2007 National Vital Signs Report
Our Nation’s Vital Signs: What Are They Telling Us?
"The First Nations population is the fastest growing and youngest population in Canada, with more than 50% under 23 years of age. Yet, as recognized in the Vital Signs Report, more than half of First Nations people have not graduated from high school and/or are unemployed. As a result, one in four First Nations children live in poverty. Community infrastructures are underfunded and subject to a 2% cap on annual budget growth by the federal government. In housing alone, the picture is dismal and expected to worsen: one in three First Nations report that their home is in need of major repairs, 44% report mould or mildew, and close to one in five live in overcrowded conditions." » More
Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
On the surface, Canada’s Vital Signs look healthy. Unemployment is at its lowest in a generation, Canadians are better educated than they used to be, median family income is advancing, and property crime is down.
But just below the surface is a different story. Canada’s Vital Signs also show we’re a country of growing disparity. Between rich and poor. Between those who have opportunity and those who have not.
More than 20% of our population still lives in poverty1. Aboriginal poverty remains at unacceptable levels. New immigrants are twice as likely as other Canadians to experience poverty, despite bringing more credentials than ever to this country. And as the gap between rich and poor widens, homeownership is becoming an impossible dream for many Canadians.
On the environmental front, the picture is not encouraging. Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. We are one of the biggest per capita producers of carbon dioxide in the world.
"Those who don’t know their history are condemned to remain children. The same can be said for understanding what is happening in our own society today. What is really happening? Emotion and opinion can’t solve problems. They can help you once you understand. I read this report as a mechanism for action." » More
John Ralston Saul, Writer and Co-Chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship
As a nation, we are at a crossroads. Canada has an opportunity to be a world leader in multiculturalism, in social justice, and in environmental responsibility. We have the resources and the skills to do so. Do we have the collective will? Can we be a model for other nations without first improving the lives of our own citizens?
Community foundations across Canada are searching for ways to come to grips with these questions in partnership with our communities. We made grants of $137 million in 2006 to charitable organizations working in every field of interest. Now, by taking the pulse of our communities through Vital Signs, we are highlighting both the assets and the warning signs that will help guide decision-making and planning in local communities. At the national level, Community Foundations of Canada is doing the same.
This report exists, first and foremost, to stimulate discussion, debate and action. We hope it will serve as a wake-up call to individuals, communities, and our nation, reminding us that our prosperity must be shared. And we must work together to find ways to do better for all Canadians.
 Monica Patten President and CEO Community Foundations of Canada |
 Vincenza Travale Chair, Board of Directors Community Foundations of Canada |
