Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term

The report argues that GDP is an insufficient measure of national progress and advocates for the use of comprehensive wealth measures. Analysis of Canadian data from 1980 to 2015 reveals several sustainability risks, including rising household debt, declining lifetime earning potential, heavy reliance on foreign investment, and a significant drop in the market value of the oil sands. The author emphasizes that Canada's comprehensive wealth portfolio is vulnerable to climate change impacts.

• The report identifies several 'red flags' regarding the sustainability of Canadian prosperity between 1980 and 2015, including unprecedented household debt and a reliance on foreign lenders for nearly three quarters of investment flows after 2012.
• Human capital, measured as average lifetime earning potential, decreased from $498,000 in 1980 to $496,000 in 2015.
• Canada's natural capital has seen a significant decline in value, specifically an 86 per cent drop in the market value of the oil sands, and the overall wealth portfolio remains vulnerable to climate change.

APA

McLaughlin,, R. S. V. C. (2018). Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/comprehensive-wealth-canada-2018-measuring-what-matters-long-term

Chicago

McLaughlin,, Robert Smith,Scott Vaughan,Kieran Clarke,David. Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/comprehensive-wealth-canada-2018-measuring-what-matters-long-term.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McLaughlin, |first1=Robert Smith,Scott Vaughan,Kieran Clarke,David |title=Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=26 October 2018 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/comprehensive-wealth-canada-2018-measuring-what-matters-long-term |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mclaughlin2018comprehensive, author = {McLaughlin,, Robert Smith,Scott Vaughan,Kieran Clarke,David}, title = {{Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/comprehensive-wealth-canada-2018-measuring-what-matters-long-term}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }