Income gap narrowed in Kootenays in 2020, data reveals

Low income data from 2020 shows a decrease in the percentage of people with low income compared to previous years, according to a report from Selkirk Innovates.

Statistics Canada says the reduction in persons with low income during the five years between 2015 and 2020 “was the largest decline of any five-year period since 1976.” Selkirk Innovates says the decrease is partly attributed to government benefits distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Taxfiler data, people with low income in B.C. decreased from 19.3 per cent in 2015 to 13.2 per cent in 2020. However, the decrease was greatest between 2019 and 2020, coinciding with the pandemic and pandemic-related government benefits.

A similar decrease occurred across all Columbia Basin-Boundary regional districts during these same periods, as seen in the graph below.

Low income measure data are derived by comparing a person’s income to the national low income measure threshold for their family size. A person below this threshold is considered low income. According to Statistics Canada, for the rate to fall, as seen in 2020, “the income gap between lower-income people and other people has to narrow.”

Due in part to the conclusion of emergency government transfers over the last two years, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit in 2020 and Canada Recovery Benefit in 2021, the decreasing trend in people with low income is not expected to continue.

Continue Reading

chnv Now playing play

ckkc Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Support local seniors through Kootenay Seniors’ 50/50 Raffle

Win up to $10,000 while helping seniors get where they need to go.

B.C. adds 5k jobs in June, led by gains in part-time work

British Columbia added 5,000 jobs in June but saw a dip in full-time employment, according to the latest jobs report from Statistics Canada. 

B.C. maintains decision to end drug coverage for girl with rare, fatal disease

B.C. is standing by the decision not to continue drug coverage for a Vancouver Island girl with a rare, fatal disease. 

Measles cases reported in B.C. this year top 100

B.C.’s health officials have said 102 cases of measles have been reported across B.C. so far this year, with most of those in the Northern Health region.

Puck drop date set for KIJHL season

The puck will drop on the 2025-26 KIJHL regular season on Friday, September 19, when the league’s 21 teams each embark on a 44-game schedule.
- Advertisement -