Prevalence of Low Income
We measure progress towards long-term outcomes by tracking key indicators for the Peel community.
Why is this important?
- Low income residents have difficulty meeting their basic needs, which can affect their health and well-being.1
How is this measured?
- We use tax-filer data from Statistics Canada to measure the percentage of people in Peel that fall below the After-Tax Low Income Measure.
- The After-Tax Low Income Measure is a complex formula that adjusts for factors like household income, number of people in the household, etc.
What progress are we making?
- In 2016, 19% of Peel residents were considered low income as per the After Tax Low Income Measure. This has decreased from 19.9% in 2015.The rate for Peel has been similar to Ontario overall. The Ontario rate decreased to 17% in 2016 from 17.7% in 2015.
- The Reduce Poverty Term of Council Priority implemented strategies to increase income especially for Peel residents who have the lowest income.
- The Region of Peel will help our low-income populations by providing access to the services and supports they need to achieve positive health and social outcomes.
Statistics Canada has updated the Census Family Low Income Measure methodology. Data has been updated to reflect these changes and has been applied back to 2010.
1 Reference: McIntosh CN, Fines P, Wilkins R, Wolfson MC. Income disparities in health-adjusted life expectancy for Canadian adults, 1991 to 2001. Health Rep. 2009 Dec;20(4):55-64.
