STATISTICALLY SPEAKING . . .

• According to the 2016 census, Cape Breton’s population has declined by almost 30,000 people between 1991 and 2016.

• All five municipalities have declined in population but the First Nation population is increasing.

• Cape Breton’s population has had the greatest percentage decline of all economic regions in Nova Scotia over the past 10 years.

• The youth population under the age of 15 has declined by 18.10 per cent in Cape Breton with the second worst decline in Nova Scotia. In terms of real numbers, it has fallen by just over 4,000 people in the past 10 years and Christmas says it would be even worse if it weren’t for increases in First Nation populations.

• Cape Breton’s numbers remain below the Canada and Nova Scotia rates of employment. Cape Breton is at 45.30 per cent while Nova Scotia is at 56.60 per cent and Canada is at 61.10 per cent. In real numbers, that means 47,610 people are employed in Cape Breton.

• The median household income for the CBRM is less than the rest of the province and Canada, at $52,914. The median income for Nova Scotia is $60,764; Halifax is $69,522 and Canada is $70,336. The percentage of children under the age of six living in poverty in the CBRM is higher than both Nova Scotia and Canada at 15.7 per cent.