Minister of Rural Economic Development Transition Book (October 2019)
Long text descriptions of graphs

Figure 1: Overview placement

Placemat: Overview of Rural Economic Development. The Minister for Rural Economic Development is supported by the Centre for Rural Economic Development, based at Infrastructure Canada. The Minister leads a whole of government approach to: ensure a “rural lens” in federal policymaking, engage provinces and territories to leverage support at all levels, ensure rural communities can access federal support, support evidence-based decision making at all levels, and set benchmarks for success in rural Canada. Rural challenges and priorities include high-speed connectivity, skills development, resilient infrastructure, attracting newcomers, inter-community transportation, and affordable housing. Key federal partners identified include the Regional Development Agencies, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Employment and Social Development Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Transport Canada, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Other delivery partners include municipal associations, and academic, Indigenous, and non-profit organizations.

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Figure 2: What we Heard diagram

This infographic provides an overview of what was heard during cross-Canada consultations to foster economic development in rural Canada. Suggestions for the federal government’s role were for policies and programs to take into account rural realities, working together with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous governments, breaking down silos between departments and agencies, and a whole community approach for rural economic development. The top identified issue was broadband and connectivity – critical for business, education, access to services, and safety. Other key areas were housing, infrastructure, access to services, supporting businesses and entrepreneurship, attracting and retaining talent, transportation, energy and food security.

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Figure 3: Urbanization in Canada (1851-2016)

Year

Percent of Population in Rural Areas

Percent of Population in Urban Areas

1851

87

13

1861

84

16

1871

81

19

1881

75

25

1891

69

31

1901

63

37

1911

55

45

1921

51

49

1931

46

54

1941

46

54

1951

38

62

1961

30

70

1971

24

76

1981

24

76

1991

23

77

2001

20

80

2011

19

81

2016

18.7

81.3

Source: Statistics Canada. Census of Population 2016

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Figure 4: Population Pyramid: Rural and Urban Canada (2016)

Age Groups

 Urban Population

 Rural Population

0 to 4 years

1,321,895

578,130

10 to 14 years

1,339,235

584,970

100 years and over

5,630

2,600

15 to 19 years

1,427,995

599,695

20 to 24 years

1,663,020

581,005

25 to 29 years

1,703,760

583,630

30 to 34 years

1,718,705

612,225

35 to 39 years

1,675,625

614,350

40 to 44 years

1,644,110

612,885

45 to 49 years

1,703,275

658,795

5 to 9 years

1,402,120

617,475

50 to 54 years

1,857,060

823,180

55 to 59 years

1,744,845

877,620

60 to 64 years

1,477,210

815,245

65 to 69 years

1,257,500

716,780

70 to 74 years

902,660

519,545

75 to 79 years

660,160

362,680

80 to 84 years

493,155

257,190

85 to 89 years

321,600

161,300

90 to 94 years

150,030

73,645

95 to 99 years

37,860

18,700

Source: Statistics Canada. Census of Population 2016

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Figure 5: Share of National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in non-Census Metropolitan Areas

Year

Percentage of Gross Domestic Product in non-Census Metropolitan Areas

2001

28.4

2002

27.7

2003

28.5

2004

28.8

2005

30.2

2006

29.7

2007

30.1

2008

30.5

2009

27.8

2010

28

2011

28.9

2012

28.4

2013

28.6

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0423-01 (for years 2001 to 2009), Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0468-01 (for years 2010 to 2013)

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Figure 6: Gross Domestic Product growth by select industry (chained 2012 dollars) (2013 to 2017)

Sector

Percentage Growth

Finance and insurance

15.7

Real estate and rental and leasing

11.8

Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction

10.5

Manufacturing

8.2

Professional, scientific and technical services

7.8

Construction

0.0

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

-0.2

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0434-03 GDP at basic prices, by industry, annual average (for years 2013 to 2017)

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Figure 7: Unemployment rate by province and rural/urban, 2018

Province/Territory

Percentage unemployed in rural areas

Percentage unemployed in urban areas

Newfoundland and Labrador

23

9

Prince Edward Island

13

   7*

Nova Scotia

7*

7

New Brunswick

11

6

Quebec

6*

5

Ontario

5*

4

Manitoba

5*

6

Saskatchewan

4*

6

Alberta

5*

6

British Columbia

5*

4

Yukon

N/A

N/A

Northwest Territories

N/A

N/A

Nunavut

N/A

N/A

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0106-01

Notes: All figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number

*Contains data in at least one sub-category suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. e.g.: PEI's urban unemployed figure for individuals aged 65 year and above was indicated as 'x' due to this reason.

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Figure 8: Share of total employment by sector, 2018

Sector

Percentage in urban areas

Percentage in rural areas

Goods producing sector

19.1

32.9

Services producing sector

80.9

67.1

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0106-01

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Figure 9: Highest Level of Educational Attainment in Canada, 2016

Level of education

Percentage attained in rural areas

Percentage attained in urban areas

No certificate

26

16

Secondary

26

26.5

Trades

14

9

College

19

18

Some university

2.5

2.6

Bachelor and above

11

25

Sources: Canada Council on Learning (2006), The Rural Urban Gap in Education; Moazzami, B., (2012), Survey of Multinational and Multi-Locational Firms in Northern Ontario; Statistics Canada, Census of Population (2016). 

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Figure 10: Life satisfaction score (out of 10)

Area of residence

Life satisfaction score (out of 10)

Rural Newfoundland

8.3

Rural Quebec

8.2

Rural Ontario

8.2

Rural Alberta

8.1

Rural British Columbia

8.1

Halifax

8.1

Edmonton

8.1

Calgary

8.1

Montreal

8.1

Toronto

8.0

Vancouver

7.9

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2016

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Figure 11: Home ownership rates, 2016

City

Percentage home ownership rates

Oshawa

78

Rural (nationally)

78

Calgary

73

Edmonton

70

Toronto

67

Vancouver

64

Halifax

60

Montreal

56

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016

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Figure 12: Download speed availability in megabits per second, urban versus rural (percentage of homes)

Download speed in megabits per second (mbps)

Percentage of urban homes with availability

Percentage of rural homes with availability

Projected percentage of rural homes that would have access by the end of 2017

1.5 mbps

100

93

 

5 mbps

100

87

 

10 mbps

100

75

 

25 mbps

100

60

 

50 mbps

98

41

54

100 mbps

98

37

 

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Figure 13: Ownership of infrastructure by asset type, 2016

Asset type

Percentage owned by provinces, territories and regions

Percentage owned by urban municipalities

Percentage owned by rural municipalities

Solid waste sites

22

28

50

Potable water sites

16

39

45

Wastewater sites

9

53

38

Roads

32

32

36

Tunnels

40

30

30

Storm water pipes

3

70

27

Culture, recreation and sport facilities

2

75

23

Potable water pipes

10

67

23

Bridges

56

25

19

Wastewater pipes

12

70

18

Storm water sites

13

80

7

Social housing

77

20

3

Public transit rolling stock

16

83

1

Source: Statistics Canada, Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey, 2016

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Figure 14: Share of new assets built in 2016 by asset type

Asset Owner Type

Percentage of new roads built

Percentage of new bridges built

Percentage of new tunnels built

Provinces, territories and regions

16%

33

37

Urban municipalities

25%

11

14

Rural municipalities

59%

57

49

Source: Statistics Canada, Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey, 2016

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Figure 15 – Prevalence of asset management plans by owner type

Asset owner

Percentage with Asset Management Plans

Provinces, territories and regions

27.3

Urban municipalities

48.5

Rural municipalities

46.6

Source: Statistics Canada, Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey, 2016

Return to Figure 15.

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