“We need the CCPA to remind us that our dreams of a decent, egalitarian society are reasonable — indeed that with a little work, they are practical. And I love that practicality, that protection of the dream of the possible.”
— Naomi Klein
Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index
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$201,400
The entry point to become one of Canada’s richest 1% of income earners. In other words, if you make more than $201,400 you earn more than 99% of Canadian income earners. (Source)
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254,700
Number of tax filers who ranked among Canada's richest 1% in 2010. (Source)
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21
Percentage of top 1% of Canadian income earners in 2010 who were women. That's 53,200 women, almost twice as many as there were in 1982 but the richest 1% still remains a boy's club. (Source)
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4
Number of provinces in which 92% of Canada's richest 1% of tax filers live: Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. (Source)
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$320,000
The pay increase Alberta's richest 1% of tax filers enjoyed since 1982, which represents a doubling of their income. The richest 1% in Alberta made 18 times more than the bottom 90%. It's the most unequal province in Canada. (Source)
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$297,000
Average income increase for the richest 1% of tax filers in Toronto between 1982 and 2010. The bottom 90% in that city experience an income drop of $1,900, on average, during that period. (Source)
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$189,000
Average income increase for the richest 1% of tax filers in Vancouver between 1982 and 2010. The bottom 90% in that city experienced an income drop of $4,300 on average, during that period. (Source)
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$162,000
Average income increase for the richest 1% of tax filers in Montreal between 1982 and 2010. The bottom 90% in that city experienced an income drop of $224 on average, during that period. (Source)
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8
The richest 1% of tax filers in Prince Edward Island make eight times more than the bottom 90%. PEI is Canada's most equal province. (Source)
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0
Number of provinces in Canada that reduced income inequality since 1982. (Source)
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1/5th
Amount of Canada's net wealth estimated to be in the hands of the richest 1% of Canadians. (Source)
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25
Number of families or individuals in Canada that Forbes' Magazine says hold more than $1 billion in assets. The top five are: the Thomson family ($17.5 billion); the Galen Weston family ($7.7 billion); the Irving family ($5 billion); Jim Pattison and Paul Desmarais (tied at $4.3 billion); and Ted Rogers ($1.7 billion). (Source)