact of our access to agricultural land and product on employment across the entire food industry,
from research, processing and end users is enormous.
Are we a tourist destination?
Overnight visits to Waterloo Region dipped between 2006 and 2007, but increased significantly between
2007 and 2008. 790,000 people visited friends and relatives in 2009 - our largest tourist category (the
other categories being pleasure visits and business visits). This was followed by overnight pleasure
visits at 331,000 and overnight business visits at 97,000. Total visitor spending in the South-Central
Region of Ontario, which includes Waterloo Region, was $1.1B in 2008. The largest expenditure
categories were restaurants and bars ($250M), vehicle operations ($200M), clothing ($160M), and
accommodation ($126M).
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The Ontario Ministry of Tourism projects a small decline in same-day visits province-wide to 2011,
followed by a slow increase to 2014. The 2014 number is only one-half per cent higher than 2009.
Overnight visits province-wide are projected to increase by 6% from 2009 to 2014.
Are we supporting arts and culture?
Municipal spending on culture in Ontario increased from $877M in 2003 to $1.1B in 2007. That's an
increase of 25% in just four years. Closer to home, the per cent of the local workforce employed in
cultural industries has gone up and down between 2000 and 2009, however in 2009 it was almost
exactly the same as in the year 2000. During that period, our cultural workforce hovered around 1.5% of
total employment, while the provincial average was around 2.2%. Between 2000 and 2005, the median
earnings of full-time, full-year cultural services employees in Waterloo Region declined in constant
dollars from $42,700 to $40,500.
In 2009 and 2010 budgets the Region increased funding for arts and culture initiatives by $500,000. Of
this additional funding, $400,000 was allocated to Regionally supported arts and culture organizations
and $100,000 was to support the start-up of the “Creative Enabling Organization” – one of the key
recommendations of the “Creative Enterprise” initiative.
Library use increases
Despite ongoing predictions that online information access would make libraries obsolete, per-capita
circulation at the three city systems continues to trend upwards.
4. Healthy and Safe Communities: Safer Than Most; Challenged by
Health Issues, Widening Income Gap, and Workforce Changes
Increase in prevalence of chronic diseases (from Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, May 2007)
Chronic diseases are long-term diseases that develop slowly over time, often progressing in
severity, and can often be controlled, but rarely cured. They include conditions such as
cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and stroke), cancer, diabetes, arthritis, back problems,
asthma, and chronic depression. Chronic diseases may significantly impair everyday physical
and mental functions and reduce one‟s ability to perform activities of daily living. Worldwide,
chronic diseases have overtaken infectious diseases as the leading cause of death and
disability. Non-communicable diseases now account for 59% of the world‟s 57 million annual
deaths, and 46% of the global burden of disease. Chronic disease is most frequent among older
Ontarians, since chronic diseases can take decades to develop. Statistics Canada estimates
that major chronic diseases and injuries account for over 33% of direct health care costs. In
Ontario, chronic diseases account for 55% of direct and indirect health costs, which includes
years of healthy life lost from premature death and lost productivity from disability as well as
direct health care costs.
Chronic Disease can be Prevented, Detected and Managed
Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems facing
Canadians, they are also among the most preventable. Major chronic diseases such as
cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke), diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and osteoporosis
share common risk factors and conditions. A small group of modifiable behaviours and
intermediate biological factors/risk conditions (e.g., physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco,
alcohol, hypertension, high cholesterol, and being overweight) account for a substantial
proportion of chronic disease. These modifiable factors are influenced and shaped by societal,
economic and physical conditions. Changing health behaviors and biological factors have the
potential to reduce chronic disease in Ontario significantly. For example:
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A tobacco-free society would prevent more than 90% of lung cancer deaths and 30% of
all other cancer deaths.
With healthy eating, regular exercise, and not smoking, up to 90% of type 2 diabetes, 80% of
coronary heart disease, and one-third of cancers can be avoided.
Healthy Behaviours
Based on data from the 2007 Canadian Community Health Survey, our population is engaging in
less healthy behaviour than in 2003. These include decreased physical activity and less fruit and
vegetable consumption. As a result, our percentage of people who are overweight or obese has
increased by 4.1 per cent. Unsurprisingly then, the percentage of our population with diabetes,
asthma and high blood pressure has also increased by 1.4 per cent, 0.8 per cent and 2.6 per
cent respectively. The per cent of people who have 5 drinks or more twelve times a year has
also increased to 23.5%. The per cent of non- smokers exposed to second-hand smoke has
decreased slightly, but at 8.3 per cent it is much higher than the provincial average of 5.7 per
cent.
A similar trend among preventive behaviours is also emerging. From 2005 to 2007, the
percentage of residents getting flu shots and the per cent of residents who had contact with their
medical doctor in the past year decreased both in the WWLHIN and Ontario. However, between
2007 and 2008, the percentage of people who had a mammogram, cervical cancer screening
and fecal occult blood test increased.
Although these trends suggest that our population should be less healthy than they were two to
four years ago, the percentage of WWLHIN residents who rated their overall health as very
good or excellent has increased between 2003 and 2007 from 60.9% to 62.6%. A similar
inconsistency appears in the area of mental health. While there was a decrease in the
percentage of people who report having a lot of life stress, there was also a decrease in the
percentage of people who rated their overall mental health as very good to excellent.
Life expectancy of Canadians likely to decrease due to chronic diseases
Life expectancy of Canadians continued to rise from 78 years in 1996 to 81 years in 2006. This is part of
a trend over the last 100 years, which saw a decline in premature mortality extending the average life by
three decades since the beginning of the last century. Obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are on
the rise suggesting that this long winning streak may be coming to an end.
What we spent, where it went, what we got
Canadian health care spending in 2008 was $172 billion, or 10 per cent of GDP. This is nearly 60 per
cent more than a decade ago. It now consumes more than 40 per cent of some provincial budgets. The
aging population is responsible for about a 1 per cent annual increase in health spending. The rest is due
to inflation, population growth and more intensive services for various conditions.
Governments have invested in training more health care professionals. In 10 years the entering
class of medical students increased by 68 per cent, and the entering calls of nursing students by
51 per cent.
Drugs were the fastest growing expenditure in health care, having increased by 136
per cent since 1998.
There continues to be an increase in the shift from inpatient to out patient surgery (up 30.6 per
cent).
Forces that have shaped Health Care in Canada
Health care changes for three main reasons: policy, need and innovation. There are always
tensions between what is possible and what is affordable. At the end of the1990‟s, governments
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
were beginning to reinvest in health care after a period of mid-decade restraint. In the last decade:
Access to care and reducing wait times became a focal point.
Trends in technology development included a move to less invasive surgery and increased use of
diagnostic imaging.
There were significant changes in the use of products and services, in part due to innovation and
need. The number of cardiovascular drug prescriptions increased from 32 million in 1998 to 71
million in 2008. Age standardized hip and knee replacement rates increased 24% and 83%
respectively. There is speculation that knee replacement increases may be related to obesity.
Ambulance calls have increased
Over the last five years (2004-2009), ambulance calls have increased 20% from 29,064 to 34,797. More
than double the population growth over the same period, call volume growth is likely due to the growing
aging and ailing population.
In 2009, the ROW provided the fewest number of EMS hours per 1,000 population among OMBI
communities (196 vs. a mean of 359), but at the same time responded to many fewer EMS calls than the
provincial mean (67/1,000 vs. the OMBI mean of 100).
The gap between providing 55% of the provincial mean in service hours, and dealing with 67% of the
mean demand for service, is being addressed through the EMS Master Plan beginning in 2011.
Waterloo Region moved from one of the strongest labour markets in Ontario to one of the weaker
in the Province
In February of 2010 the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (WPB) produced a
profile report of the labour market in the Region of Waterloo. The report indicates that the economic
downturn is having, and will continue to have, a measurable impact on the Region‟s local labour market.
Waterloo Region has been particularly affected, moving from one of the strongest labour markets in
Ontario to, at one point in the last year, one of the weaker labour markets in the province.
Unemployment rose from 5% in late 2007 to a high of 10.5% in August 2009.
12.0%
11.0%
10.0%
9.0%
8.0%
7.0%
6.0%
5.0%
4.0%
Jan-08
Feb-08
Mar-08
Apr-08
May-08
Jun-08
Jul-08
Aug-08
Sep-08
Oct-08
Nov-08
Dec-08
Jan-09
Feb-09
Mar-09
Apr-09
May-09
Jun-09
Jul-09
Aug-09
Sep-09
Oct-09
Nov-09
Dec-09
Jan-10
Feb-10
Mar-10
Apr-10
May-10
Jun-10
Jul-10
Aug-10
Sep-10
Percent
Monthly Unemployment Rate
Month
Canada
USA
Ontario
Kitchener CMA
Recently, the labour market has been rebounding. The Region lost over a thousand manufacturing
sector jobs from October 2008 to October 2009 and has been dealing with many temporary layoffs in
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
manufacturing and other employment sectors. As a result in great part, the Ontario Works caseload is
35% higher than it was in September 2008.
The downturn will have a significant impact upon those workers with less than a grade 12 education, as
they will find it difficult to find new employment or employment at a comparable wage if displaced.
Employers will be able to demand higher skill sets and levels of education for jobs that would have
required fewer qualifications/skills in the past. A weakened local labour market has underscored the need
for education, skill development and training for local citizens to (re)enter the labour force.
Employment across Canada and in Ontario in the last year (July '09-'10) has increased.
However, not all employment areas have increased. Canadian jobs have decreased in
Manufacturing (7,300), information and cultural industries (11,600), educational services
(9,500), and arts, entertainment, and recreation (5,300). Areas which increased Canada-wide
include construction (33,900), finance and insurance (24,700), professional, scientific, and
technical services (17,100), and health care and social services (32,200).
Employment in Selected
Occupations: Kitchener CMA
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Machine operators and assemblers in manufacturing, including supervisors
Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and utilities
Sales and service occupations
Business, finance and administrative occupations
Source: Waterloo Region Workforce Planning Board
Need for Staff with specific skills
Immigration is an increasingly important component of population growth in Canada, with over
200,000 immigrants arriving in Canada each year. According to a report from Statistics Canada,
immigrants were responsible for more than two-thirds (69%) of the population growth that
occurred between 2001 and 2006.
Results from the Census show low education-job match rates among internationally-educated
immigrants in 2006. In fact, among the 881,600 internationally-educated immigrants who
reported a postsecondary credential in a field of study that would normally lead to work in one of
the targeted occupations identified by the Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program at
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), only about one in five reported
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
working in the best corresponding occupation. This proportion increased to 41% when
considering occupations requiring similar or higher skill levels.
Source: "Characteristics and Labour Market Outcomes of Internationally-educated Immigrants", Statistics Canada
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-595-m/81-595-m2010084-eng.pdf
The Growth of Science and Technology
Our high tech sector is a strategic asset that increasingly defines a key attribute of our community. In
2006, Waterloo Region was rated the seventh best research community in Canada. Interestingly, despite
our strong university base, university research
was a smaller component of our success than in
Top 10 Research Communities,
our competitors, and corporate R&D formed a
2006*
larger part. More recently, the University of
Waterloo brought in over $650 million in
100
80
research grants between 2005 and 2009.
60
40
20
0
to
ria
n
ilt
o
Vi
c
at
..
Ha
m
on
to
n
Ed
m
.
ga
ry
r-W
he
ne
Ki
tc
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ty
Ca
l
ve
r
be
c
Q
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ea
u
nc
ou
in
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aG
at
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O
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on
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a
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nt
o
In 2009 Research in Motion, the country's
largest research and development investor
spent over $1.1 billion on that activity. In the
same year, Open Text spent another $133
million. These investments, and those of the rest
of the high-tech sector translate directly into
increased employment, demand for housing,
University Research Corporate R&D
and potentially increased use of our arts, culture,
* Score out of 100
Source: Re$earch Infosource Inc.
recreation, and sport resources. It should also
be noted that many in the high-tech community
will have high expectations for government services, both in quality and cost-effectiveness.
Although Waterloo continues to be the focus of this activity, a second hub is forming in the Kitchener
core. To continue our strong performance, we must ensure that the infrastructure needs of the research
and development community are anticipated and met.
It needs to be pointed out, however, that the growing emphasis on technology will inevitably leave behind
a proportion of the working age population with limited capacity to succeed in this environment.
Are we supporting arts and culture?
Municipal spending on culture in Ontario increased from $877M in 2003 to $1.1B in 2007. That's an
increase of 25% in just four years. A recent report by Environics Research Group says that 82% of the
Canadian public support government spending on arts and culture and 91% find arts facilities important
to community quality of life.
Closer to home, the percent of the local workforce employed in cultural industries has gone up and down
between 2000 and 2009, however in 2009 it was almost exactly the same as in the year 2000. During
that period, our cultural workforce hovered around 1.5% of total employment, while the provincial
average was around 2.2%. Between 2000 and 2005, the median earnings of full-time, full-year cultural
services employees in Waterloo Region declined in constant dollars from $42,700 to $40,500.
In 2009 and 2010 budgets the Region increased funding for arts and culture initiatives by $500,000. Of
this additional funding, $400,000 was allocated to Regionally supported arts and culture organizations
and $100,000 was to support the start-up of the “Creative Enabling Organization” – one of the key
recommendations of the “Creative Enterprise” initiative.
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People with disabilities in the workforce
More than half (56 per cent) of people with disabilities are in the workforce, either employed (48
per cent) or actively seeking work (eight per cent). But women with disabilities are at a particular
disadvantage vis-a-vis the labour market. Even with education levels comparable to those of
men, such women are not well represented in the labour force. The employment rate for women
with disabilities is 40.7 per cent, about two -thirds of the rate for non-disabled women and about
15 per cent less than for men with disabilities [Canada 1994].
Source: THE DISABILITY INCOME SYSTEM IN CANADA: OPTIONS FOR REFORM, Caledon
Institute, 2003
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Source: Projecting the Economic Impacts of Increased Accessibility in Ontario, Martin Prosperity Institute
Ontario Works caseload 35% higher
The year 2009 was challenging given the significant growth in the Ontario Works caseload and the
accompanying service demands. As of July 2010, the Ontario Works caseload was 35% higher than the
beginning of the recession (September 2008) and 23% higher than January 2009. The service demands
associated with the increased numbers and the changing profile of Ontario Works participants had a
significant impact on services.
Monthly Caseload
10,000
Caseload
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
Jul-10
May-10
Mar-10
Jan-10
Nov-09
Sep-09
Jul-09
May-09
Mar-09
Jan-09
Nov-08
Sep-08
Jul-08
May-08
Mar-08
Jan-08
5,000
Month
ODSP
OW
Our income rates have improved but not for everyone in our Region
Approximately 10.2 per cent of individuals and 11 per cent of families in Waterloo Region lived in low
income in 2006. The income gap between people in low income and people with higher incomes in
Waterloo Region is widening. Waterloo Region is well known for its strong technology sector and vibrant
economy; however, data indicates that there are a large number of people living with low income, and
that the income gap is continuing to widen significantly (Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo
Wellington Dufferin, 2010). In 2006, 10.2 per cent of individuals and 11 per cent of families in Waterloo
Region lived in low income (Region of Waterloo Public Health, 2010). In addition, the unemployment rate
in Waterloo Region transitioned from one of the lowest in Canada, to one of the highest between 2008
and 2009 (due in part to our high participation rate)(Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington
Dufferin, 2010). The unemployment rate has decreased significantly over the last few months.
Poverty disproportionately effects certain population groups
Poverty impacts certain populations such as children, single-parents, new immigrants, Aboriginals, and
persons with disabilities.
Incomes vary considerably between sexes across the region. Males over 15 had a median total income
of $38,436 while the median total income for females was $22,517, a difference of $15,919. After taxes,
the difference between median incomes of males and females was $12,210.
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Individuals between 18 and 24 years in private households are at the highest risk of falling below the lowincome cut-off (after tax). In Waterloo Region there are 6,715 people in that age bracket who are
considered low income, representing 13.8% of the population between 18 and 24 years.
As of 2005-2006, immigrant income for new (within 5 years) immigrants has been decreasing when
compared to the Canadian-born workforce and when compared to older immigrants. This is not just a
Waterloo Region problem new immigrant income has decreased throughout Canada.
Living in Poverty Can Mean the Difference Between Sickness and Health
The Low Income Cut Off (LICO) is a commonly used measure of low income produced by Statistics
Canada. It is a relative measure and reports the income level at which household needs for food,
clothing, and shelter will take, on average, a share of after-tax income that is 20 per cent higher than the
average family.
Table 1: Percentage of certain segments of the population in Waterloo Region living under the
after-tax LICO, 2005
Population
Percentage living under LICO
Overall population
7.5
Recent Immigrants (1996-2001)
33.5
Aboriginal households
23.8
Unattached person 15 years and older
21.8
Female-headed lone parent families
20.3
Children under 6
9.8
Male-headed lone parent families
7.7
Direct link between living in poverty and poor health
The link between living in poverty and poor health has been shown; in fact, there is conclusive evidence
that poverty is not just associated with poor health but is a primary cause of poor health among
Canadians. One of the key factors leading to low-income is the lack of a high-school education, and in
this area we fare only slightly better than the Ontario and National levels.
A study which compared neighbourhoods across Canada based on income found that for low income
neighbourhoods compared to high ones:
 Life expectancy is five years shorter for men and 1.6 years shorter for women
 Infant mortality rates are 61 per cent higher
 Low birth weight rates are 43 per cent higher.
Low birth weight is a very important measure of health status as it is consistently related to the
experience of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The same study
looked at differences in mortality due to chronic diseases between low- and high-income
neighbourhoods. For each of the chronic diseases studied, only cirrhosis in females and prostate and
breast cancer were higher in high-income neighbourhoods. For each of the other conditions, mortality
rates are higher in lower income neighbourhoods.
Canadian children living in poverty are more likely to develop a variety of illnesses, be injured, have
stunted growth, and experience developmental challenges. They are more likely to end up in the
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hospital, have mental health problems, do poorly in school, and leave school early. When children grow
up in poverty, they carry the effects with them into adulthood. They have a higher risk of health problems
throughout their lives, no matter what their circumstances later in life.
For Some People in Waterloo Region, a Nutritious Diet is Out of Reach
Having a low income does not cause food insecurity, however, food insecurity is far more likely to exist in
low-income households. Food insecurity means more than not having enough to eat. It can also include
worrying about having enough to eat, or not eating the desired quality or variety of food due to lack of
money. In 2010, the cost of the Nutritious Food Basket in Waterloo Region for a “reference family of four”
was $168.45 per week. Even with minimum wage increases and the recent elimination of the National
Child Benefit claw-back, some families living on low incomes still do not have enough income to cover
their most basic food needs.
In Ontario, food bank usage has increased by 15 per cent since 2001. In Waterloo Region, approximately
25,000 people use the food bank each year and almost 50 per cent of those are children.
Food Insecurity has broad ramifications
Healthy eating is a significant factor in reducing the risk of developing a variety of chronic conditions
including heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), osteoporosis,
anemia, dental decay and some bowel disorders. In Waterloo Region, one in five people in food insecure
households report their health as poor or fair (20.7%) compared to 9.3 per cent of residents from food
secure households.
School Success is impacted by food security
Children who live in food insecure households are more likely to have growth and development
problems, are more likely to be absent from school, and have difficulty concentrating and learning.
Poor nutrition impacts Poor Birth Outcomes
Poor nutrition during pregnancy affects health during infancy, in childhood and throughout the life cycle.
The nutritional status of pregnant women and the amount of weight gained are directly related to the
newborn‟s birth weight and health outcome. Low birth weight babies are at increased risk of mortality in
early infancy as well as physical and mental handicaps.
Waterloo Region Crime rates are lower than average
Police-reported crime in Canada continues to decline. Both the severity and the volume of crime
decreased in 2009, continuing the general decrease seen over the past decade. According to Statistics
Canada, the crime rate in Waterloo Region also has been dropping over the past ten years. The rate was
7,392 per 100,000 in 1998, by 2003 it was 6,266 per 100,000 and it dropped further to 5,174 per 100,000
in 2008." However, violent crime rate has risen slightly in recent years and in the previous year our
crime rate increased. It is not yet clear if this increase is a trend or a one year situation. This increase
was not unexpected though as given the changes in unemployment rate within Waterloo Region we
expect to see a slight and temporary increase in the property crimes. It is also important to note that all
of this data is based upon police reported crimes which is considered a significant undercount of actual
crimes.
Hate Crimes
Police-reported hate crimes in Waterloo Region increased by 182% between 2007 and 2008 (from 11 to
31). 52% were based on race/ethnicity and 48% on religion in 2008. Hate crimes based on religion
formed a significantly larger proportion of all hate crimes in Waterloo Region than in any of the other 10
largest communities in Canada. It is impossible to tell from the raw statistics whether this increase is a
one-time anomaly or part of a trend (hate crimes increased provincially and nationally as well, but not as
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
steeply). We also don't know whether reported hate crimes increased because of the number of crimes
or because residents feel safer reporting, but this is something we should be following.
Physicians (General/Family
Physicians and Specialists) per
100,000, 1998-2008
250
200
150
100
50
0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Waterloo Region
Ontario
Canada
Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information, Health Indicator Reports.
Improved health care services still needed in
Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region continues to fall well below the
number of general and specialist physicians for the
size of our community. In 2008 we had 72 general
and family physicians per 100,000 residents
compared to 86 for Ontario overall. We had 57
specialists per 100,000 residents compared to 92 for
Ontario – a significant difference. The rates for both
general and specialist physicians have held relatively
steady for a number of years. Two factors help to
explain our difficulty in closing the gap. First, we are
a rapidly growing community. Between 2001 and
2006 our population grew by 9% compared to 6.6%
for Ontario. This means that we have to
significantly increase the number of doctors we have just to keep up with our population growth.
The second factor is that we don't have a teaching hospital to attract and hold specialists. In the
next few years, the new medical school in Kitchener should help to partly close the gap in
general and family practitioners. The faculty members will increase the number of specialists as
well.
5. Human Services: Early Learning Challenges, Affordable
Housing Challenges
Access to Affordable Licensed Early Learning and Child Care Spaces is Limited
Early learning and child care which occurs in the infant, toddler and preschool years is the first stage in
lifelong learning and these early experiences shape the child for the rest of their life. There is a wealth of
research that now shows that children who take part in high quality early childhood education programs
will learn better in school: “Results from a number of studies demonstrate that child care quality matters.
In fact, the importance of child care quality is one of the most robust findings in developmental
psychology. Children who experience high-quality care have higher scores on achievement and
language tests, show better social skills and fewer behavioural problems [than children who experience
low-quality care].” ~McCartney, 2004, p. 2
The table below shows the percentage of Waterloo Region children with access to a licensed early
learning and child care space by age category.
Age Category
# of
Children1
# of Licensed Early Learning and
Child Care (LELCC) Spaces2
Percentage of Children with
Access to a LELCC Space
Birth to Five
34,795
6,059
17%
Six to Twelve
43,265
3,049
7%
Birth to Twelve
78,060
9,109
12%
1
Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
Centre Based Spaces: As of March 31, 2010. Home Based Spaces: Calculations based on the Region of
Waterloo Home Child Care caseload as of January 12, 2010. Wee Watch estimates are based on the
Region of Waterloo Home Child Care caseload as of January 12, 2010.
Subsidized child care need continues to grow
The number of subsidized spaces available to families in need of financial assistance continues to grow.
There has been a 1.4% net increase in centre based early learning and child care spaces from 2009 2010 (up to August 2010). Demand for fee subsidy exceeds funding in 2010. An average of 2,900
families were determined eligible for fee assistance with child care costs while the current funding allows
for 2,700 children per month.
Demand for Child Care Subsidy
Ju
ly
Au
gu
Se
st
pt
em
be
r
O
ct
ob
er
N
ov
em
be
D
r
ec
em
be
r
M
ay
Ju
ne
Ap
ril
2010
2009
2008
2007
Ja
nu
a
Fe ry
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
# Children
3100
3000
2900
2800
2700
2600
2500
2400
2300
2200
2100
2000
Months
Are our students prepared for a future that will demand high literacy skills?
Readiness to Learn
Just under 70% of our grade 6 students are at or above the standard in the Provincial reading test. Of
course this means that 30% are below the standard. This puts their future at risk. According to the
Ontario Ministry of Education, "Adult literacy is a serious issue in Ontario. The International Adult Literacy
and Skills Survey (2003) found that 16 per cent of adults in the province do not have basic literacy skills;
an additional 26 per cent would benefit from
literacy upgrading." 57% of adults in
% children without special needs who are
Waterloo Region (or almost 200,000
not ready for school based on the E.D.I.*
individuals) are functioning below Level 3,
instrument, 2007
which is generally considered to be the
35
“desired level” of competence for coping
30
with the increasing skill demands of the
25
emerging knowledge and information
20
economy. This percentage is higher than
15
the averages for Ontario and Canada,
10
however no data is available for
5
comparable communities.
0
In at least 1 area
W aterloo Region
In at least 3 areas
Canada
* The Early
Instrument (EDI) is a survey used to measure school
Document
#:Development
829684 v15
readiness in five fundamental learning areas
Source: Ontario Early Years Data Centre
27
DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
Literacy is linked to economic and social performance, both individually and for society as a whole.
Literacy levels determine the kind of jobs people find, the salaries they make and their ability to upgrade
their work skills and maintain employment. Many individuals with low literacy skills are underemployed,
and unemployment is three times more likely for adults in the lowest level of literacy than for the general
population. In Waterloo Region, approximately 20% of those collecting Employment Insurance and 40%
of social assistance recipients fall into the lowest level of literacy.
Higher literacy rates are also associated with improved levels of health and increased public and civic
participation.
The duration of residence in Canada does not appear to impact on the performance of immigrants on the
literacy survey, perhaps due to the higher education and skill requirements placed on more recent
immigrants. It is reasonable to assume that local literacy levels have remained the same since 1994 (i.e.
lower than the provincial and national averages) given that Federal and Provincial literacy budgets have
changed very little in recent years and no significant investment in literacy services has been made at the
local level.
Affordability of housing is becoming more of a factor for some in our Region
In Waterloo Region, 23% of households (owned or rented) spent 30% or more of their household
income on major household payments. Of these 40,820 households, half are rented and half are
owner-occupied (owned). The number of owner-occupied households who spent 30% or more of
their income on shelter costs rose by 33.7% from 2001 to 2006, while rented households spending
this amount increased by 7.3% over the same time period. People must have enough income to
sustain the minimum standards for rent, utilities, food, health, clothing, education, transportation and
recreation. As housing stability increases, the risk of homelessness decreases.
7% increase in emergency shelter bed nights
7% decrease in the number of people returning to shelters within one year
Significant increase in minimum wage, modest increase to OW and ODSP shelter rates
Increase in vacancy rate
Decrease in waiting list for Community Housing
Increase in the number of Community Housing units kept pace with population growth, private
market rent units lagging behind
Charities are reporting increased demands for their services and/or difficulty fulfilling
their mission (Report by Imagine Canada, 2010)
More than half of charities are reporting increased demands for their services and/or difficulty
fulfilling their mission. Compared to 2009, more charities are reporting that their existence is at
risk (29% vs. 22%) and/or increased demand (54% vs. 45%). On average, charities report that
revenues have dropped by 1.1% while expenditures have increased by 3.8%. Operating
charities report that the average number of paid staff has decreased by 4.4%
Compared to older adults in Ontario, older adults in Waterloo Region are younger, and, have less
formal education and similar health status.
By 2028, the proportion of older adults in Waterloo Region is projected to grow by 88.9 per cent from
112,164 to 211,911, or from 22.0 per cent to 30.8 per cent of the overall population. During this same
period the number of older adults in Ontario is expected to grow by 69.2 per cent, from 24.9 per cent to
33.3 per cent of the total population. These cities account for 87.1 per cent of the older adult population
in the Region.
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
One-quarter to one-half of Waterloo Region older adults have less than a high school certificate, diploma
or degree. In 2006, Waterloo Region had fewer older adults living with low income compared to Ontario
(3.1 per cent vs. 5.9 per cent).
Approximately 80 per cent of older adults in Waterloo Region rated their general health as good or very
good and 73.2 per cent rated their mental health as very good or excellent. With respect to mental
health, the highest rates of Emergency Department (ED) visits amongst older adults in 2008 were for
anxiety disorders and substance abuse disorders. Where cause of death was a mental health condition,
dementia and Alzheimer‟s Disease were most often the cause of death amongst older adults in Waterloo
Region. Influenza was the most common infectious disease among older adults and in 2007-08, 83.0
per cent of adults 65 years and older with a chronic condition and 69.3 per cent of adults the same age
without a chronic condition, had received an influenza vaccination in the previous year.
In terms of health and lifestyle behaviours, less than one-half of older adults in Waterloo Region ate the
recommended amount of vegetables and fruit per day in 2007-08. Furthermore, about two-thirds of them
were overweight or obese and 96.0 per cent of older adults lived in food secure households.
Approximately 15 per cent were current smokers. In 2007-08, 98.5 per cent of Waterloo Region older
adults reported having a regular medical doctor and 98.9 per cent reported consulting with a health
professional during the past year.
There are a range of housing options available to older adults in Waterloo Region, including community
housing, retirement homes, long-term care homes and recently opened supportive housing at Sunnyside
Home. In 2006, the majority of older adult households in Waterloo Region had access to a private
vehicle and a licensed driver and preferred motor vehicles as a mode of transportation.
Older adults tend to stay socially active as evidenced by the fact that in 2003 about one-half were
members of a voluntary organization, while almost 80 per cent volunteered on a monthly basis. Similarly,
in 2006, about 95 per cent reported providing unpaid house work, while about one-quarter provided
unpaid child care and almost 30 per cent provided unpaid care or assistance to other older adults.
Ontario has a disability rate that is higher than the national average
In 2006 4.4 million Canadians reported limitations in their everyday activities, indicating a national
disability rate of 14.3%. Ontario has a disability rate that is higher than the national average, with 15.5%
of residents reported activity limitations. The rate of disability in Ontario increases as people age. While
3.7% of children under 15 years of age and 12.6% of adults aged 15-64 report limitations in daily
activities, 47.2% of seniors aged 65 years and older report limitations in daily activities. More than half
(56.3%) of people aged 75 years and older reported having an activity limitation.
Rate of disability in Ontario increases by age
The type of disability experienced by people will change with age. The three most common disabilities
experienced by children under 15 years of age are chronic, learning, and speech, while the three most
common disabilities experienced by adults 15 years of age and older are pain, mobility, and agility.
Decreases in saving for retirement
Statistics Canada reports on "savers" – individuals who earn interest income from Canada Savings
Bonds, term deposits, bank accounts, treasury bills, investment certificates, earnings from life insurance
policies, as well as foreign interest and dividend income. With deficit and debt pressure on senior levels
of government, residents who do not prepare for retirement in advance, or who need to add to their
employment income are likely to increase.
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
The median income from interest for all savers in the Kitchener CMA was $310 in 2008, down from $320
in 2007. The percentage of income from interest on investments for residents age 65 and older was 52%
in 2007 and 54% in 2008.
6. Infrastructure: to meet current needs and future growth:
Growing Transit Use, Mounting Road Pressure,
Quality of life is directly impacted by the quality of our infrastructure, including roads, airport, public
transit, water supply, waste water treatment and solid waste management. Sustainable infrastructure
needs to be maintained, renewed, replaced and expanded for new growth in order to maintain this
quality of life. Other infrastructure owned by the Region (e.g. Regional buildings, housing, child care
centers, etc.) also needs to be adequately maintained, replaced and expanded in a timely manner. The
Region of Waterloo will work with all orders of government and our community partners to plan, improve
and enhance infrastructure, find sufficient resources and include environmental considerations
throughout infrastructure development and implementation.
Transit service in the Region of Waterloo had not kept pace with urban growth
Since completion of the last Transportation Master Plan in 1999, annual transit ridership has increased
from 9.5 million rides in 2000 to 16.5 million rides in
2009; a 74% increase or 6.3% growth annually.
% Workers Using Public Transit,
Transit ridership growth over this period has
2001, 2006
outpaced population growth significantly, with Region
14
of Waterloo population increasing by 1.85% per year
12
between 2000 and 2009. The 2006 Census indicated
10
that 4.8% of residents used public transit to get to
8
work which is up from 3.9% in 2001.
6
4
Growing congestion on the road network
If the Region continues to address growing
0
congestion through road expansion projects only,
2001
2006
forecasts of future travel demands in 2031 suggest
Waterloo Region
Ontario
that the transportation network would need to be
expanded by about 25% to ensure all roadways are
operating at no more than 100% of their capacity. This represents close to 500 new lane-kilometres of
road widening within the urban areas of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. To put this into context, the
six-lane section of Hespeler Road between Highway 401 and Munch Ave currently represents about 20
lane-kilometres of road. To add 500 new lane-kilometres to the Regional Road network is the equivalent
of building 25 new Hespeler Roads.
2
Source: Statistics Canada Community Profiles, 2001 and 2006
By 2031, a total of 84 new lanes of capacity would be required across these key screenlines address
future growth. This is on top of the 16 lanes of capacity that have been added in the past few years
through completion of projects such as Ira Needles Boulevard, Fischer Hallman Road and Highland
Road. This additional level of new road construction would have significant impacts on stable
neighbourhoods and the community as a whole
The limited inter-regional transit service into Waterloo Region
Represents a transportation network deficiency that limits transportation choices and opportunities for
many longer distance travelers to / from the Region. Presently, rail passenger service is limited to three
VIA trains per day connecting Kitchener to the GTA. Both GO Transit and VIA Rail have been
undertaking studies in preparation for increasing service in this corridor. The Region has also completed
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
a study indicating the feasibility of extending GO Transit rail service from Milton to Cambridge. GO
Transit has introduced bus service to Mississauga and Greyhound provides service to Toronto.
Need to continue to fund active transportation infrastructure
The 2006 Census indicated that approximately 43% of residents in the Kitchener Census Metropolitan
Area live less than 5 kilometres from their place of employment. This provides a significant market
opportunity for active forms of transportation including public transit, cycling and walking. According to
Statistics Canada, cycling increased by 45% between 2001 and 2006.
Driving most common mode of transportation to work
Across the Region, commuting as the driver of a vehicle was the most common mode of transportation
used in getting to work in 2006. Although the absolute number of people driving to work in a car, truck or
van has increased over five years, more sustainable modes of transportation have seen a notable rate of
growth. More sustainable modes of transportation accounted for 12% of the modal split in 2006, up from
10% in 2001. Driving to work in a vehicle was the only mode of transportation that had a decrease from
2001 to 2006 in terms of its percentage share of the modal split.
Data from the 2006 Census indicates that at least 80% of the employed labour force living in Waterloo
Region also works in the Region. Furthermore, at least 50% work in the same municipality as they
reside. The City of Guelph is the most frequent destination for workers traveling from Waterloo Region,
attracting almost three times the number of Regional commuters as the next most common destination,
as well as being the primary city where commuters working in Waterloo Region live. After the City of
Guelph, the areas to the east of Waterloo Region such as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are the most
common workplace destinations for commuters
coming from the Region while commuters coming to
Average income by commuter type,
the Region for employment originate primarily from
2006
areas in the south such as Hamilton, Brant and
Brantford.
60,000
50,000
Transit must become a sought-out option for more
than those who can't afford a car. Currently much of
the ridership consists of students and other lowincome travelers.
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Although the Greater Toronto Area does attract a
significant number of employees who commute from
Waterloo Region, large increases have been seen in
the percentage of people who live in the GTA and
are commuting to Waterloo for work. Residents of the GTA traveling to jobs in Waterloo Region
increased 59% from the number of commuters traveling the same way in 2001.
Waterloo Region
Car, truck, van, as driver
Public transit
Bicycle
Taxicab
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Canada
QLRS
Car, truck, van, as passenger
Walked
Motorcycle
Other method
31
DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
7. Service Excellence: Addressing the Challenges of
Accountability, Accessibility, and Participation
Public expectations are increasing
Research indicates that service quality scores in all levels of government are increasing but this does not
mean that the public sector can relax its efforts to improve. Citizens' expectations are increasing and
they demanding a higher level of customer service. The bar has been raised in terms of customer
satisfaction – being satisfied is no longer good enough. Because service is critical in shaping the public‟s
confidence in government, it is vital that the focus on service increase, not diminish. The challenge for
the public sector is bigger now than ever before and even more complex in a two tier system. Changing
demographics of customers - in terms of growth of demand and the changing nature of demand, e.g.,
language diversity are also other factors impacting the need to prioritize and improve service, as is new
legislation regarding access for people with disabilities.
Research is showing that the broader public is demanding a higher level of customer service each year
and the citizens of Waterloo Region are not different from those Canadians surveyed. They too are
looking for a higher level of customer service from our employees. This may even be more difficult for
the Region as a survey conducted by the ICCS also revealed that: “44% stated that governments have a
more difficult task than the private sector – as they must protect the public interest as well as meet the
needs of citizens” and 62% (Ontario) stated they felt they should receive a higher level of service from
government than they do from the private sector.” Latest research (2005) shows that government
services show a steady improvement and that some public sector services out perform similar private
sector services.
Citizen engagement is decreasing
The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in the 2006 municipal elections was 26.58%.
Volunteer rates and donations are decreasing
Median family income in Waterloo Region, at $74,000 in 2006, was 7% higher than the Provincial
median, yet the median charitable donation for tax-filers who claimed donations was the same as the
Ontario median, at $300. The proportion of Waterloo Region tax-filers who claim donations decreased
from 31.2% to 27.8% from 1997 to 2008, although it is still higher than the Provincial and National rates.
Total donations by Waterloo Region residents decreased from a high of $167M in 2006 to $146M in
2008 – a decrease of 12.6% in two years.
We are not making up for our diminishing donations with increased volunteer time, either. Our volunteer
rate decreased from 45% of adults to 41% of adults between 2004 and 2007 – a rate that is significantly
lower than either the Provincial or National rates.
Rapid changes in public and volunteer expectations
Volunteers play an integral role in the delivery of services and programs on behalf of the Region.
Volunteer involvement in programs and services adds to the quality of life of all citizens and strengthens
our communities. Volunteer programs at the Region provide a chance for citizens to become involved in
their communities. In turn, volunteers provide an important link to our community by promoting and
supporting Regional programs and services. Recent government initiatives requiring police checks for
any volunteer who works with the public, and for the fingerprinting of those whose birth dates coincide
with known offenders may impact significantly on the willingness of many volunteers to continue their
service to the community.
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DRAFT Waterloo Region Profile - 2010
Access to Government Information
69% of Canadians think that “knowing where to start” is the biggest challenge in getting
government services.
Systems to support effective service e.g., web sites have significant potential for providing easy
access to information. (However, currently 20% of households lack Internet access from home.)
Citizens use of government websites is up, mirroring overall increase in Internet use. The
highest reason for visiting a government website is “to get information.”
54% of citizens use other ways (besides websites) to obtain information from government:
o 41% called on the phone
o 22% went to a government office
o 15 received information by mail or fax.
o 14% visited other government sites
o 11% used email
o 2% used other means.
In 2007, Ekos Research surveyed individuals about their channels for service delivery. The
research indicated that the telephone was still the most popular channel; however, the research
also indicated that it is the telephone channel that most people have encountered problems with.
Web site visits (to the Region‟s website) per 100,000 population is decreasing for the Region of
Waterloo‟s website. It was 3.3 hits/capita in 2004 and decreased to 2.7 hits per capita in 2006.
Waterloo Region residents reported that newsletters are the most preferred source of
communication (OMNIBUS) followed by direct mailings, the local daily paper, the Region‟s
website, and television. Less interest was given to email, local weekly paper and radio.
People with disabilities rate access at 57 out of 100 compared to non-disabled citizens at 65
Citizen Engagement at Council
The number of open and closed Council and Committee meetings remained fairly steady from
2007 to 2009. In 2009, however, the
number of delegations, both to Council
and the P&W Committee spiked. In
Access to Council and Committees
2009, there were a significant number
of delegations regarding the Regional
250
Official Plan. This is a good indication
200
that the public is engaged in planning
150
for the future of the Region.
100
50
0
# Closed
Council
Meetings
# Open
Council
Meetings
#
# Closed
# Open
#
Delegations Committee Committee Delegations
to Council Meetings
Meetings
to
Committee
2007
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2008
2009
33