Elevating the Nation — Benchmark Canada

Pillar five of five

Elevating the Nation

Are our citizens flourishing?

Lived outcomes — whether the citizenry is genuinely flourishing, which is the result that financing, building, governing, and securing all exist to produce. Where the other pillars measure inputs and capacity, this one measures the dividend: incomes, the affordability of food and shelter, and freedom from fear.

Pillar verdictWeak7 metrics

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The metrics

Currency strengthWeak1 CAD = US$0.71 · −17.5% vs USD since 2015 · petro-currency link broken; no lift from 2026 Hormuz shock Electricity costStrongUS$0.123/kWh residential · cheapest in G7 · ~$1,370/yr bill mid-pack (high usage) Food bank useWeak~19% food insecurity · rank 7 of 7 G7 · visits doubled since 2019 Gas pricesWatch≈C$1.70/L regular · 2nd-cheapest of 7 oil-producing democracies · June 2026 avg GDP per capita growthWeak+1.1% real per capita 2014–2024 · last of 7 G7 · ~85% of GDP growth was population Homebuying affordabilityWatchNational MPPI 52.3% of income (Q1 2026) · +11.7pp above 25-yr norm of 40.6% · 66.5 months to save a down payment Housing cost burdenWeak20.9% of households over 30% of income on shelter (2021) · renters 33% vs owners 15% · OECD 40% overburden 8% ≈ EU avg

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A project of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute Led by Senior Fellow Kevin Vuong

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