The Gap Between Rich & Poor

  1. In 2005 a Place-to-Place comparison was conducted by Alberta Economic Development in order to compare the cost of living in Alberta’s cities. Cost of living expenses included: food, shelter, utilities, household goods, clothing, transportation, health and recreation. The value of the index was generally established at 100. An index with a value greater than 100 indicates prices higher than the base price, or vice versa.

    Medicine Hat has the lowest utilities in Alberta at 74.1. However, utilities are only weighted at 5.9% of total monthly costs. When considering all expenses, Medicine Hat’s cost of living index was 97.7.      

    Food categories ranked at 98.5, household supplies was 104.5, household equipment was 101.7, recreation and leisure 102.2, and transportation was ranked at 102.0.

    » Source

    In the Medicine Hat Quality of Life Study conducted by the City of Medicine Hat in spring 2007, 87% of respondents stated that the cost of living indicator was an important one and 72% of these believe that Medicine Hat rates well on the indicator.

  2. The retail cost of an average food basket in Medicine Hat in November of 2006 was $195.38, compared to the average for all cities in Alberta of $194.46.      

    » Source: Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Economics and Competitiveness Division, Statistics and Data Development Unit, 2006.

  3. In Medicine Hat the overall poverty rate, based on the Low Income Measure (LIM), an indicator of relative poverty, was 14.1% in 2005, down 8.7% from 2001. This was 13.9% lower than the provincial average and 35.2% below the national average.        

    » Source

  4. In 2006, 1.2% of Albertans used food banks on a monthly basis. In Medicine Hat 1.6% (900) individuals used the local food bank on a monthly basis. This does not include food services provided by the Salvation Army, Champions Centre, and the Women’s Shelter.      

    » Source

    Food Bank use by Percent of Population
      1997 2005 2006
    Canada 2.2 2.5 2.3
    Saskatchewan 1.2 2.4 2.6
    British Columbia 1.5 1.8 1.9
    Alberta 1.3 1.4 1.2

    » Source

    "The Food Bank usage may not be truly measured without considering Salvation Army, Santa Claus Fund and other supporters.: – Survey Respondent

    Number of people to utilize the Salvation Army Medicine Hat Family Services Shelter
      Apr 06 May 06 June 06 July 06 Aug 06 Sept 06 Oct 06 Nov 06 Dec 06 Jan 07 Feb 07 Mar 07 TOTAL
    # 125 210 189 155 189 155 153 193 144 149 135 124 1,921
    Adults 106 206 187 149 179 153 146 190 144 149 135 123 1,867
    Children 19 4 2 6 10 2 7 3 0 0 0 1 54

    » http://www.mhchs.ca

  5. In 2005, those families in the top 10% (90th percentile) income earners in Medicine Hat made at least $139,400, an increase of 22.5% since 2001. Those in the bottom 10% income bracket (10th percentile) made at most $24,400, an increase of 17.5% since 2001. The top bracket made almost 6 times the lowest, and that gap increased by almost 4% between 2001 and 2005.      

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    Application for subsidized housing
      Jan - 05 July - 05 Jan - 06 July – 06 Jan - 07 June – 07
    Medicine Hat 122 132 153 166 168 204

    Increase in active, approved applications for subsidized housing.

    » Source

    The indicator ranked #2 in level of important in the Medicine Hat Quality of Life Study was ‘adequate income to meet basic needs.’ 88% of the respondents felt that Medicine Hat rates well for this indicator.