The Global Liveability Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks cities around the world each year based on various factors to measure “liveability.” This year’s ranking brought some unwelcome news for Canada: three of the four Canadian cities included in the ranking fell from their previous spots. Calgary saw the biggest decline of any city on the list—dropping from 5th to 18th—while Toronto also had one of the biggest drops worldwide.
What’s the main reason cited for the decline? Health care. Long wait times and capacity issues brought down scores across the board. But other factors beyond those mentioned in The Economist’s ranking analysis are likely at play as well—persistent housing shortages, public safety concerns, and a growing strain on infrastructure and other public services have taken their toll on Canada’s city-dwellers in recent years.
Some of this decline is expected and is likely temporary. Canada has seen rapid population growth in recent years. When cities grow unusually quickly, existing resources are inevitably strained, at least in the short term. More people means more traffic, increased pressure on hospitals, and higher demand for housing. That may also explain why Montreal—the one major Canadian city with limited population growth—is the only one that didn’t fall in the rankings.
