"Although Calgary boasts one of the strongest economies among all Canadian cities, the population is increasingly divided into “haves” and “have-nots.” In the past few years, child poverty rates have almost doubled, such that 20% (about 43,000) of Calgary’s children now live below LICO. Almost one in five parents in Calgary reports that they do not have enough money to buy food all of the time. Poverty rates and unemployment rates are much higher for immigrants and Aboriginal peoples than among the rest of the population. Aboriginal peoples continue to suffer a broad range of health, social, and economic problems at rates vastly exceeding those of other Calgarians."

A Canadian Policy Research Network report (in PDF) from April 2006 examines demographic developments over the next 30 years and how they are likely to inter-relate and influence change in 5 urban systems – social, economic, built environment and infrastructure, natural environment and governance.