Research publications

While most of Canada’s landscape is rural, only a small proportion of the population resides in these regions. Canada’s rural population is spread across the country and represents a demographic with unique characteristics, challenges and contributions. Given the distinct reality this population faces, the Government of Canada often makes it the focus of targeted initiatives and policies. However, in recent decades, the boundaries that define “rural” have not been easy to establish. Whereas “urban” generally refers to densely populated cities and suburbs, “rural” typically describes areas with lower population densities, such as the countryside. These concepts are interdependent, and the distinction between them is not always apparent. This HillStudy focuses on the definitions and classifications of “rural” and “urban” used by Statistics Canada over the years. The maps presented illustrate the differences between classifications and highlight the distinctions among rural, remote and northern communities.

Over the past 70 years, growing numbers of Indigenous people in Canada have moved to urban centres. Today, more than half of the Indigenous population live in urban areas. Indigenous people may move permanently or temporarily to the city to access employment, educational opportunities or services that are not available in their communities. Indigenous people have built vibrant communities and developed organizations to provide essential services that support their transition to the city. However, a number of reports and stakeholders have identified gaps in services for urban Indigenous populations. These gaps may lead Indigenous people to access general provincial programming, which may not be culturally appropriate. Indigenous people may also experience racism and discrimination when accessing services, which can have negative effects on their well-being. Factors that may contribute to gaps in services for urban Indigenous people include jurisdictional disputes between federal and provincial governments and inadequate funding. Accurate data is necessary to identify existing needs and allocate funding accordingly. However, Indigenous organizations have concerns about the accuracy of existing population data on urban Indigenous people.