Local Government

Definition

Percentage of Engage Nova Scotia Quality of Life survey respondents (household income greater than $40,000, household income less than $40,000) who positively rated the way local government responds to community needs.

Measurement and Limitations

The Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey was undertaken by Engage Nova Scotia in partnership with Canadian Index of Wellbeing in 2019.  The survey explored quality of life with respect to eight domains: community vitality, living standards, healthy populations, democratic engagement, leisure and culture, time use, the environment and education (see Eight Domains of Wellbeing).

The survey consisted of 230 questions asking people to rate their experiences on various scales (e.g., ranges from agree to disagree; ranges from satisfied to dissatisfied). In total, 13,000 respondents participated across the province.  Results were summarized for the province as a whole and for each of 10 regions.  In Cape Breton Island, 535 respondents participated in the Strait-Western Cape Breton Region and 2,068 respondents participated in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Data presented here show the percentage of respondents who gave a positive rating (i.e., answering above the midpoint) to the theme identified.  The data is reported for households with incomes less than $40,000 and more than $40,000.  The official poverty line in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in 2019 was $42,405 for a household of two adults and two children; in Strait-Western Cape Breton, the official poverty line was $42,460 per year for this reference family.

Source

Customized data from the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey provided by Engage Nova Scotia. Additional data from the Quality of Life Survey can be obtained using the Wellbeing Mapping Tool or by contacting research@engagenovascotia.ca.