Hennessy's Index: A number is never just a number

Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version.  For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index

• 1.4 million

  Number of Canadians officially unemployed in January 2011. (Source)

• 1.2 million

  Population size of the nation’s capital, Ottawa. (Source)

• 14.4%

  Canada’s youth unemployment rate in January 2011 (age 15-24); nearly twice the national average. (Source)

• Sidelined

  Canada still has 335,800 more unemployed individuals than before the beginning of the recession. (Source)

• One out of 5

  Number of jobless Canadians who were unemployed for more than six months in January 2011; was one in 10 in January 2008. (Source)

• 867,948

  Number of Canadians who used food banks in March 2010; record high. (Source)

• 90,000

  Number of jobs Canadians could lose if government yanks stimulus funds in 2011/12. (Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Alternative Federal Budget 2011 forthcoming)

• $7 billion

  How much more, per year, the Harper government has budgeted for the Department of Defence since it came to power; a 47% increase. (Source: Fiscal Reference Tables and Budget 2010)

• $5 billion

  Estimated new additional annual costs of running provincial and federal jails by 2015/16 due to the latest Harper government crime law. (Source)

• $220 billion

  Total cost of Harper government tax cuts between 2006 and 2013/14. (Source)

• $14 billion

  Yearly cost of Harper government corporate tax cuts by 2013/14. (Source 1 and Source 2)

• $11.5 billion

  Predicted federal fiscal deficit in 2013/14. (Source)