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Canada's Oil Capital, Calgary is Canada's fastest growing major city with the country's second largest concentration of corporate headquarters. Calgary is also a service centre for surrounding agricultural communities, has a growing high tech sector, and is a tourism destination. Politically, Conservatives represent 18 of Calgary’s 23 ridings at the provincial level, and 100 per cent of Alberta’s federal ridings.
Approximately 12% of employed Calgarians over the age of 15 made less than $12 per hour during the last six months of 2007.
Calgary is a prosperous city experiencing rapid growth, but there is a great discrepancy in the distribution of wealth. According to 2004 Census figures, the lowest 20 per cent of income earners made an average of $13,100 a year while the top 20 per cent made an average of $152,800. In 2004, approximately 127,000 Calgarians (13.4 per cent) lived in low income households, according to Statistics Canada. Over 15 per cent of Calgary children lived in poverty in 2004, a significant increase from the rate of 11 per cent in 2000. According to the Calgary Health Region, in 2003, 19 per cent of Calgary parents with children age 2-9 and 16 per cent of parents with children age 10-17 did not have enough money to buy food for their family all the time.
Click here to view the most recent VCC Poverty Fact Sheet.
The rising cost of living is also starting to take its toll on Calgarians. According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2007 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, Calgary now ranks 92nd of the world’s top 100 most expensive cities to live – up 6 spots from 98th in the 2005 rankings. According to a 2008 Statistics Canada survey, household spending in Alberta surpasses all other provinces. Albertans report the highest average spending on health care at $2,440, and communications at $1,900. Households also report spending an average of $12,160 on transportation, up 19% from the previous year.
Click here to view the most recent VCC Cost of Living Fact Sheet.
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