Happy Canada Day! But you may have less to celebrate than you think
Canadian Press
June 30, 2008

OTTAWA — To many, Canada Day is a time for fireworks displays and contemplating the country's many blessings, but a new report suggests Canadians may have less to celebrate than they think.

The annual Conference Board of Canada report card measuring quality of life among 17 advanced countries released Monday concludes that Canada is like a student who started out strong, but is coasting toward the bottom of the class.

In a break from past reports, the Conference Board looked back at Canada's performance to the 1970s and found that although the economy is stronger and per capita income has increased, other countries have passed it by.

Canada's economy was the envy of the world in the 1970s, ranking third. Now it has fallen to 11th place, behind leader Ireland. And on a per capita basis, individuals in the United States, which ranks seventh, earn $6,400 a year more on average than Canadians….

"The good news is that Canada's past achievements, such as reducing poverty among its elderly, show that given the political will, Canada could successfully address other social challenges to sustain future quality of life," the report concludes.