Abstract

Poverty, usually measured using income, and poor health are closely related. Income is one of the non-medical determinants of health. For most of the 1990’s, the proportion of Canadians living below the low-income cut-off value increased significantly. The highest incidence values are found in the Atlantic Provinces, southern Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The most significant differences occur in the regions in and around major cities. These are the areas where average incomes are high; but they are also areas where some of the highest low-income proportions occur. Income is one of the non-medical determinants of health.