2023 11 17 A STRONG ECONOMY

Operated by: 

QUALITY OF LIFE: 

A STRONG ECONOMY

Quality of Life Subcommittee 

Dariel Bateman 

Beth Blowes 

Jeneane Fast 

Kehlar Hillyer 

Leah Kennedy 

Joelle Lamport-Lewis 

Barb Leavitt 

Robin Spence-Haffner 

Jennifer Rojas 

Nancy Summers 

Kathy Vassilakos 

Special thanks given to advisors 

from Huron Perth Public Health: 

Erica Clark, PhD 

Angela Willert 

The Social Research & Planning Council is funded by: 

City of Stratford, Town of St. Marys, 

County of Perth, through the Department of Social Services, 

the County of Huron and United Way Perth-Huron. 

Thank you to all the community partners who 

contributed to this project. We value your contribution. 

Social Research & Planning Council 

United Centre, 32 Erie St., Stratford, ON N5A 2M4 

Tel: 519-271-7730 

Email: srpc@perthhuron.unitedway.ca 

www.perthhuron.unitedway.ca/social-research-planning-council

ECONOMY 

Economic factors have a critical impact on quality of life. 

Employment is a significant contributor to overall quality of life. 

Together, income, financial security and employment directly 

impact one’s ability to afford essentials such as adequate housing, 

food, energy, internet and transportation. Emotional, physical and 

mental well-being is connected to access to these critical rights 

and factors.

INCOME 

Incomes in Perth-Huron are lower than 

provincial median 

Income has a significant impact on quality of life and is one 

of the most important social determinants of health. Living 

with low income can lead to incredible stress as low-income 

individuals and families try to get by while dealing with 

substandard housing, food insecurity, poor working conditions, 

unstable employment and discrimination. 1 

As of 2020, the median after-tax household income in Perth 

is $74,500 and $70,000 in Huron. By comparison, it is $79,500 

in Ontario. For one-person households, the median after-tax 

income is $37, 600 in Perth and $36,400 in Huron. It is $39,200 in 

Ontario. 2 

While low income is an indicator of living in poverty, it is not the 

same thing. Poverty is complex and can be described as not 

having enough money or access to resources to enjoy a decent 

standard of living. It extends beyond having enough income to 

afford only necessities — such as food or shelter — and is about 

exclusion. As such, poverty is difficult to define. In this report we 

refer to specific forms of poverty: energy poverty, food insecurity 

and housing poverty. 

Learn more about poverty. Visit Stats Canada’s Dimensions of 

Poverty Hub: www.statcan.gc.ca/en/topics-start/poverty 

2020 Median 

household 

income 

Perth 

$74,500 

Huron 

$70,000 

Ontario 

$79,500 

2020 Median 

one-person 

household 

income 

Perth 

$37,600 

Huron 

$36,400 

Ontario 

$39,200 

Page 4 A Strong Economy

In our region, 45% of residents over the age of 15 made 

less than a living wage as of 2020. According to Living 

Wage Canada, a living wage is the hourly wage every adult in a 

household needs to earn to cover basic expenses and participate 

in the community. In Ontario, a specific living wage is calculated 

for every region. 

The minimum wage is the lowest wage an employer can legally 

pay their staff. It is not based on a calculation of the cost of living, 

nor adjusted annually. 

The most recent living wage for Perth-Huron, released in 

November 2023, is $22.75 per hour. As of October 1, 2023, the 

Ontario minimum wage is $16.65 per hour and $15.60 for students. 

The gap between minimum wage and living wage in 

Perth-Huron is now over $6 per hour. 

45%* 

of residents over 

the age of 15 made 

less than a living 

wage as of 2020 

*Calculated with 2020 taxfiler data 

and based upon 2022 Living Wage 

Rate 

www.livingwage.ca 

Graph 1: 2023 Living Wage Breakdown; Perth-Huron 

Source: Ontario Living Wage Network 

*Figures represent an aggregation of three household types and a 35-hour work week 

A: Two working adults with two children 

B: One working adult with one child 

C: One working adult 


RECOMMENDATIONS 

Employers increase their rates of pay to a living wage and 

certify with the Ontario Living Wage Network. 

Employers currently paying a living wage ensure 

procurement policies and supply chain decisions reflect 

the local living wage. 

The provincial government raises the minimum wage to a 

living wage.

Women, racialized workers and new immigrants are 

disproportionately represented in the lowest paid worker bracket. 

The lowest paid workers are often more vulnerable and more likely to 

be precariously employed. 

The number of working poor in Canada is growing. In the Social 

Research & Planning Council’s recent report, Household Food 

Insecurity in Perth and Huron, more than 700 respondents reported 

being food insecure or at risk of food insecurity. Of the food insecure 

respondents, 64% had full-time employment. 

The following chart displays the difference in individual income 

between men and women based on data from the 2021 census. In 

both counties, women earned consistently less than men. 

Read Household Food 

Insecurity in Perth and Huron: 

perthhuron.unitedway.ca/ 

research/ 

Graph 2: Median total income in 2020 

Source: Statistics Canada 

$60,000 

$50,000 

$49,200 

$47,600 

Median Income is the value at 

which half the individuals earn 

below and half the individuals 

earn above. 

$40,000 

$37,600 

$35,600 

$30,000 

$20,000 

$10,000 

*Statistics Canada data for 

Perth-Huron does not reference 

transgender or non-binary 

identities. Instead, data is broken 

down by men+ (which includes 

men, boys and some non-binary 

persons) and women+ (which 

includes women, girls and some 

non-binary persons). 

$0 

Perth 

Huron 

Men 

Women 


Graph 3: Projected median household income 

Source: Environics Canada 

$76,000 

$75,500 

$75,434 

$75,000 

$74,500 

$74,247 

$74,000 

$73,863 

$73,500 

$73,286 

$73,000 

2022 2025 2027 2032 

RECOMMENDATION 

Employers in all sectors perform a salary 

audit to collect gender pay discrepancy data 

and address any pay inequities that emerge.

The Number of Low-Income Households 

Dropped Due to Federal Assistance Programs 

The LIM-AT is defined as half the median family income after tax 

and varies based upon family size. LIMs are the most frequently 

used measurement internationally, especially when making 

comparisons between countries. It is widely used because it 

is simple to measure, not necessarily because it is the best 

measure of poverty. 3 

20% 

18% 

16% 

14% 

12% 

10% 

Graph 4: Low-Income Population Based on LIM-AT by Age (%) 


8% 

6% 

4% 

2% 

0% 

Perth 2016 Perth 2021 Huron 2016 Huron 2021 

0-17 18-64 65+ 

From 2016 to 2021, the number of youth ages zero to 17 living in lowincome 

households dropped considerably in Perth-Huron. This likely 

reflects the financial support provided by the Canada Child Benefit, 

introduced in 2016, which provides a significant increase for lowincome 

households as compared to the previous benefits system. 4 

The financial support provided through the Canada Emergency 

Response Benefit (CERB) to individuals 15 years or older who had 

earned $5,000 or more in the previous year and whose employment 

was affected by COVID-19 is another probable factor. Meanwhile, the 

number of individuals over 65 living in low-income households has 

increased slightly. 5 


~19% 

of total income in 

our region came 

from government 

transfers in 2020 

Social Assistance Programs Supplement 

Incomes of Financially Insecure Households 

Government transfers cover a wide range of programs including 

Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age 

Security. In Perth, 18% of an individual’s total income comes 

from government transfers on average. In Huron it is 20%. In 

Ontario it is 17%. 6 

Ontario Works (OW) provides money for food, shelter and 

other costs to people in financial need who are at least 16 and 

participate in employment activities. The Ontario Disability 

Support Program (ODSP) provides financial assistance and 

employment to people with disabilities. To receive ODSP, the 

individual must be 18 years old, be in financial need and meet 

the program’s definition of a person with a disability. Ontario 

increased the ODSP rate in July 2023. However, the last Ontario 

Works increase was in 2018. While the number of OW cases has 

remained steady since 2017 in Perth-Huron, ODSP caseloads 

increased between 2018 and 2020. 


The provincial government increases social assistance 

rates to the equivalent of a living wage so recipients 

can more adequately meet their basic needs, increase 

earnings exemptions and exemption rates and index 

rates to inflation.

Food Insecurity Impacts the Healthcare System 

Food insecurity means insecure access to food because of 

financial constraints. 7 The Social Research & Planning Council 

conducted a survey in November 2022 to better understand the 

nature and severity of household food insecurity regionally. More 

than 700 digital and paper surveys were analyzed. Findings of 

this survey revealed that 63% of respondents experienced food 

insecurity in the past year. Other findings can be seen in the 

charts below. 

Graph 5: Children and adults cut size of meals or skipped meals (past year) 

Source: SRPC Food Insecurity Survey 

Some months but not every month 

Only one or two months 

Almost every month 

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 

Children 

Adults 

Graph 6: Does income meet everyday needs? 


2% 

Prefer not 

to answer 

35% 

Meets most 

everyday needs 

24% 

Does not meet 


39% 

Meets some of 


Page 11 A Strong Economy

Of respondents, 87% said they had to sacrifice their household 

food budget to pay for other living expenses such as rent or 

mortgage, transportation and utilities. A reduced food budget 

results in a compromised quality and/or quantity of food. The 

SRPC survey validates the finding that poverty is the root 

cause of food insecurity. 8 

Graph 7: Mental health implications of inadequate food budget 


Prefer not to answer 

None of the above 

Have suicidal thoughts 

Isolated 

Irritable/Angry 

Aggressive/Hyperactive 

Depressed/Frustrated/Powerless/Shame 

Anxious and stressed 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 

According to an Ontario study, kids in food insecure 

households are more likely to access healthcare for mental 

health and substance use. In other words, household food 

insecurity increases strain on the healthcare system. 9 


In 2022, the cost of groceries for a family of four in Perth-Huron 

was $249 per week, or approximately $1,076 per month. A family of 

four relying on Ontario Works therefore needs to spend 39% of their 

income on food. Combined with the 52% of their income they must 

spend on rent, that leaves just 9%, or $261, each month for all other 

expenses. Households without children receive much less. 

For households earning minimum wage, working precarious jobs, 

receiving social assistance or living on a fixed income, it’s difficult 

to manage. The following table, taken from Huron Perth Public 

Health’s report The Real Cost of Eating in Huron and Perth 2022 * , 

compares households receiving different social assistance benefits 

and how much money they have left after covering rent and food. 

Some benefits are not sufficient to cover even that. The table also 

shows the median Ontario income, highlighting the disparity with 

those who must survive on social assistance. 10 Maytree’s Welfare 

in Canada, 2022 report found that based on Toronto’s poverty line, 

social assistance rates in Ontario leave all family types living in 

deep poverty. Given that Perth-Huron’s living wage rate is only a 

couple of dollars less than Toronto’s, it is likely families would be 

living in deep poverty here as well. 11 

*Huron Perth Public Health 

surveys the average price of 61 

food items from multiple grocery 

stores across the region. These 

average prices are then used to 

calculate the cost of one week’s 

worth of groceries. 

Households with Child(ren) 

Households without Child(ren) 

Income Source 

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 Scenario 4 Scenario 5 

Ontario 

Works 

Median 

Ontario 

Income 

Ontario 

Works 

Income (After tax) 

ODSP 

Senior 

OAS/GIS 

Total Monthly Income $2,760 $9,323 $863 $1309 $1,885 

Expenses 

Housing $1,423 $1,423 $742 $1,258 $1,258 

Food $1,076 $1,076 $386 $386 $279 

Monthly Income Remaining for Other Expenses 

$261 $6,824 -$265 -$335 $348 

% Income Required for Rent 52% 15% 86% 96% 67% 

% Income Required for Food 39% 12% 45% 29% 15% 

Table 1: Income and expenses table 

Source: The Real Cost of Eating in Huron and Perth 2022 


All levels of government establish policies that support 

income-based solutions to food insecurity including a 

living wage and guaranteed income. 


EMPLOYMENT 

More of the Perth population is active in labour 

force, more men than women in labour force 

The labour force participation rate speaks to the proportion 

of the overall population over the age of 15 that is working or 

actively seeking work. In Perth, 66.3% of the population 15 and 

over is actively participating in the labour force. In this instance, 

a high participation rate and a low unemployment rate indicate 

a robust job market. However, the participation rates for men 

and women are significantly different. The participation rate for 

men is 72% and for women it is 60.8%. A similar trend is evident 

in Huron, with an overall participation rate of 60.9% but 66% for 

men and 55.9% for women. 12 

Historically, Perth-Huron — as part of the Stratford-Bruce 

Peninsula economic region — has one of the lowest 

unemployment rates in Ontario. The following graph displays 

the average unemployment rate in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula 

region and Ontario over the past seven years. While the 

unemployment rate rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has 

since returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Graph 8: Unemployment rate in Stratford-Bruce Peninsula and Ontario 

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, 2023. Data has not been seasonally adjusted. 

10 

9 

8 

7 

Unemployment Rate (%) 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Year 

Page 15 A Strong Economy 

Stratford-Bruce Peninsula 

Ontario

1,636 

children on 

waitlist in Perth 

265 

children on 

waitlist in Huron 

The lack of early childhood 

educators has impacted the 

delivery of services in Perth- 

Huron. Licensed daycares, 

as well as multiple before 

and after school childcare 

programs ceased operating 

in mid-2023. 

Childcare Options Are in Short Supply 

While the workforce in Canada rebounded following the 

COVID-19 pandemic, reports indicate workforce gaps between 

men and women remain and childcare has been identified as 

a significant contributing factor. During the pandemic, more 

than 1.6 million women in Canada left the workforce. Women are 

more likely to work in sectors that were more directly impacted 

by COVID-19, such as education, childcare, service and tourism. 

The biggest decline in participation rates was for women who 

had school-aged children. Even among men, participation gaps 

exist for those with children and those without. The largest 

participation gap is 18.4% between men and women with 

children under the age of six. 13 

Among women who are not working, the main reasons they 

report being out of the workforce are personal and family 

responsibilities. Women working part-time reported that 

childcare was the biggest reason they could not work fulltime. 

14 

Huron 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Number of licensed childcare spaces 1,509 1,509 1,509 1,509 

Number of licensed private home childcare providers 21 14 12 13 

Number of children on the waitlist for licensed childcare 475 244 280 265 

Childcare fee subsidy (average per month) 475 350 180 239 

Table 2: Childcare spaces in Huron 

Source: Huron County 

Perth 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Number of licensed childcare spaces 1,989 2,030 2,078 2,094 

Number of licensed private home childcare providers 15 10 6 5 

Number of children on the waitlist for licensed childcare 814 1,034 1,166 1,636 

Childcare fee subsidy (average per month) 477 417 384 379 

Table 3: Childcare spaces in Perth 

Source: City of Stratford 


A Greater Percentage of People in Perth and 

Huron are Self-employed Compared to the 

Province 

Most workers in Perth and Huron work as employees, while close 

to one in five are self-employed. Compared to the province, this 

region has more self-employed people with 18% in Perth and 21% 

in Huron compared to 15% in Ontario. 15 

Graph 9: Self-employed workers in Perth and Huron 


HURON 

PERTH 

18% Self-employed 21% 

82% Employee 

79%

The next chart displays labour force occupation by National 

Occupation Classification (NOC), Canada’s system for 

describing occupations. NOC codes help organize and explain 

job descriptions, educational requirements, skill requirements 

and related jobs. 16 

The top occupations in Perth and Huron are trades, transport, 

equipment operator and sales and service. In Perth, those 

fields are followed by business, finance and administration. In 

Huron, they are followed by natural resources and agriculture. 

Graph 10: Labour force occupation in Perth and Huron by National Occupational Classification* 


*This is not an exhaustive list 

Natural/Applied Sciences 

Health 

Education/Law/Social/Community & Gov. Services 

Natural Resources/Agriculture 

Manufacturing/Utilities 

Business/Finance/Administration 

Trades/Transport/Equipment Operators 

Sales/Service 

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 

Huron Perth 

In both Perth and Huron the industries with the greatest number 

of businesses are agriculture, real estate and construction. 17 

Industry Perth Huron 

Agriculture 26% 35% 

Real Estate + Rental & Leasing 15% 16% 

Construction 9% 8% 

Retail Trade 7% 6% 

Table 4: Industries with the most businesses 

Source: 4 County Labour Market Planning Board 


SMALL BUSINESSES 

Small business and non-profits play an important 

role in rural well-being 

Perth and Huron have a large share of micro (one to four 

employees) and very small (five to nine employees) businesses 

— including non-profits — that contribute siginificantly to the 

economy. Huron has a very large proportion of small businesses, 

with only 0.02% of businesses having more than 100 employees. 

Additionally, 74% of businesses in Huron are classified as selfoperated. 

In Perth, 0.07% of businesses have more than 100 

employees and 70% of businesses are classified as self-operated. 18 

Small businesses also contribute to quality of life in many ways. 

They are reflective of the communities in which they operate and 

strengthen connections and relationships. Small businesses have 

a high rate of participation in community, purchasing goods and 

services from other local businesses, holding fundraisers and 

volunteering at local events. As of 2023, 51% of business in Perth 

and 54% in Huron have one to four employees. 19 

The non-profit 

sector contributes 

7.9% 

to the Ontario’s GDP 

and employs 

844,000 

people 

77% of whom are 

women. 

Source: The Ontario Non-Profit 

Network 

Perth County small business trends 

Existing entrepreneurs — in business prior to 

2020 — are more likely to be interested in selling 

or reducing their services. 

Young entrepreneurs are the majority of new 

business owners. 

Trending industries include sustainable retail, 

micro-focused (single) food products, digital 

services and senior support services. 

Huron County small business trends 

The majority of existing businesses are in a stable 

position and expect to maintain size, with a 

moderate number wanting to expand. 

Mid- and late-career professionals are starting 

new businesses. 

Trending industries include small batch farming 

and small agri-food retailers, artisanal and craft 

businesses, specialty and gift retail. 

Table 5: Small business trends 

Source:Invest Stratford; Huron County Small Business and Entrepreneur Centre. 

Non-profits and private sector businesses experienced many 

changes due to COVID-19 restrictions and closures, exacerbating 

issues such as increased costs, workforce recruitment and 

retention and housing shortages. Many non-profits are using 

reserves to continue operations so the need for government 

funding remains high. 



The federal government extends the interest-free 

full loan repayment period (i.e., the qualifying period 

for partial loan forgiveness) by at least one year, to 

December 31, 2024, for Canada Emergency Business 

Account (CEBA)* and Regional Relief and Recovery 

Fund (RRRF)** loans. 

All levels of government provide stable, long-term 

and flexible operational funding for non-profits that 

keeps pace with inflation and reflects the true costs of 

delivering programs and services. 

Provincial and municipal government increases funding 

and resources to support and encourage small business 

entrepreneurship. 

*The federal CEBA program offered interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small 

businesses and non-profits. 

**The RRRF is part of the national COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to ease 

financial pressures caused by the pandemic. 25% was allocated for the tourism 

sector

Location of Work is Varied 

During the pandemic, many businesses were forced to shut down 

in-person operations and began functioning remotely with many 

employees working from home. 20 In May 2020, roughly 37% of 

working Canadians were working from home . According to the 

2021 census, only 21% of people in Perth-Huron work at home 

in comparison to 30% in Ontario, although some people have a 

hybrid work situation. 21 

21% 

of people in 

Perth-Huron 

work at home 

Graph 11: Location of work in Perth and Huron compared to Ontario 


Usual place of work 

No fixed place 

Worked at home 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 

Ontario 

Perth and Huron

employs 

4,200 people 

Most people in Ontario commute within the community they 

live. Perth’s numbers are similar to the province, but in Huron 

only 39% of workers commute within their municipality, 33% 

commute outside of their municipality but within their county 

and 28% commute outside of Huron. Length of commute is 

directly related to subjective quality of life, with longer commutes 

meaning less time spent with family and friends, less time spent 

on recreation and leisure and lower life satisfaction. 22 

Bruce Power is by far the largest employer in the Stratford-Bruce 

Peninsula region with over 4,200 employees, some of whom 

commute from Huron and Perth. There is a significant indirect 

economic impact on the region as thousands of people are 

indirectly employed by hundreds of companies providing goods 

and services to Bruce Power. 23 

Graph 12: Commuting for work 


Commute outside of county 

Commute outside of municipality 

(but within county) 

Commute within municipality 

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 

Ontario Huron Perth 

Employees who fully or partially work from home may reduce the need for childcare, decrease 

GHG emissions and risk of traffic accidents by reducing the commute. 


Employers provide as much flexibility as feasible to 

accommodate the diverse needs of the workforce. 

According to a study conducted by researchers from the School of Environmental Design and Rural 

Development at the University of Guelph, average savings for rural telecommuters could range 

from $8,820 to $23,964 per year depending on the number of days telecommuted per week. 

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596118301046 


HOUSING AND LIVING STANDARDS 

Housing is a human right 

While it is often treated as a commodity, adequate housing is a 

human right according to Canadian and international law. This 

means every person has the right to secure housing without 

the fear of eviction or losing their home. People should also be 

able to live in a neighbourhood that aligns with their culture 

and where they have access to employment, schools and 

services. 24 

Rates of homeownership are higher in Perth and Huron 

than across the province. In Ontario, 68% of people own the 

home they live in and about 31% rent. In Perth, 72% of people 

own their home while 28% rent. In Huron, 78% of people own 

their home and 22% rent. 

Housing is generally considered “affordable” if all shelter 

costs amount to less than 30% of a household’s before-tax 

income. 25 Shelter costs include rent, mortgage payments and 

any necessary repairs. In our region, fewer homeowners than 

renters are living in unaffordable housing. In Perth, 17% of 

homeowners spend more than 30% of their income on shelter 

costs while the number is 16% in Huron. By contrast, almost 

33% of renter households in Perth and 31% in Huron are 

spending 30% or more of their income on shelter costs. 

Subsidized housing refers to any housing subsidized in a 

variety of ways to make it financially accessible to low-income 

individuals and families. It includes rent-geared-to-income 

housing, co-op housing, social housing, public housing, 

government-assisted housing, non-profit housing and housing 

subsidized by rent supplements and housing allowances. 26 In 

Perth, 14% of tenants live in subsidized housing while 15% of 

tenants in Huron live in subsidized housing. 27 Waitlists for 

subsidized housing are long and, anecdotally, many 

individuals will have to wait as much as five years to 

move into housing. 

In Perth and Huron 14% of tenant households are in 

core housing need. This means their housing is some 

combination of unaffordable, inadequate and unsuitable 

and the median acceptable alternative housing would also be 

unaffordable. 28 

The number of people facing homelessness is on the 

rise with a 17-person increase in Perth between 2018 

and 2021 and a dramatic 69-person increase in Huron. 

Graph 13: Rates of homeownership 


ONTARIO 

PERTH 

HURON 

68% 

32% 

72% 

28% 

78% 

22% 

Own 

Rent 

Own 

Rent 

Own 

Rent 

For the purposes of 

regulations, the Ontario 

government and the City of 

Stratford define an “affordable 

residential unit” as a unit 

which costs 80% or less of 

the average market rent or 

purchase price. 


14% 

of Perth-Huron 

people are 

experiencing 

housing poverty 

129 

of people in Perth 

have identified 

as experiencing 

homelessness 

Both Huron County and the City of Stratford maintain a By Name List 

of people who are experiencing homelessness inPerth and Huron. 

The number of people fluctuates for a variety of reasons including 

securing housing, moving away, losing contact with housing support 

services, becoming ineligible for supports or passing away. On the 

other end, individuals may return to the By Name List because they 

moved back to the Perth region or became eligible, regained contact 

with services or are again experiencing homelessness. In Perth in the 

last 12 months, a median of 6.5 individuals per month were identified 

for the first time as experiencing homelessness. 29 In Huron, there 

was a gradual increase in the number of people on the By Name List 

between September 2022 and May 2023, with no more than seven 

people coming on or off the list each month. Between May 2023 

and June 2023 there was an increase of 26 people. This increase 

was because of work done by partners such as employment centres 

and hospitals to connect with individuals experiencing chronic 

homelessness. 30 

In 2018 in Huron, the biggest reasons for homelessness were family 

conflicts, incarceration and an inability to pay rent or a mortgage. 

In 2021, however, the reasons for most people were family conflicts, 

abuse and illness, mental conditions or lack of income. In Perth, most 

people experiencing homelessness in 2018 stated it was because of 

relationship breakdown, addiction or substance abuse and unsafe 

housing conditions. In 2021, the main reasons were relationship and 

family issues, housing and financial issues and health and corrections 

31, 32 

issues. 

Some Causes of 

Homelessness 

Systemic Barriers 

Low income, inadequate 

supports for vulnerable 

populations 

Examples of Self- 

Identified Causes 

Incarceration, relationship 

breakdowns/divorce, 

unsafe housing conditions 

Some Exacerbating 

Factors 

Relationship Conflict 

Abuse, illness or 

mental health 

Lack of Housing 

Eviction, unaffordable 

housing, unsafe housing 

conditions 

Personal Challenge 

Relational, behavioural, 

emotional or physical 

Discrimination 

by race, gender, sexual 

orientation or ability 

Addiction 

or substance misuse

Graph 14: Number of people facing homelessness in Huron 

Source: Huron County, Housing Services 

100 

90 

84 

90 

83 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

42 

44 

37 

39 

48 49 

53 

57 58 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Graph 15: Number of people facing homelessness in Perth 


180 

170 

160 

140 

120 

100 

120 

102 

103 

87 

140 

129 

120 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

2019 2020 2021 2022 

Total Homeless 

Chronic Homeless 


Graph 16: Number of people on the housing waitlist 

Source: City of Stratford, Huron County 

700 

650 

600 

550 

500 

450 

400 

350 

300 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 

Huron 

Perth 

*There is no Huron 

data for October and 

no Perth data for 

December. 

Housing market is tight 

Housing prices have been increasing for decades but 

jumped significantly after 2020, with a difference of almost 

$200,000 in the average price between 2020 and 2021. 

Graph 17: Average price of houses sold in Huron-Perth 

Source: The Huron Perth Association of Realtors 

800 

700 

600 

Average Price (K) 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0 

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Housing Spectrum 

Home 

Ownership 

Private Rental 

Affordable 

Rental & 

Ownership 

Public & 

Community 

Housing 

Supportive 

Housing 

Shelters/Crisis 

Accommodation 

Experiencing 

Homelessness 


Page 28 Economics

Graph 18: Average price for one-bedroom rentals 


$1,400 

$1,200 

$1,000 

$800 

$600 

$400 

$200 

$0 

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Stratford 

North Perth 

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Rental 

Market Survey collects rent rates, availability, vacancy and turnover 

data for urban areas with populations of 10,000 or more. These are 

used in setting government housing policies. The survey targets 

private structures that have been on the market for at least three 

months and have at least three rental units. While useful for urban 

areas such as the City or Stratford and North Perth (Listowel), data 

is not available for most areas in Perth and Huron. 

The Alternate Average Market Rent (AAMR) surveys to collect 

accurate data on current rental market prices from residential 

advertisements in areas not covered by the CMHC survey. While 

the CMHC survey includes both occupied and available rental 

units, the AAMR covers units that are available for rent, providing 

an accurate reflection of rental prices. The AAMR also covers 

structures with 1–2 units and is not restricted to structures with 

three or more units. Many units in both the Perth and Huron rental 

markets are owned by landowners with only one or two units. 

Having accurate rental housing data is important because it forms 

the basis of the housing benefit amount used for social assistance 

calculations and increases the possibility of recipients of housing 

allowances being able to afford rental units in the private market. 


2020 AAMR 

from CMHC 

2021 Service 

Manager Area 

Rental Scan 

% 

Difference 

One bedroom $889 $1,253 41% 

Two bedrooms $1,034 $1,487 44% 

Three plus bedrooms $1,182 $1,894 60% 

Table 6: Comparison Between CMHC AAMRs and Local Rental Housing Costs 

City of Stratford. (2021). 2021-2 Request Alternate Average Market Rents Business Case. 

2022 AAMR 

from COHB* 

2022 Service 

Manager Area 

Rental Scan 

% 

Difference 

One bedroom $954 $1,345 41% 

Two bedrooms $1,144 $1,428 25% 

Three plus bedrooms $1,381 $1,800 30% 

Table 7: Comparison Between COHB AAMRs and Local Rental Housing Costs 

Huron County. (2022) 

*The CMHC does not 

collect rental data 

in Huron due to a 

small population size. 

Instead, the Canada- 

Ontario Housing 

Benefit (COHB) data 

is used for the Huron 

County comparison. 


The federal government and the Canadian Mortgage and 

Housing Corporation utilize an alternative methodology for the 

Rental Market Survey to collect data in rural areas that is both 

reliable and reflective of rural communities and their housing 

markets.

The following chart displays the Approved Alternate Market 

Rents (AAMR) in Perth for 2021. If a family makes the median 

after-tax income in Perth and Huron ($73,286 in 2022), 

29% of their income would go to rent if they were renting a 

two-bedroom rental based on the AAMR. For a one-person 

household, the median yearly after-tax income is $37,000. 

With this level, a one-bedroom rental would account for 46% 

of their income and a bachelor would account for 35% of 

their income. 

The 

median 

household 

earning $73,286 

spends 29% 

on rent 

Graph 19: Alternate Average Market Rent in Perth 2021 


The median 

one-adult 

household 

earning $37,000 

spends 46% 

on rent 

Many factors play into this leap in prices. On the demand 

side, the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health 

measures increased demand for larger dwellings with more 

rooms, while remote work allowed city dwellers to relocate 

to smaller centres. Low interest rates and rising prices 

gave homeowners more equity to leverage for purchasing 

additional properties. 33 Rising prices also may have created 

a sense of urgency for new buyers, who didn’t want to miss 

out or get stuck. Others may have bought simply to flip 

properties in a hot market, or to convert downscale housing 

into upscale housing as an investment strategy. 34 Meanwhile, 

many potential buyers now find that homes are out of reach 

and they must stay in the rental market. 35 As a result the 

rental market is limited, with fewer units available overall. 

Simultaneously, immigration levels have increased to meet 

labour needs (including in construction), creating further 

demand for units. 

Dr. Andrew Boozary is a primary 

care physician and the Executive 

Director of Population Health and 

Social Medicine at the University 

Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. 

With the UHN, Dr. Boozary has 

been doing innovative work 

helping people experiencing 

homelessness. Along with a wider 

movement in Canada and the 

United States, they have launched 

a project to build and provide 

permanent housing for vulnerable 

populations. In addition to helping 

people facing homelessness, the 

project — built on what used to 

be a UHN parking lot — helps 

hospitals cut the costs of caring 

for homeless patients. According 

to Boozary, “The air you breathe, 

the job you have, the income 

and social connections you 

have, are a much larger driver of 

health outcomes than how many 

primary care visits or surgeries 

you get access to as a patient.” 

With this project, Boozary will be 

able to “prescribe” housing for 

those who need it most. 36

A 

In addition to its more positive 

elements, Bill 23 controversially 

opened certain Greenbelt lands 

to development. After a critical 

report form the Auditor General 

and significant public backlash, 

housing minister Steve Clark 

stepped down and Doug Ford 

vowed to return those lands to the 

Greenbelt. 

On the supply side, new housing has been severely constricted 

for many years by local land-use regulation and zoning rules. In 

many communities, it is simply against the rules to build many 

types of housing, particularly dense housing like apartment 

buildings, on most residential land. 37 Current regulation also 

empowers residents to block development, even if it is in the 

interest of the community. This means housing providers must 

often spend years navigating bureaucracy and facing down local 

opposition to deliver even small amounts of housing to market. 

This drives up development expenses which are ultimately 

passed on through higher prices. This is on top of the rising 

costs of raw materials and labour. 38 

Additionally, in the mid-nineties both the federal and provincial 

governments divested from new affordable, social and nonprofit 

housing. Social housing is now the responsibility of 

Ontario municipalities, who, of all levels of government, have the 

least capacity to fund it. While investments at the higher levels 

of government have increased in the past twenty years, for 

instance through the National Housing Strategy, many of these 

programs have been modest and the demand from affordable 

housing providers is incredibly high. 39 

The demand for housing has increased dramatically while 

supply of all kinds has been choked off. Wages are not 

keeping pace with the cost of housing and it has become 

unaffordable for many in our area. Fortunately, the province and 

local governments are taking steps to increase supply through 

initiatives such as Ontario’s Bill 23 A and the investStratford 

Attainable Market Housing Project. These are welcome steps 

but much more can be done. 


All levels of government collaborate with the private 

and non-profit sectors to incentivize and facilitate the 

development of affordable housing, particularly tailored to 

rural municipalities. 

The provincial government increases funding for 

municipalities and non-profits to expand access to and 

availability of supportive and transitional housing, as well 

as other emergency and long-term supports and services. 


Energy Poverty is Higher in Rural Areas 

Households experience energy poverty when they face 

significant challenges in adequately meeting home energy 

needs, paying for home energy costs or affording other 

necessities because of energy costs. Energy poverty is 

often linked with household income because low-income 

households are more likely to live in lower-efficiency homes 

requiring more energy. Moderate-income households may 

also struggle because energy use increases with income. 

Households experiencing energy poverty are 

significantly more likely to suffer from poorer general 

and mental health. 40 Households in rural regions are 

more likely to experience energy poverty than households 

in urban areas. The possible reasons for this are a greater 

reliance upon electricity rather than natural gas to heat 

homes and water, higher transmission charges and overall 

41, 42 

larger home sizes in rural areas versus urban. 

Several municipalities within Perth-Huron are not serviced 

by natural gas. This means households are paying more 

to heat their homes and water, increasing the cost of 

living significantly. Additionally, there are competitive 

disadvantage for businesses. Portions of Ashfield- 

Colbourne-Wawanosh, Morris-Turnberry and Perth 

East do not yet have natural gas service. 43 The 

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) offers 

emergency financial help for people who are behind on their 

electricity or natural gas bills and are faced with having their 

service disconnected. To qualify, household income must 

fall below a certain limit based on how many people live in 

the house and the total household income. 44 In Stratford, 

approximately 39% of households spend more than 6% of 

their income on energy costs, meaning they have a high to 

extreme home energy cost burden. 

6% 

Any household that spends 

more than 6% of after-tax 

income on home energy 

costs is considered to live in 

energy poverty. 

Citation Anon. 2019. Energy Poverty 

in Canada: A CUSP Backgrounder. 

The Ontario Energy Board 

estimates the average 

residential household uses 

750 kWh/month. 

Hydro One rural low-density 

customers used an average 

of 1,190 kWh/month. 

Citation Anon. 2019. Energy Poverty 

in Canada: A CUSP Backgrounder. 

More information about 

eligibility and the amount 

available here: Low-income 

Energy Assistance Program | 

Ontario Energy Board (oeb.ca) 


Governments and utility providers apply a human rights lens 

when providing utility services to rural customers, ensuring all 

customers have universal access to services and clean energy. 

The federal government allocates funds for low-income 

households to improve energy efficiency, move towards net-zero 

emissions targets and decrease energy poverty for vulnerable 

households. 


Internet Access and Broadband 

Investment is Needed 

Internet access has become a necessity for nearly all of 

us. The internet enables access to information, education, 

healthcare and, increasingly, employment in remote and 

rural communities. 45 The following map displays internet 

access in Perth and Huron counties. Many municipalities 

have 91–100% coverage, meaning over 90% of the 

municipality has internet access. Howick ranks lowest in 

terms of broadband coverage in Perth-Huron, followed 

by Perth East. Municipal governments have made highspeed 

broadband internet access a priority and significant 

infrastructure investments have been or will be made. 46 

91-100% 

81-90% 

71-80% 

61-10% 

51-60% 

Page 35 A Strong Economy 

Map 1: Broadband coverage 

Source: Connected North

The following map displays broadband projects funded by the 

Province of Ontario. 47 

Planning 

Under 

Construction 

Complete 

Map 2: Broadband projects 

Source: Connected North 


Government and providers invest further in universal access to 

broadband and cellular service, ensuring all residents have the critical 

infrastructure to support their inclusion.

Transportation Issues Are Prevalent 

Transportation issues are prevalent in the rural parts of our 

region, making it difficult for residents to take advantage 

of opportunities that would be easily accessible in more 

densely populated centres. Employment, education, health 

appointments and social activities often involve travel across 

significant distances and therefore require reliable and 

affordable transportation options. When these are not available, 

people miss out on key opportunities, especially affecting 

people living on low-incomes and the elderly. While many 

services transitioned to online delivery because of COVID-19, 

this is still inaccessible for more isolated rural clients who do not 

have internet access. 

Non-profits and volunteers have filled the gap for some 

residents. For instance, ONE CARE’s EasyRide service provides 

transportation to seniors, people with disabilities and those in 

low-serviced areas. 

The City of Stratford operates a public transit system with 

seven routes and regular Monday–Friday service. On Saturdays 

and Sundays people can access an on-demand system. 

Stratford Transit also includes services for people with physical 

challenges. The City of Stratford has a transportation service 

called Parallel Transit, also known as the “Mobility Bus,” that 

provides transportation within the City of Stratford for physically 

challenged individuals who are unable to access Stratford 

Transit. 48 

Municipalities in Perth County have also collaborated on the PC 

Connect transit service, connecting communities within Perth 

County to each other and with Kitchener-Waterloo and London. 

GO Transit piloted service to Stratford and St. Marys on the 

London to Toronto route from October 2021 to October 2023. 

During the two years of operation, there was a weekday 

commuter train to the GTA. VIA Rail also services Stratford daily 

on the Sarnia to Toronto line, but the once daily schedule is 

limiting. 

Due to the geographic size and sparse population 

of Perth-Huron, providing a sufficient transportation 

system is logistically and financially challenging. There 

are significant costs for individuals who must rely on taxis or 

charter services and these costs are particularly challenging 

for those living on restricted incomes. While strides have been 

made, transportation remains a barrier to quality of life for some 

in our rural region. Limited options for transportation make 

everyday activities such as grocery shopping and getting to 

appointments more complicated and costly, leading to social 

isolation.

Table 8: PC Connect ridership (# of rides) 

Source: Perth County 

Funding Year 3 

Nov 2020–Mar 2021 


Apr 2021–Mar 2022 


Apr 2022–Mar 2023 

Funding Year 6 (partial) 

Apr 2023–July 2023 

(in progress at time of writing) 

Route A 

Perth 

North 

Route B 

Perth 

South 

Transportation Within the Region 

PC Connect is a public transit service that offers 

transportation in Stratford, St. Marys, Perth County, 

London and Kitchener/Waterloo. 

Route 1 

KW to 

Listowel 

Route 2 

KW to St. 

Marys 

Route 3 

London to 

Stratford 

Totals 

342 87 55 186 94 764 

1,116 578 872 978 1,127 4,671 

2,715 975 1,865 3,513 2,229 11,363 

1,324 621 1,390 1,675 1,253 6,263 

Totals 5,498 2,261 4,182 6,343 4,773 23,055 

Map 3: Perth County transit routes through the PC Connect service 

Source: perthcounty.ca 


Map 4: Huron County transit routes through the Huron Shores Area Transit 

Source: huronshoresareatransit.ca 


Governments, community members and businesses 

explore alternatives to a fixed route transit system to meet 

transportation needs of the public, students, seniors and the 

workforce. 


TOURISM 

*The following data is from RTO4 for the Huron, Perth, Waterloo 

and Wellington region 

In 2019, over 10 million people visited the region. Most 

of these visitors were from Ontario, with about 154,000 from 

other provinces or territories and about 117,000 from outside 

of Canada. Most of these visitors did not stay overnight, 

with approximately 80% of visitors only staying one day. 

A little over 20% of visitors traveled for pleasure and 10% 

traveled for business. Other reasons for travel included 

visiting friends and family, shopping and attending festivals 

and events. The most popular accommodation types were 

private homes or cottages and hotels and motels. The most 

common activities visitors participated in were seeing 

friends or relatives, shopping, going to restaurants or bars 

and outdoor sports or activities. Over 30% of visitors 

were under the age of 35. 

The following table displays hotel statistics in the region 

from 2016 to 2020. 

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

Occupancy Rate 60.5% 60.3% 63.8% 63.9% 33.0% 

Average Daily Rate $113.71 $117.17 $128.38 $131.84 $107.26 

Revenue per Available Room $68.77 $70.68 $81.89 $84.30 $35.35 

Table 9: Hotel statistics 

Source: Regional Toursim Organization 4 

*The following data is Huron specific from their visitor survey 

In 2022, Huron County Economic Development surveyed 609 

Ontario residents who visited Huron for business, pleasure 

or a personal trip in the past year. Goderich was the most 

visited with 51% of respondents visiting, followed by Bayfield 

with 25% and Port Albert and Clinton with 14% each. Of 

the 94% of respondents who visited as a personal trip, 

49% indicated their primary reason was visiting the beach/ 

lakeshore. More than half (55%) of respondents stayed 

overnight, staying an average of two nights with 40% staying 

in a hotel or motel. About 20% stayed in a private home and 

roughly 20% stayed at an Airbnb or vacation rental. The 

following table displays the average amount spent by visitors 

during their stay, who completed the survey. 


Amount Spent 

Accommodation $396 

Recreation and Entertainment $168 

Transportation $204 

Food and Beverage $210 

Shopping $157 

Total $1, 135 

Table 10: Amount spent by tourists in Huron County 

Source: Huron County 


Municipal governments consider introducing a 

Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) to offset other 

budgetary items. 

The MAT is sometimes known as a hotel or lodging 

tax. It supplements municipal funds for tourism 

with revenues raised from visitors. The revenue 

generated by a MAT could offset other budget items, 

allowing municipalities to designate that money to 

priority projects such as affordable housing.

Local Theatres Contribute Significantly 

to the Local Economy 

While the COVID-19 crisis disrupted many areas of the 

economy, certain sectors were particularly affected including 

accommodation, food services, arts, entertainment, recreation 

and retail. Due to their nature, these sectors were affected more 

dramatically than others by public health measures to limit 

COVID-19 transmission and changes in consumer behaviour. 

Throughout 2020–2022, many consumers were hesitant to 

patronize businesses even when they were able to open or 

remain open. A survey by Statistics Canada from 2022 found 

that 63% of people in Perth and Huron avoided large gatherings 

and crowds and 30% avoided leaving the house at all except for 

essential errands. 

Local theatres are an important part of our cultural landscape 

and tourism economies and were hit hard by the pandemic; 

having to close entirely for one or more years and operate with 

reduced capacities. Theatres like the Stratford Festival and the 

Blyth Festival showed great ingenuity in adapting with outdoor 

performance spaces, while the Huron County Playhouse offered 

weekly mask-only performances. Now, they are doing the 

challenging work of rebuilding capacity, with steady progress as 

audiences reconnect with greater confidence.

The Blyth Festival is one of Canada’s only theatre companies 

producing exclusively Canadian content. Prior to 2020, the 

Festival’s box office sales were steadily increasing, reaching 

over 23,000 visitors for five plays. Prior to the COVID-19 

pandemic, the Blyth Festival was able to accommodate an 

indoor capacity of 373 seats for each performance in 2018 

and 2019. In 2020, the season was cancelled due to COVID-19 

restrictions. Upon reopening in 2021, the Festival pivoted 

to using an outdoor theatre that could only accommodate 

95 seats per performance, a big drop from pre-pandemic 

capacity. Due to US border restrictions, there were no out-ofcountry 

ticket sales. In 2022, the Festival continued to rebuild 

its capacity, selling up to 150 tickets per performance. 

The Stratford Festival is a major driver of Stratford’s tourism 

economy, both as an employer and through generating 

significant business for restaurants, stores and other local 

attractions. After cancelling the entire 2020 season, the 

Festival returned in 2021 with dramatically restricted capacity 

in two outdoor “canopy” venues. In the 2022 season, the 

Festival made major strides in rebuilding its pre-pandemic 

audience with attendance up almost tenfold from 2021, an 

estimated economic impact of $87.9 million on the area. 49 

The Huron Country Playhouse had pre-COVID attendance of 

73,343 people in one year. In 2020 and 2021, the theatre was 

closed entirely. When it reopened in 2022 attendance reached 

32,612 (65% of the total capacity). Due to the ongoing recovery 

from the pandemic, the Playhouse mounted fewer productions 

and thus made fewer seats available. In 2023, attendance is 

predicted to be over 50,000 for the season, 75% of the total 

capacity and 75% of pre-COVID-19 attendance. 


The provincial government makes the Ontario 

Staycation Tax Credit an annual offering, providing 

economic support to the tourism and hospitality 

sector. 

The Ontario Staycation Tax Credit allowed Ontario 

residents to claim 20% of their Ontario accommodation 

expenses on their personal income tax and benefit return. 


Recommendation 

Individual & 

Community 

Businesses & 

Organization 

Municipal 

Gov. 

Provincial 

/Federal 

Gov. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Employers increase their rates of pay to a living wage 

and certify with the Ontario Living Wage Network. 

(p.6) 

Employers currently paying a living wage ensure 

procurement policies and supply chain decisions 

reflect the local living wage. (p.6) 

The provincial government raises the minimum wage 

to a living wage. (p.6) 

Employers in all sectors perform both a salary audit 

to collect gender pay discrepancy data and address 

any pay inequities that emerge. (p.8) 

The provincial government increases social 

assistance rates to the equivalent of a living wage 

so recipients can more adequately meet their basic 

needs, increase earnings exemptions and exemption 

rates for recipients and index rates to inflation. (p.10) 

All levels of government establish policies that 

support income-based solutions to food insecurity 

including a living wage and guaranteed income. 

(p.13) 

Provincial and municipal government increases 

funding and resources to support and encourage 

small business entrepreneurship. (p.20) 

The federal government extends the interest-free 

full loan repayment period (i.e., the qualifying period 

for partial loan forgiveness) by at least one year, to 

December 31, 2024, for Canada Emergency Business 

Account (CEBA) and Regional Relief and Recovery 

Fund (RRRF) loans. (p.20) 

All levels of government provide stable, long-term 

and flexible operational funding for nonprofits that 

keeps pace with inflation and reflects the true costs 

of delivering programs and services. (p.20) 

Employers provide as much flexibility as feasible to 

accommodate the diverse needs of the workforce. 

(p.22) 


Recommendation 

Individual & 

Community 

Businesses & 

Organization 

Municipal 

Gov. 

Provincial 

/Federal 

Gov. 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

The federal government and the Canadian Mortgage 

and Housing Corporation utilize an alternative 

methodology for the Rental Market Survey to collect 

data in rural areas that is both reliable and reflective 

of rural communities and their housing markets. 

(p.30) 

All levels of government collaborate with the private 

and non-profit sectors to incentivize and facilitate 

the development of affordable housing, particularly 

tailored to rural municipalities. (p.32) 

The provincial government increases funding for 

municipalities and non-profits to expand access 

to and availability of supportive and transitional 

housing, as well as other emergency and long-term 

supports and services. (p.32) 

Governments and utility providers apply a human 

rights lens when providing utility services to rural 

customers, ensuring all customers have universal 

access to services and clean energy. (p.33) 

The federal government allocates funds for lowincome 

households to improve energy efficiency, 

move towards net-zero emissions targets and 

decrease energy poverty for vulnerable households. 

(p.33) 

Government and providers invest further in universal 

access to broadband and cellular service, ensuring 

all residents have the critical infrastructure to support 

their inclusion. (p.35) 

Governments, community members and businesses 

explore alternatives to a fixed route transit system to 

meet transportation needs. (p.39) 

Municipal governments consider introducing a 

Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) to offset other 

budgetary items. (p.42) 

The provincial government makes the Ontario 

Staycation Tax Credit an annual offering, providing 

economic support to the tourism and hospitality 

sector. (p.44) 


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38 Housing Affordability Task force (2022). Report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task 

Force. https://files.ontario.ca/mmah-housing-affordability-task-force-report-en-2022-02-07-v2.pdf 

39 Deng, A., Leviten-Reid, C., & Thériault, L. (2023a). Can they build or not? nonprofit housing 

development in an ERA of government re-engagement. Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social 

Economy Research, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.29173/cjnser586 

40 Riva, M., Kingunza Makasi, S., O’Sullivan, K.C. et al. Energy poverty: an overlooked determinant 

of health and climate resilience in Canada. Can J Public Health 114, 422–431 (2023). 

https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-023-00741-0 

41 Alleckna, M. (2019, November 27). Energy poverty in Canada: How each province performs. 

EnergyRates.ca. https://energyrates.ca/energy-poverty-in-canada-how-each-province-performs/ 

42 Energy Rates (n.d.). Energy Poverty in Canada: How Each Province Performs. 

https://energyrates.ca/energy-poverty-in-canada-how-each-province-performs/ 

43 Ontario Energy Board. (2020, October 30). Report to the Minister of Energy, Northern 

Development and Mines and to the Associate Minister of Energy. https://www.oeb.ca/sites/default/ 

files/OEB-Natural-Gas-Expansion-Report-to-Ministers-20201030.pdf 

44 Ontario Energy Board. (n.d.). Bill assistance programs. https://www.oeb.ca/consumerinformation-and-protection/bill-assistance-programs 

https://www.oeb.ca/consumer-information-andprotection/bill-assistance-programs/low-income-energy-assistance-program 

45 University of Birmingham. (2023, April 7). Internet access must become human right or we 

risk ever-widening inequality. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230407094243. 

htm#:~:text=Internet%20access%20must%20become%20human%20right%20or%20we%20risk%20 

ever%2Dwidening%20inequality,-Date%3A%20April%207&text=Summary%3A,right%2C%20a%20 

new%20study%20reveals. 

46 Connected north (n.d.) Ontario Broadband Information 

47 Connected north (n.d.) Ontario Broadband Information 

46 City of Stratford, Transit 

49 Stratford Festival. (2023, April 1). 

https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Media/NewsReleases/2023-04-01/ 

About the SRPC 

The Social Research & Planning Council (SRPC), operated by United Way Perth- 

Huron, is comprised of community representatives who are dedicated to the collection, 

analysis and distribution of information relating to social trends and issues in Perth and 

Huron Counties. The SRPC approaches its work in two ways: 

1. Commissioning research into specific social issues. 

2. Developing recommendations for community improvement based on local findings 

and working collaboratively with community members to implement change.

Additional Resources 

How Much is Enough? The Impact of Low Incomes on Households and Communities in Perth-Huron: https:// 

perthhuron.unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-09-05-How-Much-is-Enough-Website-version- 

FINAL.pdf 

Statistics Canada Dimensions of Poverty Hub: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/topics-start/poverty 

Living Wage in Perth-Huron: https://perthhuron.unitedway.ca/research/living-wage/ 

Household Food Insecurity in Perth-Huron 2023-06-22-Food-Security-Report-UPDATE.pdf (unitedway.ca) 

The Real Cost of Eating Huron and Perth 2022: https://www.hpph.ca/en/partners-and-professionals/resources/ 

Documents/REPORT_Cost-of-eating-in-HP_Oct-2022.pdf 

Four County Labour Market Planning Board’s Precarious Living Study: 

https://www.planningboard.ca/reports/precariouslivingstudy/ 

Ontario Nonprofit Network’s 2022 State of the Sector: 

https://theonn.ca/publication/2022-state-of-the-sector-policy-report/ 

Huron County Business Retention & Expansion Project 

Social Research & Planning Council’s Supportive Housing Report: 

https://perthhuron.unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Supportive-Housing-Report.pdf 

Stratford, Perth County and St. Marys Housing and Homelessness Plan: https://www.stratford.ca/en/inside-cityhall/resources/Social_Services/Housing/HHP-AR-2020-Summary.ACC.pdf 

Huron County Housing and Homelessness 2021 Annual Report: https://www.huroncounty.ca/wp-content/ 

uploads/2022/07/2021-Housing-and-Homelessness-report.pdf 

City of Stratford Transportation Master Plan Draft Report: https://engagestratford.ca/transportation-master-plan 

Municipal Accommodation Tax White Paper: https://perthhuron.unitedway.ca/research/

WRITING 

Areeba Ahmad 

Kristin Crane 

Will Wellington 

EDITING 

Chad Alberico 

DESIGN 

Sonya Heyen 

CONTRIBUTING 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Fred Gonder 

Copyright © The Social Research & Planning 

Council 2023. This work is copyrighted. It 

may be reproduced in whole or in part for 

educational use subject to the inclusion of an 

acknowledgement of the source. 

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