British Columbia in a Global Context Chapter 2 Socio-Economics in British Columbia

. IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Learning Objectives . Discuss the measurement of development and through the use of statistical tools . Construct British Columbia ( as a desirable place to live and work . Assess what is understood by quality of life and ( Vancouver ) rank . Debate the hidden social issues behind quality of life . Appraise the cost of real estate as a frame for . 21 in British Columbia

Introduction This chapter will focus on the notion of measures , livable cities and some social issues . In Geography , economic development analysis often focuses on a global divide based on advanced technological economies versus countries ( or what is sometimes referred to as the Global South or the Third World . Economic development is measured based on a country gross domestic product ( gross national income ( and purchasing power parity ( Gross domestic product ( is usually used as an estimate of the total value of all materials , foodstuffs , goods and services that a country produces in one year . As is a measure of commodities , the figure for each country is divided by the total population of the country in order to get the per capita . Gross national income ( is a measure of the income that flows into a country from production no matter where in the world companies from that country may be operating . Purchasing power parity ( is the third important measurement of economic development . This tool calculates how much the local currency of a country can buy locally ( what can you buy with CAD 20 in Canada compared with its equivalent in Colombia . There are a number of other tools used to measure economic development and these are available in the resource section . Introduction 22

Quality Measures Generalizations of the divide between core and periphery , Global South and Global North , and Third World and First World , often lead to representing the different countries as poor and rich countries . This is a very general description with poor countries regarded as ones where the standard of living is lower than those regarded as rich . Usually this means that people in rich countries have higher incomes that allow them access to better living conditions , health and education . in rich and poor countries is therefore a measure of economic performance , but it is also used as a reliable macro measure of social development . However , many believe that these statistics are not a good measure of general social as they do not take into account the spatiality of economic distribution . And what about the uneven income distribution and different opportunities within the cities of the Global North ?

For example , Vancouver , as the largest city in British Columbia , is ranked among the top most livable cities in the world . as a province , is a destination for people from all over Canada as well as the world as a very desirable place to live and work . Large numbers of good schools and a comprehensive system , among other factors , make an attractive location . But is that all good news for and its residents ?

Quality of Life ( surveys are another tool that are used globally to measure standards of living based on indicators other than economic ones . Introduced as a concept to Geography in the , quality of life is the general of individuals and societies . It was originally used in studies of territorial spatial indicators ( Knox , 1975 Smith , 1973 ) and is now used as a measurement in many fields including international development , health care , politics and employment . Today , is used to measure more than or ( which are based only on income as discussed the previous paragraph ) includes not only wealth and employment but also the built environment , physical and mental health , education , recreation and leisure time , and social belonging . There are a number of surveys including the Better Life and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey In both these surveys Canada rates very highly , with four Canadian cities ( Vancouver , Montreal , and ) dominating the list of top places to live in North America . The Better Life Survey puts Canada as third overall in the world as the best place to live after Australia and Sweden . Better Life Index ( Quality of Living Survey . insights View 2014 23 Measures

Homelessness and Poverty in the First World Homelessness is a complex social problem , and the characteristics of homelessness vary geographically ( Gregory , Pratt , Watts , 2009 ) Homelessness has increased dramatically in the Global North since the especially among the most vulnerable populations ( 1996 ) Homelessness , or the threat of homelessness , is not just people living or sleeping on the street . Sometimes homelessness is not visible , but it still exists where people are living in abandoned buildings , living in tenements , using emergency shelters , using family or friends as places to stay or even couch The line between being housed and being homeless is often not clear , as people can find themselves in a cycle of moving between temporary homes ( staying with family or friends ) and shelters for the homeless . As well , many people live in housing that does not meet health and safety standards ( the presence of mould inadequate electrical or heating systems ) All of these living situations put people at risk of poor physical , mental and emotional health . Homelessness is usually publicly stigmatized , and government policies that affect homeless people and their rights and access to public space are often harsh ( Mitchell , 2003 ) Can you imagine that these scenes or situations take place in Canada and specifically in ?

The Causes of Homelessness Homelessness is an outcome of the complex interplay of structural factors , systemic failures and individual circumstances ( Richter , Gulliver , 2013 ) Structural factors are where the cost of living has increased but without an adequate increase in income , particularly for those in the lower income brackets or those on social assistance . Systemic failures occur when people fall between the cracks of a country systems of care . For example , when people are discharged from hospitals or correctional facilities into emergency shelters or when youth transition out of the child welfare system . Personal circumstances may come into play when individuals and families experience catastrophic events such as job loss , illness or a house fire . Traumatic events or health problems can add to the risk of becoming homeless when housing or income is in short supply . Family violence and conflict , particularly for women , children and youth , may push individuals to flee their homes in order to protect themselves . Homelessness and Poverty in the First World 24

Case Study Victoria and Williams Lake This case study on homelessness focuses on capital , Victoria , and on the interior city of Williams Lake . ran , BRITISH , COLUMBIA Williams Lake I we ' ma mo am ! I Figure . Locations of Victoria and Williams Lake Victoria Victoria , the capital of , is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island . The city population stands at approximately but serves as a hub for a regional population of . Known as the City of Gardens , Victoria is an attractive , popular tourist destination with a thriving technology sector , which has risen to be the city largest private industry . The city other main industries are food products , tourism , education , and federal and provincial government administration and services . Despite Victoria reputation as a tourist destination , homelessness is a serious problem in the downtown area , as is drug use . The first homeless count in Victoria took place in January 2005 , and was carried out as part of a volunteer study by the Victoria Cool Aid Society . That first count totalled approximately 700 individuals , with 50 of those people identifying themselves as being of First Nations origin ( Homeless Count 2005 Victoria , Cool Aid Society ) The number of homeless people increased dramatically with the anticipated tourism boom of the 2010 Winter Olympics . 25 Case Study Victoria and Williams Lake

Williams Lake REGIONAL DISTRICT Figure Regional District showing location of Williams Lake ( click for larger ) Williams Lake , is a city in the central interior of . Located in the region known as the , it is the largest urban centre between and Prince George , with a population of in the city limits . The primary industries in Williams Lake are forestry , logging , milling , mining and ranching . Williams Lake is best known for the Williams Lake Stampede . This event , held annually on a weekend on or around Canada Day , features Canadian Professional Rodeo Association action including bull riding , barrel racing , bareback riding , roping , steer wrestling , team roping and chuck wagon races . trim Figure Stampede at Williams Lake The indigenous ethnic makeup of Williams Lake makes it an interesting case study in terms of quality of life and homelessness . The ethnic makeup , of which Williams Lake is a part of , is vastly different from the rest of . In the whole of , the Aboriginal population is , whereas as in , it is . The majority of First Nations people live on the 15 , Carrier and in communities in the area , but a growing number Case Study Victoria and Williams Lake 26

are choosing to live in Williams Lake . Census Canada 2011 figures suggest that the Aboriginal population in Williams Lake increased by approximately 130 between 1991 and 2011 . Data from 2005 illustrate the difference in income between the Aboriginal population , other visible minorities and minorities . 2005 Median Income by Ethnic Group 14509 South Asian Population No ! a 25 ii 000 70 000 71 ) 000 20 000 ) 000 30 000 2005 Median Income ( Figure 2005 Williams Lake Median income by ethnic group by Hilda adapted from Statistics Canada , 2007 Labour force participation rates have declined over the past five census periods with the collapse of the forestry industry in the area , partially caused by the mountain pine beetle infestation . Commuting patterns suggest that most Williams Lake residents leave the city to find employment , especially male residents , some of whom commute as far away as . According to Census Canada 2011 , Williams Lake has a high proportion of renters in the region , who are regarded as an vulnerable group for living in poverty due to uncertain income and rising costs . In fact , 38 of renters in Williams Lake spent 30 of their income on rent compared with 13 by homeowners . Figure 21 . British Columbia Map by Hilda derived from The Atlas of Canada site english maps reference outline ) and used is under Open Government Licence ( eng ) Figure Regional District showing location of Williams Lake ( sites default files sections ) by Kyle and used under license ( licenses ) Figure Stampede at Williams Lake by ( photos 8510057 ) used under license ( licenses ) Figure 2005 Median income by ethnic group by Hilda adapted from Statistics Canada , 2007 . 27 Case Study Victoria and Williams Lake

Case Study Housing The Cost of Real Estate and Access to Housing of housing in Canada presents a complex paradox . Canada is considered to be among the more affordable places in the Global North to live , with 80 of Canadians being served by housing , which includes individual home ownership and private rental housing . However and specifically Vancouver do not fare well in this national picture of . The rising inequality gap of affordable housing presents a significant challenge for households who are priced out of rental and ownership housing markets . Statistics Canada reported that while Canada real ) per capita increased by about 50 between 1980 and 2006 , and the average earnings among the top 20 of employees grew by , among those in the bottom 25 of the distribution average earnings decreased by ( Statistics Canada , 2006 ) Lack of affordable housing is one of a number of complex factors that leads to homelessness ( 2009 ) Household income needed to buy property median income ' I ' I 80 ow 637 417 33 ( household median income We , or A , Median Income ( Median income income income ) Cities and Median Income Figure Housing cost in Vancouver , compared with other cities in Canada ( source Royal Bank of Canada , 2012 ) According to the urban planning think tank ( 2014 ) says Metro Vancouver has the housing prices in the world . The research compared urban areas with over one million residents in ( Organisation for Economic and Development ) countries around the world , and Vancouver came out second when income and cost of housing were compared . Blame has been placed on Vancouver strong urban containment policies ( 2004 ) which are said to have caused the city to deteriorate markedly . The average house price in Metro Vancouver is , which would require 80 of the average median household income to service the mortgage . Vancouver is seen as a very desirable city to live in , and therefore it comes with a cost . This situation is not limited to Greater Vancouver as the research shows that Victoria , and the Valley are also some of the most unaffordable places in Canada . Case Study Housing 28

Figure Housing cost in Vancouver , compared to other cities in Canada by Hilda 29 Case Study Housing Summary The study of economics and growth in Geography is fundamentally about uneven development a global divide , sometimes referred to as the Global South and Global North or Third World and First World . The rich countries , or those located in the Global World , are expected to have higher incomes that provide residents with greater access to better living conditions , health care and education . However , this representation can be misleading as articulated in the case studies . Figure might be telling us about a minority of rich people in a country in the Global South or neglecting very little on poor populations living in the Global North . Economic development is often measured by a country gross domestic product ( gross national income ( and purchasing power parity ( For additional economic measurement tools , visit the resource section of this chapter . There are other indicators and tools available to measure standards of living , one of which is the ( survey . Summary 30

Key Terms ! Terms Gross domestic product ( An estimate of the total value of all materials , foodstuffs , goods and services that a country produces in one year . As is a measure of commodities , the figure for each country is divided by the total population of the country in order to get the per capita . Gross national income ( A measure of the income that into a country from production no matter where in the world companies from that country may be operating . Organisation for Economic and Development ( An international economic organization with the mission to promote policies that will improve the economic and social of people around the world . Purchasing power parity ( A tool that calculates how much the local currency of a country can buy locally ( what you can buy CAD 20 Canada compared with its equivalent in Colombia . Quality of life ( A measure of the general of and societies , using the indicators of income , wealth , employment , the built environment , physical and mental health , education , social belonging and leisure time . is used as a measurement in many fields including international development , healthcare , politics and employment . 31 Key Terms

Suggested Activities Activities Activity I Look at the following images of people living on the streets . Can you identify where in the world the image is from ?

Fig Homelessness around the world Activity Watch the video on the quality of life in Williams Lake and with a partner highlight some of the best things . Quality of Life in Williams Lake video ?

Suggested Activities 32 about living in Williams Lake Is homelessness present in your area ?

Are you aware of any policies by the municipal or local government to deal with homelessness ?

How does your area compare with either Victoria or Williams Lake ?

Activity Watch the short video on the of housing in the Greater Vancouver What is most shocking about the information provided in the video ?

Why do you think Vancouver is such an unaffordable place to buy property ?

Activity Look at the fact sheet ( figure ) about homelessness in Victoria , and discuss with a partner which fact is most shocking to you and why ?

Can you relate any of these figures to your local area ?

World second least affordable city by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ( news Canada ) 33 Suggested Activities In greater Victoria according to greater Victorians greater Victorians cited these as the primary causes of homelessness menial health issues 98 poverty 94 drug alcohol abuse 93 physical , cognitive or other i 83 unemployment 83 know someone who has experienced mental health or additions issues . cos ! more in know someone who has been . services for a person to be homeless man ii does to oi io surveyed agreed ii nave experienced agree ensuring access to affordable housing is the responsibility of . provide them with housing agree affordable housing would help reduce homelessness is homelessness an issue in your municipality ?

survey participants by region 47 32 , western bay ' include highlands . and View royal seamen Includes and is me result A survey done in February 2014 on Victorians homelessness The survey , try vie Great to End Homelessness Survey margin oi is A ' a Figure Facts on Homelessness in by Greater Victoria . Coalition to End . Homelessness ( Suggested Activities 34

Activity Calculate the cost of living in using the calculators and work out the details for the following scenarios . Peter earns CAD a year and Janice earns CAD . They have two young children both of whom are in school . Edward earns CAD CAD a year and his wife Barbara earns CAD . Their three children are grown up . Polly earns CAD a year and is not married she has one son . Activity Imagine that you are Polly , the single parent earning CAD a year , and you must find assistance with housing . Use the Housing and outline the required steps and procedures you would need to complete in order to receive subsidized housing . Do you qualify ?

Why or why not ?

Activity Relating affordable housing to your context The Mayor of Vancouver promises affordable housing for all , including Do you live in student accommodation ?

Do you have friends who live in housing ?

What do you think about the conditions that you your friends are expected to live in ?

What can be done to change some of these conditions ?

Interview your parents , a relative or a friend who owns their own home . Ask them when they bought their home and if they know the difference in its value today . Ask them what they think of the cost of housing in and what options there are for young people planning to purchase their first home . Cost of Living calculator . Housing website Initiatives Providing Subsidized . Affordable housing for all , including student housing 35 Suggested Activities

Activity Take action . The Greater Victoria Coalition to End offers many volunteer opportunities that students can engage in . A list of community groups in Williams Lake can be found at Find An Advocate Williams Lake Aboriginal and First Nations , and provides emergency housing for women and children and offers volunteer opportunities . Figure Man sleeping on sidewalk by The Blackbird ( wiki File Man sleeping on Canadian ) licenses ) Girl sitting on the street by Steve Evans ( wiki File ) used under ( licenses ) Street dwellers by ( wiki File Street dwellers in San district in Tokyo ) licenses ) Living on empties by ( photos 9564981924 in ) used under ( licenses ) Figure Facts on homelessness in by Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness ( used with permission . Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness ( Find An Advocate Williams Lake , Aboriginal and First Nations ( advocate 453 73 ?

resources Suggested Activities 36 References and Resources References Census Canada Directory 2011 2011 ref 2014 Annual International Housing Survey 2014 , Rating for Metropolitan Markets , Richter , Gulliver , 2013 ) The state of homelessness in Canada 2013 . Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Gregory , Pratt , Watts , and , 2009 The Dictionary of Human Geography and Oxford , 2004 . and the Reproduction of Vancouver Central Area the City . Urban Stud 41 , 2009 . Homelessness in Canada Past , Present and Future . Growing Home Housing and Homelessness in Canada . University of . Knox , 1975 . Social a spatial perspective . Oxford The Clarendon Press . Mitchell , 2003 The Right to the City social justice and the fight for public space . New York Press Smith , 1973 . The geography of social in the United States an introduction to social indicators . New York . Statistics Canada 2006 2006 , 1996 . A decade of understanding homelessness in the USA from characterization to representation . Prog Hum 20 , Resources Better Life Index Canadians in housing third overall in new quality of life ( Financial post ) Greater Victoria Report on Housing and Supports 2012 13 Williams Lake Social Development Homeless Hub Victoria Community Snapshot Williams Lake 37 References and Resources