Did you know?
| indicator | value | unit |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34.9 | mil. |
| Visitors per year | 25.3 | mil. |
| Renewable energy | 17.9 | % |
How’s Life?
Canada performs very well in many measures of well-being relative to most other countries in the Better Life Index. Canada ranks above the average in housing, subjective well-being, personal security, health status, income and wealth, social connections, environmental quality, jobs and earnings, education and skills, and civic engagement.
Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In Canada, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 29 365 a year, more than the OECD average of USD 25 908 a year. But there is a considerable gap between the richest and poorest – the top 20% of the population earn about five times as much as the bottom 20%.
In terms of employment, over 72% of people aged 15 to 64 in Canada have a paid job, more than the OECD employment average of 65%. Some 75% of men are in paid work, compared with 70% of women. In Canada, 4% of employees work very long hours, much lower than the OECD average of 13%, with 6% of men working very long hours compared with just 1% for women.
Good education and skills are important requisites for finding a job. In Canada, 89% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, well above the OECD average of 75%. This is truer of women than men, as 88% of men have successfully completed high-school compared with 90% of women. This reverses the OECD average picture, where men are slightly more likely to have graduated high school. Canada is a top-performing country in terms of the quality of its educational system. The average student scored 522 in reading literacy, maths and science in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). This score is higher than the OECD average of 497, making Canada one of the strongest OECD countries in students’ skills. On average in Canada, girls outperformed boys by 7 points, lower than the average OECD gap of 8 points.
In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in Canada is 82 years, two year higher than the OECD average of 80 years. Life expectancy for women is 84 years, compared with 79 for men. The level of atmospheric PM10 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs – is 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter in large urban areas, considerably lower than the OECD average of 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Canada also does well in terms of water quality, as 91% of people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water, more than the OECD average of 81%.
Concerning the public sphere, there is a strong sense of community but only moderate levels of civic participation in Canada, where 92% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need, higher than the OECD average of 88%. Voter turnout, a measure of citizens’ participation in the political process, was 61% during recent elections; this figure is lower than the OECD average of 68%. Voter turnout for the top 20% of the population is an estimated 63% and for the bottom 20% it is an estimated 60%, a much smaller difference than the OECD average gap of 13 percentage points and suggests there is broad inclusion in Canada’s democratic institutions.
In general, Canadians are more satisfied with their lives than the OECD average. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Canadians gave it a 7.3 grade, higher than the OECD average of 6.6.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Topics
OECD in Action
OECD Economic Surveys: Canada 2014
OECD's 2014 Economic Survey of Canada examines recent economic developments, policies and prospects. Special chapters cover housing in Canada and the labour market and skills mismatch.
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Canada in Detail
Housing – Canada expand
Key Findings
Living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people’s lives. Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family. All of these elements help make a house a home. And of course there is the question whether people can afford adequate housing.
Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single expenditure for many individuals and families, by the time you add up elements such as rent, gas, electricity, water, furniture or repairs. In Canada, households on average spend 21% of their gross adjusted disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, above the OECD average of 18%.
In addition to housing costs it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities. The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and children’s development. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In Canada, the average home contains 2.5 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.8 rooms per person and the highest rate in the OECD. In terms of basic facilities, 99.8% of people in Canada live in dwellings with private access to an indoor flushing toilet, more than the OECD average of 97.6%.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Making rents affordable
In cities such as Toronto and Vancouver municipal governments rezoned all single family neighbourhoods in the 2000s to allow homeowners to rent out secondary/basement suites within their properties or “laneway” houses, thereby increasing affordable rental supply. Laneway houses are smaller detached dwellings usually located in the backyard of a single-family lot with access to a back lane. While secondary suites existed before, many were unauthorised and illegal.
Encouraging such forms of housing has been a major part of Vancouver’s housing affordability strategy, since their rents tend to be lower. It has increased the supply of lower-cost rental housing, while helping homeowners pay down their own mortgages and increasing the social diversity of single-family neighbourhoods. Furthermore, because many secondary suites allow access to a yard, they may be more appealing to families than conventional rental apartments. These benefits suggest it would be worthwhile for other cities facing shortages of affordable rental housing to legalise secondary suites and laneway houses in all single-family zones, although homeowner resistance has been a major obstacle to change in many municipalities across Canada.
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Income – Canada expand
Key Findings
While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality education, health care and housing.
Household net-adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. In Canada, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 29 365 a year, higher than the OECD average of USD 25 908.
Household financial wealth is the total value of a household’s financial worth, such as money or shares held in bank accounts. In Canada, the average household net financial wealth per capita is estimated at USD 67 913, slightly higher than the OECD average of USD 67 139. While the ideal measure of household wealth should also include non-financial assets (e.g. land and dwellings), such information is currently available for only a small number of OECD countries, and is not included here.
Despite a general increase in living standards across OECD countries over the past fifteen years, not all people have benefited from this to the same extent. In Canada, the average net-adjusted disposable income of the top 20% of the population is an estimated USD 57 505 a year, whereas the bottom 20% live on an estimated USD 11 116 a year.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Jobs – Canada expand
Key Findings
Having a job brings many important benefits, including: providing a source of income, improving social inclusion, fulfilling one’s own aspirations, building self-esteem and developing skills and competencies. In Canada, about 73% of the working-age population aged 15 to 64 has a paid job. This figure is higher than the OECD employment average of 65%. Employment rates are generally higher for individuals with a higher level of education; in Canada an estimated 81% of individuals with at least a tertiary education have a paid job, compared with an estimated 47% for those without an upper secondary education. This 34 percentage point difference is in line with the OECD average.
Women are still less likely than men to participate in the labour market. In Canada, 70% of women have jobs. This is more than the OECD average of 58% and relatively close to the 75% employment rate of men in Canada. This 5 percentage point gender difference is much lower than the OECD average of 15 percentage points and suggests Canada has been successful in addressing the constraints and barriers women face in accessing work.
Unemployed persons are defined as those who are not currently working but are willing to do so and actively searching for work. Long-term unemployment can have a large negative effect on feelings of well-being and self-worth and result in a loss of skills, further reducing employability. In Canada, the percentage of the labour force that has been unemployed for a year or longer is currently at 0.9%, much lower than the OECD average of 2.8%. There is little difference on average between men and women in the OECD area when it comes to long-term unemployment. In Canada, the long-term unemployment rate for men is slightly higher than for women, with respectively 1.0% and 0.8%.
The wages and other monetary benefits that come with employment are an important aspect of job quality. Canadians earn USD 46 911 per year on average, more than the OECD average of USD 36 118. Not everyone earns that amount however. In all OECD countries, men still earn more than women, with an average wage gap of 15.5%. In Canada, men earn 19% more than women. Also, whereas the top 20% of the population earn an estimated USD 64 774 per year, the bottom 20% live on an estimated USD 26 687 per year.
Another essential factor of employment quality is job security. Workers facing a high risk of job loss are more vulnerable, especially in countries with smaller social safety nets. In Canada, workers face a 6.4% chance of losing their job, higher than the OECD average of 5.4%.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Breaking down barriers to employment
The BladeRunners programme helps young people (ages 15-30) with multiple barriers to employment build careers in construction and other industries throughout the province of British Columbia.
The BladeRunners programme provides participating youth with a three-week training course, and then facilitates direct job placement for programme graduates. The programme also provides extensive support services for participants and graduates 24 hours a day, seven days a week for an undetermined period of time after placement.
The ultimate goal of the programme is to develop skills and work experience that foster long-term attachment to the labour force and to support the social and community integration of young people. BladeRunners is widely regarded as a highly effective employment training model. It advertises an overall 77% post-training job placement rate, has won several awards and recognitions for its achievements, and is funded by a diverse group of public and private supporters.
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Well‑being in the workplace: Measuring job qualityIndicators
Community – Canada expand
Key Findings
Humans are social creatures. The frequency of our contact with others and the quality of our personal relationships are thus crucial determinants of our well-being.
A strong social network, or community, can provide emotional support during both good and bad times as well as provide access to jobs, services and other material opportunities. In Canada, 92% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, more than the OECD average of 88%. There is a 1 percentage point difference between men and women, as 91% of men believe they have this kind of social support, compared with 92% of women.
A weak social network can result in limited economic opportunities, a lack of contact with others, and eventually, feelings of isolation. Socially isolated individuals face difficulties integrating into society as a contributing member and fulfilling personal aspirations.
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How's Life? at a Glance OECD Insights: Human CapitalIndicators
Education – Canada expand
Key Findings
A well-educated and well-trained population is essential for a country’s social and economic well-being. Education plays a key role in providing individuals with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to participate effectively in society and in the economy. Having a good education greatly improves the likelihood of finding a job and earning enough money. Canadians can expect to go through 17.2 years of education between the ages of 5 and 39, slightly less than the OECD average of 17.7 years.
Graduating from upper secondary education has become increasingly important in all countries, as the skills needed in the labour market are becoming more knowledge-based. High-school graduation rates therefore provide a good indication of whether a country is preparing its students to meet the minimum requirements of the job market. In Canada, 89% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 75%. Across the OECD, slightly more men aged 25-64 have the equivalent of a high-school degree compared with women from the same age group. In Canada, however, 90% of women have successfully completed high-school compared with 88% of men. This is also true at the university level, as more women complete tertiary education than men in Canada, at 59% and 48% respectively. This 11 percentage point gap is larger than the OECD average of 4 percentage points.
But graduation rates, while important, speak little to the quality of education received. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reviews the extent to which students have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in modern societies. In 2012, PISA focused on examining students’ reading ability, skills in maths and level in sciences, as research shows that these skills are more reliable predictors of economic and social well-being than the number of years spent in school.
Canada is a top-performing OECD country in reading literacy, maths and sciences with the average student scoring 522. This score is higher than the OECD average of 497, making Canada one of the strongest OECD countries in students’ skills. On average in Canada, girls outperformed boys by 7 points, less than the average OECD gap of 8 points.
The best-performing school systems manage to provide high-quality education to all students. In Canada, the average difference in results, between the students with the highest socio-economic background and the students with the lowest socio-economic background, is 72 points, much lower than the OECD average of 96 points. This suggests the school system in Canada provides relatively equal access to high-quality education.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Since 2000, Canada has become a world leader in its professionally-driven reform of its education system. Not only do its students perform well, they perform well despite their socio-economic status, first language or whether they are native Canadians or recent immigrants. In particular, Ontario’s approach to educational reform adheres to important practices, including:
Commitment to education and to children
The strong cultural commitment to education seems to be an important underlying national value that helps explain Canada’s overall strong performance despite the absence of a national governmental role in education. The commitment to the welfare of children, as expressed in Canada’s strong social safety net, helps explain why Canada’s achievement gaps, while still worrisome, are nowhere near as profound as those in the United States.
Cultural support for universal high achievement
The extraordinary performance of Canada’s immigrant children is largely a reflection of the high expectations immigrant families have for their children, and of the high expectations also held by educators as well. Because Canada has historically seen its immigrants as crucial assets for the continuing development of the country, and because its immigration policies reflect those values, schools see it as their role to integrate children into the mainstream culture as rapidly as possible. If anything, the value placed on high achievement for immigrant children seems to have positive spill over effects for expectations for native-born children, rather than vice versa.
Teacher and principal quality
Teaching has historically been a respected profession in Canada, and continues to draw its candidates from the top third of secondary school graduates. Additionally, the province of Ontario has paid special attention to leadership development, especially for school principals. In 2008 the government initiated the Ontario Leadership Strategy that spells out the skills, knowledge and attributes of effective leaders. Among the elements of the strategy are a strong mentoring programme that has now reached over 5 000 principals and vice-principals. Additionally, funding and other resources have been provided for districts to develop and implement a Board Leadership Development Strategy that includes talent development and succession planning to ensure a pipeline of strong, committed candidates to fill leadership positions.
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Environment – Canada expand
Key Findings
The quality of our local living environment has a direct impact on our health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of people’s lives. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major pollutant emissions, the health impacts of urban air pollution continue to worsen, with air pollution set to become the top environmental cause of premature mortality globally by 2050. Air pollution in urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.
PM10 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is monitored in OECD countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In Canada, PM10 levels in urban areas are 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter, lower than the OECD average of 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter and lower than the annual guideline limit of 20 micrograms per cubic meter set by the World Health Organization.
Access to clean water is fundamental to human well-being. Despite significant progress in OECD countries in reducing water pollution, improvements in freshwater quality are not always easy to discern. In Canada, 91% of people say they are satisfied with water quality, higher than the OECD average of 81%.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Shutting down coal plants
The federal government has introduced regulations that will apply from 1 July 2015, limiting the lifetime of coal-fired electricity generation units. “End of life” coal units must either be shut down, or be retrofitted with carbon capture and storage (CCS) to bring emissions below the level of a natural gas plant. All pre-1975 units must close by 2020, and later vintage plants may run for approximately 50 years before shutdown or retrofit. The 50-year lifetime allowed under this regulation is somewhat long, but the regulation is still expected to force closure of five existing plants by 2020. If a shorter lifetime were applied to the shutdown period, this type of policy could be used to drive accelerated unlocking of existing plants.
The Canadian province of Ontario completed a phase out of coal-fired electricity generation in April, 2014, with the last of 19 units in 5 plants ceasing to burn coal. As part of its planned phase-out, the Ontario government is converting two coal stations to sustainable biomass. Work to convert the Atikokan station is underway; this will be the largest 100% biomass plant in North America with a 200-MW full capacity. Work underway involves some plant modifications, and construction of fuel handling facilities. The plant will be run in a flexible mode, providing backup for hydro, solar and wind generation. The relatively abundant supply of biomass fuel in Canada facilitated this conversion.
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How's Life? at a Glance OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030Indicators
Governance – Canada expand
Key Findings
Trust in government is essential for social cohesion and well-being. High voter turnout is a measure of citizens’ participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data are available, voter turnout in Canada was 61% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 68%.
Even if the right to vote is universal in all OECD countries, not everyone exercises this right. There is little difference in the voting rates of men and women in most OECD countries. This is the case in Canada, where the voter turnout of men and women is similar at an estimated 61% and 62%. While on average there are few differences between men and women concerning participation in elections, income can make a big difference in voter turnout. In Canada, however, voter turnout for the top 20% of the population is an estimated 63%, whereas the participation rate of the bottom 20% is an estimated 60%. This 3 percentage point difference is much lower than the OECD average difference of 13 percentage points, and suggests there is broad social inclusion in Canada’s democratic institutions.
In general, women are in the minority among elected representatives and although their number has slightly increased in the last decade, it is still well below parity. In Canada, only 25% of the seats in national parliament are held by women, less than the OECD average of 28%.
Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.
Freedom of information laws (FOI) allow the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Canada can file a request for information either in writing or in person, but not yet online or by telephone. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Asking the community for policy ideas
The Canadian government has turned to its citizens to help find solutions to social challenges such as homelessness, persistent unemployment and at-risk youth.
The National Call for Concepts for Social Finance (CFC) asked Canadians to submit ideas on how to harness the power of social finance to improve social and economic outcomes. Social finance is an approach to managing money which delivers a social benefit as well as an economic return, and has enormous potential for unlocking new sources of capital while creating a broader shift in the way that governments, business, service providers, charities and foundations work together to apply proven approaches on a wider scale. The 150+ responses received exceeded expectations, and the new approach has enabled the government to tailor and accelerate its social finance outreach activities. For the promising ideas identified, the government will help to connect partners and develop concepts into investment-ready ideas suitable for social finance pilot projects
In partnership with private, not-for-profit and charitable sectors, Canada plans to further build public knowledge about the potential of social finance. Finally, the government will also consider using existing programme funds to further cultivate community-level social innovation in support of social and economic outcomes for Canadians.
Open, inclusive policy making
The Canadian government uses several tools to bring the views of Canadians into the policy making process. Canadians can engage with the government online through “Consulting With Canadians”, a website that gives single-window access to online and offline consultations on a range of topics. Consultations listed on the site are updated regularly, while the Canada Gazette publishes calls to take part in consultations. In addition, Canada’s Forward Regulatory Plans – lists or descriptions of anticipatory changes in regulations – make the federal regulatory system more transparent and predictable for individuals and businesses alike.
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Health – Canada expand
Key Findings
Most OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past decades, thanks to improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care. Life expectancy at birth in Canada stands at close to 82 years, above the OECD average of 80 years. Life expectancy for women is 84 years, compared with 79 years for men, in line with the OECD average gender gap of five years, with a life expectancy of 82 years for women and 77 years for men. Higher life expectancy is generally associated with higher health care spending per person, although many other factors have an impact on life expectancy (such as living standards, lifestyles, education and environmental factors).
When asked, “How is your health in general?” 89% of people in Canada reported to be in good health, much more than the OECD average of 68% and one of the highest scores across the OECD. Despite the subjective nature of this question, answers have been found to be a good predictor of people’s future health care use. Gender, age and social status may affect answers to this question. On average in OECD countries, men are more likely to report good health than women, with an average of 70% for men and 66% for women. In Canada, there is almost no difference between men and women. Not surprisingly, older people report poorer health, as do those who are unemployed, or who have less education or income. About 95% of adults with a disposable income in the top 20% in Canada rate their health as “good”, “very good” or “excellent”, compared to about 79% for those with a disposable income in the bottom 20%.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Monitoring the quality of long-term care
In Ontario, Canada’s largest province, the government monitors the quality of long-term care (LTC). They look at accessibility, effectiveness, safety, and resource appropriateness. Access is measured through length of time waiting for nursing-home placement and the percentage of those who are placed in their first-choice LTC home.
Effectiveness is monitored by a set of health outcome indicators such as the percentage of LTC recipients with worsening symptoms of depression. Safety is presented by the number of LTC recipients prescribed a drug that should be avoided, and the percentage of LTC recipients started on certain drugs (such as antipsychotics) without clear reason. Resource appropriateness is measured by the expenditure as a percentage of GDP.
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Life Satisfaction – Canada expand
Key Findings
Happiness or subjective well-being can be measured in terms of life satisfaction, the presence of positive experiences and feelings, and the absence of negative experiences and feelings. Such measures, while subjective, are a useful complement to objective data to compare the quality of life across countries.
Life satisfaction measures how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Canadians gave it a 7.3 grade, higher than the OECD average of 6.6.
There is little difference in life satisfaction levels between men and women across OECD countries. This is true in Canada, where both men and women gave their life a 7.3 grade. When considering people’s education level, however, there is a clear difference in life satisfaction levels in many OECD countries. Whereas people who have only completed primary education in Canada have a life satisfaction level of 6.9, this score reaches 7.6 for people with tertiary education.
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Safety – Canada expand
Key Findings
Personal security is a core element for the well-being of individuals, and includes the risks of people being physically assaulted or falling victim to other types of crime. Across the OECD, assault rates have generally declined in the past five years. In Canada, 1.3% of people reported falling victim to assault over the previous 12 months, the lowest rate in the OECD where the average is 3.9%. There is little difference between men and women in assault rates.
The homicide rate (the number of murders per 100 000 inhabitants) is a more reliable measure of a country’s safety level because, unlike other crimes, murders are usually always reported to the police. According to the latest OECD data, Canada’s homicide rate is 1.5, lower than the OECD average of 4.0. In Canada, the homicide rate for men is of 2.1 compared with 0.9 for women.
However, while men are at a greater risk of being victims of assault and violent crime, women report lower feelings of security than men. This has been explained by a greater fear of sexual attacks, the feeling they must also protect their children and their concern that they may be seen as partially responsible
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How's Life? at a GlanceIndicators
Work-Life Balance – Canada expand
Key Findings
Finding a suitable balance between work and life is a challenge for all workers, especially working parents. The ability to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life is important for the well-being of all members in a household. Governments can help to address the issue by encouraging supportive and flexible working practices, making it easier for parents to strike a better balance between work and home life.
An important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardise safety and increase stress. The share of employees working 50 hours or more per week is not very large across OECD countries. In Canada, almost 4% of employees work very long hours, less than the OECD average of 13%. Overall, more men work very long hours; in Canada 6% of men work very long hours, compared with 1% for women.
The more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as time with others or leisure. The amount and quality of leisure time is important for people’s overall well-being, and can bring additional physical and mental health benefits. In Canada, full-time workers devote 59% of their day on average, or 14.3 hours, to personal care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socialising with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) – less than the OECD average of 15 hours. Fewer hours in paid work for women do not necessarily result in greater leisure time. In Canada, both men and women devote approximately 14 hours per day to personal care and leisure.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Full-day kindergarten
Ontario, Canada has invested heavily in providing early childhood education on a province wide basis by establishing full day kindergarten for four and five year old children. In September 2010, Ontario began phasing in the Full-Day Kindergarten Programme, with full implementation in all schools by September 2015. The schools day runs from 9:00 am-3:00 pm and each school is also encouraged to offer before and after school programming (e.g. child care) on site outside of these hours, with the goal of creating a seamless day for children and parents. Four- and five-year-olds will learn under the guidance of a teacher and an early childhood educator. This will make it easier for parents to get to and from work and will ensure their children have an integrated learning programme for the whole day.