A study from l'Université de Montréal's business school HEC Montréal has concluded that the income gap is widening between Quebec and wealthier parts of Canada – and that Quebec could be the poorest province in the country within a decade.
The research conducted by HEC's Centre for Productivity and Prosperity found that between 1978 and 2009 net average household income gains in all other provinces outstripped Quebec's gains.
In 2009, the last year the study looked at, the average resident of Newfoundland and Labrador – traditionally Canada's poorest province – earned just $3,127 less than the average Quebecer, while an Albertan averaged $17,947 more than someone living in Quebec.
"I'm not really surprised...Albertans are earning more than Quebecers. This is something we expected," said the study's author, HEC professor Martin Coiteux. "What is more worrisome is the trend."
If that trend continues, Coiteux said, "within ten years, Quebec would be the poorest province in Canada."
Living costs going up
Quebecers already pay the highest provincial taxes in the country, but they have generally consoled themselves with the belief the cost-of-living is lower in the province.
Coiteux said that is still true, but costs for necessities such as food and housing are increasing faster in Quebec than elsewhere.
"This advantage is about to disappear," Coiteux said.
Even with the lower cost of living in Quebec, Quebecers had, on average, $2,891 less to spend than Albertans in 2005. By 2009, Coiteux found that gap had ballooned to $13,352.
Coiteux said fiscal arrangements to redistribute wealth cushion the impact of Quebecers' lower earnings. Because Quebecers take home less money, they pay less in federal taxes and receive more by way of transfer payments from Ottawa.
Study finds productivity is key
Quebec's relative poverty can be blamed fundamentally on its lagging labour productivity, Coiteux said.
Quebecers' rate of participation in the workforce is lower than in other provinces, and people in the province work fewer hours per week, earn less per hour worked – and retire earlier, too.
"It's not that people are not working hard," Coiteux noted. "We are occupying positions that are not paying a lot of money – on average – compared to the richest provinces. And that shows a problem with the qualifications of the labour force."
The challenge, Coiteux added, is "adapting our young people, especially, in terms of their skills, to the kinds of jobs that are paying a high income."
Related on HuffPost:
Highlights Of The 2011 Census
Here are some highlights from the 2011 Canadian Census.
With files from <em>The Canadian Press</em>. (AFP/Getty Images)
33,476,688 People
As of May 2011, 33,476,688 people were enumerated in Canada, nearly twice as many as in 1961 and 10 times the number in 1861. (Alamy)
Population Growth Speeds Up
Canada's population grew by 5.9 per cent between 2006 and 2011, up slightly from 5.4 per cent during the previous five years. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtbradford/" target="_hplink">Flickr: jtbradford</a>)
Go West
For the first time, more people in Canada live west of Ontario (30.7 per cent) than in Quebec and Atlantic Canada combined (30.6 per cent). (Flickr: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekgavey/" target="_hplink">derekGavey</a>)
We're Number One
Canada's population growth between 2006 and 2011 was the highest among G8 countries. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33498942@N04/" target="_hplink">Flickr: WarmSleepy</a>)
Exceptions To The Rule
Every province and most territories saw their population increase between 2006 and 2011; the rate of growth increased everywhere except in Ontario, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. (AP)
Ontario Falters
The growth rate in Ontario declined to 5.7 per cent, its lowest level since the early 1980s. (Alamy)
Saskatchewan Out Of The Red
Population growth in Saskatchewan hit 6.7 per cent, compared with a negative growth rate of 1.1 per cent between 2001 and 2006; the province welcomed more than 28,000 immigrants during the latest census period, nearly three times the number of the previous five-year period. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justaprairieboy/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Just a Prairie Boy</a>)
Yukon And Manitoba Take Off
The rate of growth in both Yukon (11.6 per cent) and Manitoba (5.2 per cent) has doubled since 2006. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/us_mission_canada/" target="_hplink">Flickr: US Mission Canada</a>)
The East Is Growing Too
The rate of growth in Prince Edward Island (3.2 per cent), New Brunswick (2.9 per cent) and Newfoundland and Labrador (1.8 per cent) has increased substantially between 2006 and 2011. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jw1697/" target="_hplink">Flickr JaimeW</a>)
Cities Rule..
Nearly seven of every 10 Canadians lived in one of Canada's 33 main urban centres in 2011. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markwoodbury" target="_hplink">Flickr mark.woodbury</a>)
.. Except Not In Ontario..
The rate of population growth in almost all census metropolitan areas located in Ontario slowed between 2006 and 2011. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/husseinabdallah/" target="_hplink">Flickr abdallahh</a>)
Maybe Because Everyone Moved To Alberta
Of the 15 Canadian communities with the highest rates of growth, 10 were located in Alberta. (AFP/Getty Images)
A study from l'Université de Montréal's business school HEC Montréal has concluded that the income gap is widening between Quebec and wealthier parts of Canada – and that Quebec coul...
A study from l'Université de Montréal's business school HEC Montréal has concluded that the income gap is widening between Quebec and wealthier parts of Canada – and that Quebec coul...
To the Moderator: I'm finding it impossible to log onto or even find Tony Kondaks HP article re: Will Huff Post help end Quebec Aparthied.. there are more than 100 comments and I have replies I need to make - from comments I posted. Please help.
CC: being put into correspondence to Arianna and HP US. Thanks Oh also posted on Facebook.
DidiM: To the Moderator: I'm finding it impossible to log onto
Please - let's say it as it is, because everyone knows and has known for years Quebec is the poorest Province in the country and the REASON is: The illegally enacted - illegal language laws - that have been FORCED upon the English speaking population of the Province - AGAINST our will! And the same outrageous 'langue loi's' have driven investment out of the Province faster than ever recorded in our economical history! Before the language loi's - QC was the Richest province and today - it's the poorest and the worst place to live bar none! Imagine - it has boot stomping language police for God's sake and they have been given total immunity from prosecution (as I believe has every other public servant in the Province - all illegal of course). So they're free to terrorize every business in the Greater Montreal Area. Notwithstanding no one knows what they've been doing with our tax dollars all these years.
DidiM: Please - let's say it as it is, because everyone
LOL, good one. Mind you compared to the Fraser Institute that we pay for - it took them close to 40 years to announce - last week that the WORST treated Minority in Canada is the English speaking population in Quebec!! I wonder what woke them up out of their long sleep - hmmm maybe the Conservatives telling them to freaking shape up or ship out? I sure hope so.
DidiM: LOL, good one. Mind you compared to the Fraser Institute
If Kebec is now the poorest province in Canada, they can eat Joual (French patois) and drink Pepsi, after which they can have an enema of POUTINE. THAT should solve all their outstanding problems immedistely!
Kenneth_T_Tellis: If Kebec is now the poorest province in Canada, they
You seemingly ?? forget the 2.5 Million English speaking and French Quebec Federalists that have voted repeatedly they do NOT want separation. It is NOT Quebeckers that want or have EVER wanted this lunacy. It IS and HAS BEEN the small bunch of -Good Cop - Bad Cop - Politicians that have (until the net and social media took off and allowed our voices to finally be heard) had FULL Control of ALL Media - including Canada's Main Stream Media - that has been "marketing - the "What Quebecois Wants" lunacy to the rest of the country!!
Just to let you know - we here in Quebeck - desperately - want these yahoos - and bigots - WEANED OUT of Our Canadian Owned Province of Quebec. Remember - it belongs to ALL Canadians - and YOU should and Must have the right to live and work here in English or French - because the population warrants it. So please do NOT allow these -politicians to STEAL Your Property and Your Rights Any longer! Thanks :):)
DidiM: You seemingly ?? forget the 2.5 Million English speaking and
Hmmm. Let's disect: European entitlement style policies, language laws pushing businesses out, 50% of people want to seperate, refusal to develop other revenue streams i.e. oil/gas resources, work less hours, retire earlier: but on top of this, still whine to be subsidized by the rest of Canada. Unbelievable!
drhub71: Hmmm. Let's disect: European entitlement style policies, language laws pushing
No. no no. What paper have you been reading? A very, very small minority - I'd guess around 15% of Quebeckers want to separate!! And if you recall - 3 referendums later - with all of them the majority of Quebeckers voting to Remain a Province of Canada and that includes the 95 referendum that was sold as - so close; when in fact hundreds of thousands of No Votes had been stolen - so many that the votes were BURNED rather than let the Gazette see the count!! The problem s and has been: with our media (English) pretty much ERASED - and our being held captive with the yahoo seppy type politicians and party's that have DENIED any and all English participation in the political process (illegal) the rest of the country has been DENIED the truth!! 2.5 MILLION English speaking Quebeckers forced to live without rights freedoms or any of the Constitutional Protections you take for granted!! Thank God for Huff Post and the internet. The TRUTH is finally coming out.
DidiM: No. no no. What paper have you been reading? A
Yes, Yes, Yes. 2009 Angus Reid Poll 28% thought they should separate, and 30% say they believe that Quebec does need greater sovereignty but still remain part of Canada. However the poll did reveal that a majority (79%) of Quebecers still desired to achieve more autonomy. Whatever the numbers are it is clear majority Quebecers think they deserve special consideration.
And you are correct I do take constitutional protections for granted because I live in in a free Canada as opposed to a supressive/prejudicial province wanting autonomy while at the same time living off the generosity of others.
drhub71: Yes, Yes, Yes. 2009 Angus Reid Poll 28% thought they
Kind of sad how they destroyed the last ballots... I guess some politicians were afraid of a recount, and how the margins might not have been so small after all.
Michel_t: Kind of sad how they destroyed the last ballots... I
Right...not!! We pay the highest taxes in North America; our 'services' have been cut to the freaking bone - and God forbid if you live on the South Shore - 5 minutes from downtown Montreal - NO ENGLISH SERVICES AT ALL - They've ALL been ERASED - as have our schools, media - LANGUAGE - jobs etc.. I suggest you ask your Federal MP - where the hell the money is going because it sure as hell hasn't reached us!! The MP's HAVE to know - because ALL Quebec MP's are their good pals and THEY are and have been RESPONSIBLE to "Make Sure" - tax dollars are spent properly - on a Provincial level!! And 50% of the people DO NOT WANT TO SEPARATE! 20 TO 25% IS THE TRUE number! Ask the National Media why they've been LYING to You for the last 30 years. And stop blaming us the people of Quebeck - who have been held hostage by a group of Federal and Provincial GOOFS - who've had total control of the media. If it wasn't for the net - they'd still be pulling your chain.
DidiM: Right...not!! We pay the highest taxes in North America; our
For decades tourism was the biggest industry in Quebec province because the people knew that knowledge of the English language was better for their economy. The citizens should realize that conducting business in languages other than Quebecquois french does not diminish the french heritage that separatists cling to so dearly. The provincial bureaucrats should do everything thay can to attract business development that will keep people from leaving for other provinces. Despite having Montreal as a huge industrial anchor, the province is the largest in land mass and smallest in population perportion to it's size. The people of La Belle Provence are tres charment and proud of their culture. The need fewer selfish politicians just like their neighbors to the south.
Peggy_Cunane: For decades tourism was the biggest industry in Quebec province
If you send out the people of a province
because it is easy to do
to make them leave
(a language barrier gives someone an extra incentive to stay put..lucky them).
it is easy to fill in their spots with investment money and
drive the wages up
for a time
at least.
Mrs_Robinsons: If you send out the people of a province because
Well it is for sure that - that is Not what happened in la belle province. Just like the ones forced out - the investors slowly started pulling out and now 40 years later - the last place they want to invest is in QC. Unless the gouvernement pays them to come here and gives them all kinds of tax breaks etc... and still - most either declare bankruptcy or just pull out & leave after one or two years. That's why QC is the highest taxed - poorest in the country (not will be - it is) . Note** For evey 100,000 people that have left - la belle province loses 1 BILLION a year in revenue. QC = 600,000 forced to flee = 6 BILLION a year lost revenue. No people - no money - no growth - no industry etc... Am sure you know what I mean?
The Book is Called Québec Inc. and it's a good read....
Your figures don't add up to what happened in the seventies or now.
To this day I don't buy Schweppes or Cadbury or Sun Life products either....
Not so, again. I think it's about bloody time the rest of the country learn the truth about the English speaking population - that you all left high and dry to be FORCED to live without the very rights and freedoms you take for granted while spouting ignorant comments from your ivory tower chairs.
DidiM: Not so, again. I think it's about bloody time the
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First Posted: 02/ 7/2012 9:53 pm Updated: 02/10/2012 8:35 pm