Northern Canada is home to both the wealthiest and the poorest regions in the country, a stark dichotomy that illustrates both the challenges and opportunities in the North, according to new research from the Conference Board of Canada.

A map released as part of the Conference Board’s new ‘Centre for the North’ web portal shows that the census divisions with the top three median incomes in Canada are resource-rich northern regions. They include northern Alberta (centered around Fort McMurray), the Fort Smith Region in the Northwest Territories (including Yellowknife) and Northern Rockies in British Columbia (centered around Fort Nelson).

In each of these three communities, median income – the midpoint of the income distribution in the region – exceeds $35,000.

At the other end of the spectrum, the five census divisions with the lowest median income are also in the North. Division No. 19, known as Northeast Manitoba, has a median income of just $9,822. The others include Division No. 18 (all of northern Saskatchewan, including La Ronge), Central Coast (around Bella Coola in northern British Columbia), Division No. 23 (Churchill-Northern Manitoba) and Division No. 22 (Thompson-North Central in Manitoba).

The North—as defined by The Northern Development Ministers Forum—consists of the three territories and the northern regions of seven provinces.

“It can be argued that the North-South boundary is the most significant division in the country,” said Gilles Rhéaume, vice-president of public policy at the Conference Board of Canada. “The socio-economic conditions in northern communities is much different – and for the most part, significantly more difficult – than in those below the line.”

Other wealthy regions in Canada include the region of Halton, Ontario – the southwest part of the Greater Toronto Area, which has a median income of $35,433; and Ottawa, Ontario, which has a median income of $32,908.

IE