Analysis series Income of Canadian families

Provinces and territories

Biggest gains in median income in Alberta and Saskatchewan
Family income most unequally distributed in Nunavut
Share of income from government sources down in most provinces and territories

Biggest gains in median income in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Families in Alberta and Saskatchewan experienced the largest increases in median total income between 1990 and 2000 after adjusting for inflation, according to the census.

The largest gain among the provinces occurred in Alberta where median family income surpassed the $60,000-mark. Alberta joined Ontario, the Yukon and Northwest Territories as the only provinces or territories with before-tax median family incomes higher than $60,000.

In addition, Ontario and Alberta were the only provinces in which family incomes were above the national median of $55,016.

In Alberta, the median increased 7.1%, from $56,140 to $60,142, which was the biggest gain in the nation. That is, half of families had incomes higher, and half lower. In Saskatchewan, it rose 5.0% to $49,264.

Median family income was highest in the Northwest Territories, at $69,046, a decrease of 1.2%. The Yukon followed with a median of $63,490, and Ontario was in third place at $60,142.

Median family income failed to keep pace with rising prices during the 1990s in three provinces and two territories: Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

The median in Newfoundland and Labrador declined 3.7% during the decade from $42,792 to $41,214, the lowest level in the country. It fell 2.2% in British Columbia, 1.9% in Nova Scotia and 1.6% in the Yukon.

Inflation-adjusted family incomes have been virtually stable during the past decade in Ontario and Quebec.

Census families' median income, Canada, provinces and territories, 1990 and 2000

Family income most unequally distributed in Nunavut

To provide an overview of how incomes varied between the top and bottom of the income distribution, families in each province and territory were sorted into 10 groups based on their income levels. The average income of the 10% of families with the highest incomes was then compared to the average for the 10% with the lowest incomes.

In Nunavut, the lowest 10% had an average income of $6,100, while those in the highest 10% had an average of $151,400. This meant that for every $1 in income of the bottom 10% of families in Nunavut, the top 10% had $24.70. The average income of the bottom 10% in Nunavut was the lowest in the country.

Among the ten provinces, Ontario and British Columbia had the most unequal distribution of family income. In these provinces, the highest 10% of families received just under $20 for every $1 in families in the lowest 10%.

Family income was distributed most equally in Prince Edward Island. Families in the lowest 10% had an average income of $11,600, while those in the highest 10% had an average of $134,300.

Consequently, for every $1 in income of the bottom 10% of families in Prince Edward Island, the top 10% had $11.50.

Average income of census families in the lowest and highest income deciles, Canada, provinces and territories, 2000

Share of income from government sources down in most provinces and territories

The proportion of working-age family income that comes from government transfer payments declined substantially in almost every province and territory during the 1990s. (Working-age families are those in which the oldest member is aged 18 to 64). The exceptions were Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Government transfer payments range from provincial welfare payments to old-age pensions, employment insurance benefits, child tax benefits and Goods and Services Tax credits, among others.

Working-age families in Newfoundland and Labrador received $7,500 on average in government transfer payments in 2000. These payments together accounted for $14.30 of every $100 in family income before-tax in Newfoundland, the highest proportion in the country.

The only regions in addition to Newfoundland and Labrador where the government transfer proportion of income exceeded $10 in every $100 of income were Nunavut ($12.10) and Prince Edward Island ($11.10)

On average, such families in Ontario and Alberta received the lowest government transfer payments in 2000, both in terms of amounts and as a proportion of family income. In both provinces, government transfers accounted for less than $5 of every $100 in family income. Amounts received were under $3,400.

Nationally, government transfers accounted for $5.60 in every $100 in income among working-age families.

The average value and share of government transfers in the income of working-age census families, Canada, provinces and territories, 2000