Highlights : Key Takeaways from the Third Edition

A Third Edition Projecting onto the International Stage

The Well-being Indicators in Quebec can now be compared with eleven other jurisdictions, nine of which are outside Canada. 

The selected jurisdictions for comparison include G7 members and Well-Being Economy Governments (WEGo). The G7, comprising  seven of the world's most advanced economies, shares  socio-economic structures comparable to those of Quebec. WEGo-affiliated governments stand out for their commitment to the well-being of their populations, rendering  them excellent points of comparison for Quebec.

Comparative Jurisdictions in the Third Edition

Juridictions	Quebec	Ontario	Canada
G7	Germany	France	Italy
	United Kingdom	Japan	United States
WEGo	Finland	Iceland	New Zealand

Well-Being Economy Governments (WEGo), Leaders in Well-being

The concept of a Well-Being Economy Government (WEGo) refers to a government that prioritizes well-being and quality of life over economic growth. Public policies emerging  from such  governments aim to enhance the overall well-being of the population, including factors such as health, education, social equity, and environmental sustainability. The idea is to create a more holistic and sustainable approach to governance that goes beyond traditional measures economic indicators such as GDP.

Countries associated with WEGo are part of a broader global movement seeking to redefine the goals of governance and economic development. This movement acknowledges that economic growth alone does not necessarily lead to an increase in well-being, and that other factors, such as social and environmental considerations, are equally important. This concept has garnered attention in recent years as societies grapple with challenges such as inequality, climate change, and other complex issues.

Initiatives from WEGo countries often involve innovative policies and practices that are aimed at addressing these challenges whilst  promoting  a more balanced and inclusive approach to governance.

Quebec Compares Favorably to Other Jurisdictions

Quebec performs relatively well compared to other jurisdictions based on available indicators for international comparison. For example, the long life expectancy at birth, high employment rates for individuals aged 25 to 54, low disparity between male and female employment rates, and the share of renewable sources in consumed energy are areas where Quebec ranks at the forefront internationally.

Despite A Favorable Comparison, Quebec Faces Several Challenges

Despite overall encouraging results, the province can do much better to improve the well-being of its population. Several crucial indicators for the well-being of Quebecers do not follow the desired trajectory or do not reach the level of ambition set by scientific evidence or government commitments. A mixed picture emerges regarding the reduction of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, the high level of household debt, and the concerning deterioration of mental health among Quebecers, forming shadows that temper the positive results from the comparative analysis.

Persistent "Orphan" Indicators Due to Lack of Robust Data

Despite a comprehensive inventory of well-being evaluation variables, many indicators are still missing, preventing exhaustive information for policymakers. This third edition identifies sixteen such "orphan" indicators that, once quantified, could enhance the current list. Most of these orphan indicators, nine out of sixteen, belong to the environmental pillar. This significant deficit in robust data (easily accessible, reliable, recurring, relevant, and comparable) still limits our ability to make a comprehensive diagnosis to inform decision-making.

However, some of these orphan indicators for Quebec, such as natural disasters and emergencies, species index, and environmental health, are already quantified by other jurisdictions. 

Faced with the urgency of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, the absence of robust data in this pillar must become a priority for our policymakers. Quebec needs to improve its data production and collection if it wishes to better its understanding of the factors responsible for the quality of life of its population.

The Indicators Still Missing in Quebec are :

Note : The underlined indicators are those for which data exists in jurisdictions outside Quebec.

Variations in Trends Related to COVID-19 are Temporary

Access to more recent data for this third edition has revealed that some variations observed in indicator trends during the COVID-19 pandemic were temporary. For example, reductions in income inequalities, an increased share of energy consumed from renewable sources, or even the lower proportion of Quebecers with low income have all returned to their pre-pandemic levels.

Comparison – How Does Well-being in Quebec Compare to that of G7 Countries and WEGo Members?

Key Takeaways From This Section - Comparative Analysis

• The analysis compares Quebec's performance with eleven other jurisdictions, including nine on the international scale. 

This section presents the results of the comparative analysis of internationally available indicators and identifies specific indicators that positively or negatively influence Quebec's well-being performance. 

This section does not represent a time-specific analysis for Quebec but rather a comparison across different jurisdictions, based on the latest common data. It is essential to view these results from a comparative rather than a chronological perspective, as only a reference point is used, namely the first and last years of common data.

What is it? – Last Year of Common Data

The concept of the last common data provides a basis for comparing different jurisdictions. Since indicators have different data ranges, evaluating rankings for specific years was not possible. To obtain a final ranking, we ultimately chose to use the last year of common data.

Each indicator has its own last common year. For example, Quebec's GDP per capita has data available from 1981 to 2022, but international databases cover the period from 1995 to 2018. Thus, in this case, the last common data year selected is 2018. Rankings based on the last common year offer a recent overview of Quebec's positioning for indicators available for international comparison.

This choice also avoids inappropriate comparisons between different periods, such as comparing 2019 to 2020, the latter being unrepresentative of historical trends due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economy

Key Takeaways From This Section – Economy

• Relying on internationally comparable indicators of economic well-being, it appears that Quebec lags behind other jurisdictions.

• Its high employment rate among 25 to 54-year-olds and excellent scores in the PISA test are two indicators that have allowed Quebec to stand out economically.

• However, the less favorable results of Quebec regarding labor productivity and gross income (including social transfers) per capita are among the variables that weigh down Quebec's economic performance for the available indicators.

The comparative analysis of the economic pillar is based on thirteen indicators, compared to the seventeen included in our dashboard, due to a lack of internationally comparable data for three indicators.

However, the economic pillar offers the most indicators, being extensively documented by most countries in terms of economic performance. Nevertheless, the absence of data for certain "orphan" indicators, such as a measure of the social economy or a collective entrepreneurial index, highlights opportunities for improvement in data production and collection in this area. For example, the social economy employed over 220,000 workers and generated a turnover of $47.8 billion in 2016 (Institut de la Statistique du Québec, 2016). This sector is significant and should be quantified, explaining why it is included in the "orphan" indicators.

Indicators Included in the Economic Pillar for International Comparisons

The following table provides an overview of Quebec's positioning by indicator, allowing an assessment of its strengths and weaknesses compared to other jurisdictions. In light of the presented results, Quebec's overall performance appears mixed, demonstrating strong performance in some indicators while others reveal areas of lesser performance

Quebec's Position for the Last Available Common Data Point by Indicator

A significant indicator that allows Quebec to stand out is undoubtedly the employment rate for individuals aged 25 to 54. In this indicator, Quebec ranks first among the twelve jurisdictions studied, with a proportion of 87.0% of its population aged 25 to 54 employed. Observing the graph below, it is evident that Quebec, which was in the middle of the pack a decade ago, has experienced significant growth in its employment rate, allowing it to claim the top position in 2022.

Student skills represent another economic indicator that allows Quebec to stand out among the other eleven jurisdictions studied. These skills are assessed using PISA scores, a standardized test developed by the OECD and used in many countries around the world to test the abilities of 15-year-old students. PISA includes three components: reading, mathematics, and science.

In these disciplines, Quebec ranks fifth, second, and fourth, respectively, enabling it to achieve the fourth overall position out of twelve jurisdictions. The strong performance of Quebec's adolescents could result from various factors, including overall better teaching quality or greater familiarity of Quebec students with standardized tests.

PISA Test Rankings for 2022

The endemic growth of labor productivity in Quebec is well-documented, but its international performance is far from satisfactory, placing Quebec in the second-to-last position among the twelve jurisdictions studied. This aspect is crucial and requires in-depth analysis, as it is a determining economic indicator. While the catch-up in terms of employment has already been achieved for some time, and the aging population of Quebec is reaching its peak, productivity becomes the only lever on which the Quebec government can rely to stimulate economic growth and thus address the significant backlog accumulated over the past decades.

Another aspect requiring improvement in Quebec's economic domain is gross income per capita. In this context, Quebec ranks last, occupying the eleventh position among the eleven studied jurisdictions for which data is available. Despite a steady growth in gross income per capita since 2008, the data indicates that Quebec maintains a consistent gap compared to other jurisdictions. Although the Quebec government has clearly defined in its budgetary documents the primary objective of reducing the wealth gap with Ontario, the data suggests that this gap persists when compared to all other jurisdictions.

Society

Key Takeaways From This Section – Society

• Relying on internationally comparable indicators, it seems that Quebec performs averagely in terms of social well-being.

• A relatively long life expectancy and a low disparity between the employment rates of men and women are indicators that distinguishes it from other studied jurisdictions.

• On the contrary, the low proportion of jobs in the cultural sector and a more pronounced gender pay gap than in the jurisdictions under study are indicators where Quebec does not fare well when compared to others.

Within the societal pillar, inter-jurisdictional comparison is made using eight comparable indicators among the twenty-two that make up this pillar on the dashboard of the Well-Being Indicators in Quebec. This small proportion of comparable indicators can be explained by a significant disparity in the publication of social data from one jurisdiction to another.

Indicators Included in the Societal Pillar for an International Comparison.

The following table lists Quebec's performance in the social domain when compared to selected jurisdictions, specifically for indicators allowing such a comparison. Unlike the economic pillar where Quebec ranks at the top for certain indicators while being at the bottom for others, its performance varies more around the average for societal indicators.

Quebec's Positioning for the Last Available Common Data Point by Indicator

A societal indicator in which Quebec stands out favorably is the gender employment gap. In 2021, Quebec ranks second behind Finland in this criterion, with a gap of 4.2%. In comparison, Finland has a gap of 1.9%, more than two times lower than that of Quebec for the same year. However, among the studied jurisdictions, gaps reaching up to 17.7% are observed, highlighting Quebec's overall remarkable performance in this area.

A distinct indicator that allows Quebec to stand out socially is life expectancy at birth. In 2020, Quebec secures the third-highest life expectancy, behind Japan and Iceland, with an average of 82.6 years. Japan, known for its aging population, has a life expectancy of 84.6 years. For comparison, the United States stands out with a relatively low life expectancy compared to the jurisdictions presented, with a growing gap since the 1990s.

However, the proportion of jobs in the cultural sector is an indicator that tarnishes Quebec's performance in the societal pillar. On this indicator, Quebec ranks seventh among ten studied jurisdictions. In 2019, only 3.6% of jobs were attributed to the cultural sector in Quebec, compared to 5.5% in the leading jurisdiction, which is Iceland.

Another indicator that negatively impacts Quebec's performance is the gender pay gap. Quebec ranks seventh out of twelve jurisdictions for this indicator, with a gender pay gap of 14.7% in 2021. At the top of this ranking is Italy.

Environment

Key Takeaways From This Section – Environment

• For the 8 indicators available for international comparison, Quebec performs relatively well compared to the studied jurisdictions.

• The indicators that have contributed to this performance from Quebec are good air quality and a significant proportion of energy consumed from renewable sources.

• On the contrary, low energy productivity and the limited area of protected areas are factors that could be improved.

• The portrait of the environmental well-being of Quebec compared to other jurisdictions will remain incomplete until robust data is available for the so-called "orphan" indicators in this pillar.

The environmental pillar includes only eight indicators allowing for international comparison, out of the sixteen accounted for in this pillar of the Well-being Indicators in Quebec. It is noteworthy that a much more comprehensive comparison could be made if Quebec documented robust data for the nine "orphan" indicators associated with the environmental pillar, such as adaptation to climate change or the evolution of biodiversity.

Indicators Included in the Environmental Pillar for International Comparison

Note : Usually, greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas emissions per capita count as a single indicator. For this exercise, we have chosen to separate them as their respective trends are quite different.

The following table highlights the strengths and weaknesses of Quebec according to the comparative analysis. Most indicators show that Quebec generally ranks in the top half of the field.

Quebec’s positioning for the latest available common data per indicator

An indicator for which Quebec stands out significantly in environmental terms is the proportion of renewable sources in its energy consumption, due to a historical choice to rely on hydroelectricity. Indeed, Quebec secures the second position for this indicator, with 51.2% of its energy consumed coming from renewable sources. However, Iceland takes the lead by far with a share of 82.8%. Although Quebec is a major producer and consumer of hydroelectricity, fossil fuels continue to represent significant sources of energy for vehicle propulsion, industrial processes, and building heating. To improve its position for this particular indicator, Quebec needs to distance itself from its dependence on fossil fuels, especially for transportation purposes, both for private vehicles and heavy transport, as well as industrial production.

Another indicator that positively contributes to Quebec's environmental well-being performance is its excellent air quality in 2017, determined by the number of tons of atmospheric pollutants per square kilometer. However, the significant forest fire season experienced during the summer of 2023 and those likely to follow, caused by the ongoing deterioration of the climate situation, could impact Quebec's favorable position for this indicator in the medium term.

However, some indicators hinder Quebec's environmental performance, notably energy productivity. Energy productivity measures the efficiency with which energy is used to produce goods and services. Thus, higher energy productivity indicates that a jurisdiction can produce more with less energy.

For this indicator, Quebec ranks ninth out of twelve jurisdictions studied, with a production of $203 per gigajoule of energy used in 2015-2016. Easy access to low-cost electricity from renewable sources may partially explain this weakness.

In comparison, the United Kingdom has the best energy productivity for the year 2015-2016, with a production of $474 per gigajoule of energy consumed, more than double that of Quebec

European countries generally outperform North American jurisdictions for this indicator, notably due to significantly higher energy prices, compelling them to optimize their energy efficiency.

An alternative indicator for which Quebec's performance is lacking is the area of protected areas. Quebec ranks fifth out of eleven jurisdictions, with only 16.3% of its territory considered protected in 2022. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, and New Zealand all outperform Quebec significantly, with proportions of protected areas ranging from 30% to 40% in 2022. It's worth noting that since 2021, the government of Quebec has committed to protecting 30% of its territory by 2030, a target reaffirmed with the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022. The development of protected areas in southern Quebec represents a potential avenue for improvement to further enhance Quebec's environmental positioning.

Evolution – How is Well-being Evolving in Quebec?

Key Takeaways From This Section

• The evolution of well-being indicators in Quebec reveals a clear improvement in the economic and societal pillars, particularly due to better job quality and a decrease in the severity of crime index.

• However, concerns persist regarding the mental health of Quebecers and the situation related to household debt. 

• On the other hand, observations related to the environmental pillar emphasize that few indicators have seen notable improvements, indicating a significant journey ahead to meet climate targets.

• Finally, the lack of data for the sixteen orphan indicators limits the ability to paint a complete picture of well-being in Quebec.

The previous section assessed Quebec's performance compared to other jurisdictions for the last year of common data. This section focuses on identifying key indicators that have supported the improvement of well-being for Quebecers over time. We examine indicators that have not undergone significant changes in the past ten years but are likely to improve in the future.

Economy

Key Takeaways From This Section – Economy

• The economic well-being of Quebec has significantly progressed during the studied period, roughly from 1976 to 2022.

• In fact, over 70% of the indicators have shown a clear improvement.

• This advancement has been fueled in part by a reduction in the proportion of young people aged 15 to 29 who are neither in education, employment, nor training, as well as an improvement in the quality of employment.

• However, high household debt remains a major concern.

The economic well-being of Quebec has seen significant improvement over time, with over 70% of its indicators showing progress over their available period, mainly covering 1976 to 2022. Over the last decade, the positive trend has strengthened, with indicators that were previously stagnant now showing improvement.

Only one indicator deteriorated over the studied period: household debt. 

This section will identify the indicators that contributed to this improvement, as well as those that require progress. It's worth noting that the absence of two orphan indicators related to the economic pillar, namely social economy and collective entrepreneurial index, prevents a complete picture of Quebec's economic well-being.

Synthesis Table of the Economic Pillar

Note : "Throughout the period" refers to the extent of the available data specific to each indicator.

The proportion of young people aged 15 to 29 who are neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET) is an economic indicator that has significantly contributed to the improvement of the economic well-being of Quebecers. This indicator generally reflects the share of adolescents and young adults without substantial occupations. A high NEET rate potentially signals a concerning situation related to the labor market, such as high youth unemployment rates or insufficient promotion of education, leading to high dropout rates.

The NEET has played a key role in improving the Quebec economy, decreasing from approximately 25% in the late 1970s and early 1980s to 7.5% in 2022. The initially high observed rate can be attributed to the high unemployment rate among young baby boomers entering the labor market in large numbers. However, this phenomenon has diminished over the years. The proportion of young people pursuing university education has also increased over time, reducing the NEET rate, which is now three times lower than it was at the beginning of the studied period.

Job quality emerges as another economic indicator that has played a crucial role in improving well-being in Quebec over time. This indicator measures the proportion of jobs based on their quality, considering factors such as compensation, working hours, required qualifications, and the possible presence of overqualified workers.

Since the late 1990s, Quebec has experienced a 20 percentage point increase in the share of high-quality jobs, marking significant progress for its economy. The share of high-quality jobs has more than doubled over the past 25 years, while low-quality jobs, predominant in 1997, have been reduced by half. 

This transition to an economy characterized by a greater prevalence of high-quality jobs has the potential to attract skilled workers and offer more rewarding career opportunities in the labor market.

However, not all economic indicators have shown improvement. Some, on the contrary, have deteriorated.

A notable example is the household debt-to-disposable income ratio. Although this indicator has generally decreased since 2010, the level of household debt remains a source of concern. In 2022, for every $100 of disposable income (i.e., income after taxes and government transfers), Quebec households were indebted at a rate of $145.

This implies that the average household in Quebec would need to dedicate nearly one and a half years of disposable income to repay its entire debts, without considering other expenses.

The recent increase in the level of household debt among Quebecers between 2020 and 2021 raises significant concerns, especially from the Bank of Canada, particularly in the face of substantial inflation periods in 2022 and 2023, along with significant increases in interest rates. Rising costs of food and housing are exerting financial pressure on Quebec households. The consistently low vacancy rates for housing could partially explain the ongoing increase in rents.

As a result, Quebec households may be confronted with higher expenses to meet their needs, in addition to experiencing significant increases in their regular payments, including mortgages, due to the currently high interest rates.

Society

Key Takeaways From This Section – Society

• Quebec has experienced significant improvement in its societal well-being, with 60% of indicators showing notable progress.

• This improvement is even more pronounced over the last ten years.

• Explanatory factors for this progress include an increase in life expectancy, a decrease in the crime index, and an increase in the employment rate of Indigenous peoples.

• However, the mental health of Quebecers has greatly deteriorated.

• Several key indicators are still missing to provide a comprehensive assessment.

The societal pillar, like the economic pillar, has seen significant progress, with an improvement in nearly 60% of its indicators. This proportion increases to 68% when considering the trends over the last ten years.

In particular, two indicators that showed some stagnation over the entire period have seen notable improvements in the last decade.

However, gaps persist, notably the lack of robust data for many orphan indicators, such as the quality of the childcare system and statistics on homelessness.

Synthesis Table of the Societal Pillar

The societal pillar has played a significant role in enhancing the well-being of Quebecers

A key indicator contributing to this improvement is the Severity Index of Crime, measuring the severity of all offenses under the Criminal Code committed in Quebec. A low index reflects lesser severity crimes, indicating a safer society. The index, based on the severity of crimes in Canada in 2006, is normalized to a base of 100 for that year.

A value below 100 indicates a decrease in the severity of crime compared to all of Canada in 2006.

This index has greatly contributed to the improvement of the well-being of Quebecers, dropping by nearly half over the past 25 years. This decline marks a significant improvement in people's safety, reinforcing their well-being. However, it is essential to note a slight increase in the index in 2021 and 2022. In a more egalitarian society, young people having more opportunities through a better education system, or higher-quality jobs are factors that could partially explain a reduction in crime in Quebec.

Life expectancy at birth is another societal indicator that has contributed to the improvement of well-being in Quebec. This indicator provides insights into the quality of life within a society. Indeed, an increasing life expectancy may reflect a more efficient healthcare system, better access to essential needs such as clean water and food, as well as an environment conducive to longevity, such as improved air quality.

Over the past 40 years, life expectancy in Quebec has increased by nearly eight years, reflecting a marked growth in the well-being of Quebecers. However, a slight decrease has been observed since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to remain vigilant and ensure a return to a positive trend.

Indigenous employment represents another distinct societal dynamic in Quebec. The employment rate of Indigenous individuals aged 15 to 64 in Quebec provides valuable insights into their integration into the labor market. Despite some fluctuations, this employment rate shows a marked upward trend, with an increase of nearly 16 percentage points between 2007 and 2022. This equates to an average growth of about one percentage point per year. This progression has thus served as a factor contributing to the improvement of the well-being of Quebecers over the past fifteen years.

However, several recent indicators indicate a deterioration in the societal pillar in Quebec

One concerning signal is mental health, measured by the proportion of the population perceiving their mental health as "very good or excellent." This evaluation has seen a constant decline over the years.

Between 2015 and 2021, the share of Quebecers considering their mental health as very good or excellent dropped by nearly 10 percentage points, representing a decrease of almost 2 percentage points per year, a phenomenon accentuated by the pandemic. Factors such as difficult access to mental health resources, isolation during the pandemic, and financial stress have contributed to this deterioration. Immediate intervention is necessary to reverse this worrisome trend.

Environment

Key Takeaways From This Section – Environment

• The summary of the environmental pillar is mixed.

• While some indicators have shown improvements, significant gaps persist in achieving our climate goals.

• Nearly a quarter of the indicators indicate deteriorations, painting a rather bleak picture.

• Despite a marked improvement in protected areas in Quebec, which still remains significantly lower than that of comparable jurisdictions, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita remain excessively high. Additionally, the continuous and disproportionate growth of the automotive fleet in relation to the population raises major concerns for environmental well-being in Quebec.

• Furthermore, the lack of robust data for about ten indicators in this pillar, particularly related to climate change adaptation and biodiversity, limits the ability to provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental well-being in Quebec and to offer policymakers all the necessary tools for informed decision-making.

The assessment of the environmental pillar presents a certain ambivalence. Indeed, 35% of the indicators have shown improvements, both over the entire period and during the last decade.

Despite these advances, the gap to be bridged to achieve our climate targets remains substantial. Moreover, a quarter of the indicators have recorded notable deteriorations.

It is essential to note that nine orphan indicators are still missing from this pillar, allowing only a partial analysis of the environmental situation in Quebec and greatly limiting our ability to act in an informed manner.

Synthesis Table of the Environmental Pillar

Note : Total greenhouse gas emissions and emissions per capita have been considered as two distinct indicators in this analysis, hence the total of sixteen environmental indicators in the table above.

Protected areas are one of the environmental indicators that have contributed to the increase in well-being in Quebec. The protected areas indicator measures the protected area of Quebec's territory, taking into account the protection of fauna, flora, natural resources, and culture.

Although this indicator provides a mixed assessment, with Quebec ranking in the middle of the pack, its evolution since the early 2000s has nevertheless played a significant role in improving environmental well-being in Quebec, recording substantial growth since 2002. In fact, the percentage of protected areas increased from 2.9% in 2002 to 16.3% in 2022. Much of this improvement occurred in the last two years, where the area increased by more than six percentage points since 2020.

This result remains insufficient compared to the performances of the top-ranking countries. Quebec must strive to protect more of its southern territory, where the majority of the population resides and major urban centers are located.

Despite progress in some environmental indicators, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this improvement remains well below the targets set by the government. It is worth noting that the Quebec government has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 37.5% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

A glaring example of this modest improvement lies in the variation of GHG emissions per capita. With an average of nearly 10 tonnes per capita, Quebec remains significantly distant from emission levels compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5ºC, which is 2 tonnes per person per year. Although emissions have decreased by 3 tonnes per person since the 1990s, Quebec still needs to reduce its GHG emissions per capita by a factor of 5 to meet its target.

The reasons for this slow progress include a high consumption of electricity made possible by easy access and low tariffs, as well as gasoline prices and taxes significantly lower than those observed in the rest of the world. These factors impede the necessary advancements for reducing GHG emissions per person.

The increasing number of vehicles on Quebec roads is another environmental deterioration indicator with implications for well-being in Quebec.

Represented by the ratio of vehicles per person, this indicator reveals that Quebec now has more vehicles than residents on its territory. In 1999, this ratio stood at 0.84 vehicles per person, while in 2019, it rose to 1.05 vehicles per person, including individuals who do not drive, such as children. Note that the presented data also includes heavy vehicles and company vehicles. This increase suggests a disproportionate expansion of the vehicle fleet in Quebec.

The growing presence of vehicles on our roads results in increased greenhouse gas emissions, with the popularity of more polluting vehicles such as sports utility vehicles (SUVs) gaining ground. This contributes to the observation that Quebec is struggling to achieve its climate targets.

In addition to significant environmental consequences, this expansion of the vehicle fleet leads to other repercussions such as traffic congestion, road safety issues, and increased maintenance costs for road infrastructure.

Conclusion

In summary, this new edition of the Well-Being Indicators in Quebec allows for a comparative analysis by comparing Quebec to 11 other jurisdictions within the G7 or WEGo. Quebec performs well in comparison to these entities in terms of adolescent skills through PISA scores, life expectancy, and the share of energy consumed from renewable sources. However, Quebec performs less effectively than these jurisdictions in issues such as gross income including in-kind social transfers per capita, the share of jobs in the cultural sector, or energy productivity.

Upon closer examination of Quebec, it is evident that it remains distant from its own greenhouse gas reduction targets and even further from a carbon footprint compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5ºC.

Improvements are also needed in several areas, including gross income per capita, labor productivity, the share of jobs in the cultural sector, the gender wage gap, and the growth of energy productivity.

Certain positive aspects should be highlighted, such as high performance by children and students in the PISA test, a small gender employment gap, and life expectancy at birth.

Our approach emphasizes the importance of quantifying orphan indicators, mainly in the social and environmental pillars, to obtain a more comprehensive view of well-being in Quebec. The portrait drawn by our well-being exercise in Quebec remains partial, with sixteen indicators considered "orphan," meaning that no robust data is currently available for Quebec concerning these indicators, unlike other jurisdictions that quantify some of them. For example, several European countries, such as France, the Scandinavian countries, and Germany, have easily accessible and recurring indicators on environmental health or the species index. Thus, Quebec must make these orphan indicators available to better understand the multiple factors that affect the well-being of Quebecers and integrate this knowledge into the decision-making process. This will contribute to informing policies and actions for well-being, especially in social and environmental areas where data accuracy is essential to effectively guide initiatives and reforms.

In this regard, New Zealand's example could inspire Quebec. Since 2019, New Zealand has guided its policies and investments through a Living Standard Framework, a Living Standards Framework Dashboard, an annual Wellbeing Budget, and a retrospective report on well-being (Te Tai Waiora: Wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand).

Overall, the approach advocated by the Well-Being Indicators in Quebec contributes to enriching research in economics dedicated to the well-being of populations. These studies have often sought to develop synthetic well-being indicators more relevant than GDP, as well as dashboards aimed at understanding economic progress, human well-being, and harmony with nature in all their diversity.

This research exposes the fundamental lessons that can be drawn from a comparison between Quebec and several similarly developed countries, within the context of observations made by the Stiglitz Commission on the limitations of exclusively relying on GDP to assess a country's well-being.

The use of indicators of living conditions, such as those presented in this exercise, highlights much more distinct differences in areas such as health, education, unemployment and poverty risks, safety, and the environment. This approach provides a more holistic assessment of progress, transcending simple economic measurement to encompass the complexity of aspects that influence the well-being of individuals and communities.

Methodology and Limitations of the Exercise

Data Collection and Comparative Analysis Methodology

The third edition of the Well-being Indicators in Quebec aimed to expand the comparison of well-being beyond Canadian borders by introducing nine additional jurisdictions. This expansion required substantial efforts to find data comparable to that presented for Quebec.

A data collection process was initiated in three major international databases: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.

Following this step, thorough research was conducted in the national databases of each studied jurisdiction, such as the Office of National Statistics (ONS) for the United Kingdom and the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE) for France.

However, divergences between data from international databases and those from Statistics Canada were sometimes observed. These disparities required methodological adjustments, applied to both the data from the three existing jurisdictions (Québec, Ontario, and Canada) and those from international databases. Methodological adjustments, such as changing the studied age group, converting foreign currencies to Canadian dollars, or using a different proxy variable to represent the indicator, are specified directly on the pages of individual indicators that required these modifications.

To ensure the homogeneity of the presented data, comparisons were made between data from international databases and those from Statistics Canada. Canada, included in the databases of the OECD, IMF, and World Bank, as well as in the data from Statistics Canada, served as a "benchmark," ensuring the feasibility and acceptability of comparisons between different datasets.

Comparative analysis was conducted for each available indicator, using the latest year of shared data among jurisdictions.

For orphan indicators, an extensive search for robust data (easily accessible, reliable, recurring over time, relevant, and comparable) was conducted from Canadian and international databases to address the gaps from the first two editions. This effort allowed the documentation of four new indicators related to environmental health, natural disasters, the species index, and soil artificialization. However, it's noteworthy that for the first three mentioned indicators, no information was available for Quebec. Expert opinions on these themes were also consulted to obtain the missing information.

Methodology – Temporal Analysis

The third edition of the Well-being Indicators in Quebec has updated all the data presented in the second edition for the three initial jurisdictions of the exercise: Quebec, Ontario, and Canada. The most recent data have been integrated into the existing time series. The resulting temporal analysis allows for the identification of general trends emerging from data sometimes dating back to the mid-1970s and, in some cases, extending to 2022.

To assess the major trends across the three pillars, all available data for each indicator were analyzed. Trends reflect the progression of different indicators over time for Quebec. Several factors influence the analysis of an indicator's progression, such as the extent of available data, variation over the entire period, the average annual growth rate, and contextual judgment. The combination of all these factors helps determine whether an indicator has improved, deteriorated, or remained unchanged over time.

This process, specific to each indicator, was carried out for the 55 quantified indicators, allowing for an in-depth analysis for Quebec. It is therefore impossible to establish perfectly homogeneous numerical benchmarks to determine whether an indicator has improved, deteriorated, or remained unchanged because the conditions of analysis vary from one indicator to another. This pragmatic approach was adopted to include all indicators in the analysis, avoiding the exclusion of several indicators for which no data existed for the chosen period due to a forced standardization of the analysis period.

Limitations of the Exercise

While the analysis of overall trends provides an overview of the state of well-being in Quebec, it is important to consider certain limitations when interpreting the results.

First, the limited sample size for some temporal data explains the presence of indicators with a restricted sample or data gaps. This data deficit hinders a comprehensive analysis of well-being, especially in the social and environmental domains.

Second, the analysis of overall trends is not based on a fixed sample, as the goal is to include as many indicators as possible. Opting for a specific period would have required the elimination of certain indicators, reducing the completeness of the trend overview.

Third, overall trends do not account for regional variations, explaining why some indicators may not always reflect local realities, such as urban sprawl and challenges related to the housing crisis. The unveiling in 2024 of the Vital Signs of Greater Montreal by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal and the Fondation du Grand Montréal, inspired by the G15+ approach and its partners, will contribute to extending the Well-being Indicators in Quebec to the scale of regional public policies and should inspire other public decision-makers.

Some regions may present disparities, for example, in terms of air quality or poverty rates. Data aggregation provides an overview but does not capture regional diversity. It is therefore essential to collaborate with experts and government authorities to improve the measurement and monitoring of indicators to better represent the realities experienced by all segments of the population.

Finally, it would have been desirable to compare certain essential indicators with predetermined government targets to assess progress. Among the analyzed indicators, only the targets for greenhouse gas emissions and the percentage of protected areas appear in this analysis. Targets for the volume of disposed waste, the volume of drinking water consumed, the number of solo car trips, and access to and the level of services in sustainable mobility were kept in mind during the results analysis.