Nipissing and seven other districts in northern Ontario have the highest prevalence of low income in the province.
The information is included in the first in a series of reports on Income and Poverty from the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB).
The report uses the latest information from Statistics Canada’s 2021 census and shows that 8 % of Nipissing’s population receives social assistance.
That’s nearly double the provincial figure of 4.4 %.
“There is a large difference in government transfer income within geographic areas of the District itself,” states a release. “With 15.3% of East Ferris households receiving this type of income compared with Mattawa where about one-third of income comes from government transfers.”
DNSSAB says the median social assistance income (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program) captured by the census is $11,400.
Officials say that is less than one-third the median income for single households (no dependent children) in the district’s general population.
DNSSAB says this report, along with future reports in the series, will be used to help remove systemic barriers, provide seamless access, and more.