10 notable facts from Toronto’s Vital Signs report

Posted October 7, 2014 5:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

The 2014 Vital Signs report for Toronto was released Tuesday by the Toronto Foundation, identifying the progress the city has made and the challenges that still need to be addressed.

The charitable foundation said this snapshot of the trends and issues is critical to the well-being of Toronto and its residents.

The report looks at 12 issues, such as demographics, safety and health and wellness, as well as the gap between rich and poor, housing and learning.

Toronto is ranked the 4th most livable city, crime is down, and the economy is plugging along. Failures include child poverty, and gridlock.

Nearly one in three children are living in poverty, and the child poverty level is as high as 40 per cent in 14 different neighbourhoods.

Toronto was behind only New York City, when it came to commuter times, with an average of almost 66 minutes.

Below are 10 other notable facts from the report.

1. TTC cash woes aren’t exaggerated

The study found that among mass transit systems of comparable size in North America, Toronto’s remains the least subsidized.

Click on image to enlarge.

2. Pedestrian danger

In 2013 the city saw more traffic fatalities than homicides for the first time since 2004.

3. A city of immigrants

One of every six immigrants to Canada in the five years before the last census chose to settle in Toronto

4. Subways, subways, subways?

A February 2014 poll found a majority of Torontonians prefer LRT over a subway extension to Scarborough. Fifty-six per cent of Scarborough respondents preferred an LRT over a subway.

5. Toronto’s traffic bad, but not the worst

Vancouver is the worst city in Canada for gridlock, but Toronto is a close second.

6. Timing is the key

The most congested times of the week are Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. The least congested times are Friday mornings and Monday evenings.

7. Disturbing crime trend

Researchers found that the GTA is the most common destination of human trafficking in Ontario, and that the city is a hub for larger inter-provincial and international trafficking routes.

8. Student stress

Over a third of Grade 9-12 students reported that they were under a lot of stress (38 per cent) and also reported they were nervous or anxious (34 per cent) “often” or “all of the time.”

9. The true cost of living in the suburbs

Calculations by a Toronto-area mortgage broker shows that over the long run, suburban living might lose its cost advantage for two adults commuting by car each day. Over 40 years, a two-parent family might actually spend more once mortgage and transportation costs are factored in – not to mention time wasted sitting in gridlock.

Click on below chart to enlarge.