Hennessy’s Index: February 2013

The Dominance of Canada's 1%

Hennessy's Index

Hennessys 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

  • $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

  • 254,700

    Number of tax filers who ranked among Canada's richest 1% in 2010. (Source)

  • 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)

  • 4

    Number of provinces in which 92% of Canada's richest 1% of tax filers live: Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. (Source)

  • $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)

  • $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)

  • $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)

  • $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)

  • 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)

  • 0

    Number of provinces in Canada that reduced income inequality since 1982. (Source)

  • 1/5th

    Amount of Canada's net wealth estimated to be in the hands of the richest 1% of Canadians. (Source)

  • 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)

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February 1, 2013
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