The Proximity Measures Database

PDF - Report

Through the National Housing Strategy, key approaches for measuring and monitoring social inclusion in Canada were examined. One of the key dimensions identified was the physical accessibility to services and amenities. To address this, CMHC commissioned Statistics Canada to develop the first national Proximity Measures Database.

The Proximity Measures Database (Statistics Canada) will help us understand how close Canadians live to:

employment
transit
childcare centres
grocery stores
health services (including hospitals)
libraries
pharmacies
primary and secondary schools
municipal parks

Findings:

All the measures constructed were produced as proximity to multiple points of service provision. They took into account the size of services at these multiple points.
Residents of CMAs are more likely to live very close to key services and amenities than residents from CAs and rural areas.
Residents of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia seem to be more likely to live in closer proximity to services and amenities.