Title: Energy Costs and Canadian Households
Author: Kenneth P. Green, Taylor Jackson, Ian Herzog, Milagros Palacios
Publisher: Fraser Institute
Date: March 2016
Summary:
The Fraser Institute finds that a growing number of Canadians are experiencing “energy poverty,” defined by “devoting more than 10% of total expenditures to energy” (electricity, natural gas, home heating, etc).
- Lower-income households and seniors are more vulnerable to energy poverty.
- Energy poverty has been linked to respiratory problems (from lower fuel quality), coronary and circulatory problems, cardiovascular disease, and symptoms of mental illness, as well as “food insecurity, more frequent relocations, diminished educational performance, and reductions in personal productivity”