Health and wellness

1. Ontario youth are physically healthy.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are a healthy weight

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario youth (ages 12-17) who self-rated their weight as neither overweight nor obese. This variable classifies children aged 12 to 17 (except female respondents aged 15 to 17 who were pregnant or did not answer the pregnancy question) as "obese," "overweight" or "neither obese nor overweight" according to the age-and-sex specific BMI cut-off points as defined by Cole et al. The Cole cut-off points are based on pooled international data for BMI and linked to the widely internationally accepted adult BMI cut-off points of 25 (overweight) and 30 (obese).

Source: This data is based on the responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Data presented here is based on survey responses from July 2010. The Canadian Community Health Survey is conducted every year.

Sample: 3,809 youth aged 12-24 responded to the CCHS 2010 – representing a population of 2,281,583. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves and some remote communities.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010 - 79.9%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are physically active

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario youth (ages 12-14) who reported that during their leisure time they were active or moderately active.

Source: This data is based on the responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Data presented here is based on survey responses from July 2010. The Canadian Community Health Survey is conducted every year.

Sample: 3,809 youth aged 12-24 responded to the CCHS 2010 – representing a population of 2,281,583. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves and some remote communities.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010 – 63.9%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who consume at least five servings of fruit or vegetables daily

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario youth (ages 12-24) who reported that they consumed less than five daily servings of fruit or vegetables.

Source: This data is based on the responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Data presented here is based on survey responses from July 2010. The Canadian Community Health Survey is conducted every year.

Sample: 3,809 youth aged 12-24 responded to the CCHS 2010 – representing a population of 2,281,583. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves and some remote communities.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010 – 44.9%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who did not visit a doctor in the past year.

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported they did not visit a doctor for their physical health in the past 12 months.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 39%; 2009 – 33.6%; 2011 – 33.0%

2. Ontario youth feel mentally well.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are experiencing anxiety/depression

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported anxiety/depression symptoms experienced during the past few weeks.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 4.7%; 2009 – 4.2%; 2011 – 6.0%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are experiencing elevated psychological distress

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported experiencing at least three of 12 elevated psychological distress symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction) listed in the questionnaire.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 30.8%; 2009 – 31.0%; 2011 – 33.6%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who had serious thoughts about suicide in the past year.

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported they had seriously contemplated suicide in the past year.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 9.8%; 2009 – 9.5%; 2011 – 10.3%

3. Ontario youth make choices that support healthy and safe development.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who smoke cigarettes

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported smoking cigarettes during the 12 months before the survey.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 11.9%; 2009 – 11.7%; 2011 – 8.7%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have recently consumed excessive alcohol

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported binge drinking (drinking five or more drinks on one occasion) at least once during the four weeks before the survey.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 26.3%; 2009 – 24.7%; 2011 – 22.3%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have used any illicit drug

Definition: This indicator is a composite of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported non-medical drug use of cannabis, LSD, mushrooms/methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, heroin, ecstasy, stimulants (non-medical), and tranquilizers/sedatives (non-medical)in the past year. This indicator excludes the use of alcohol, tobacco, high-caffeine energy drinks, inhalants, jimson weed, salvia, ketamine, OxyContin and other prescription opioid pain relievers, prescription ADHD drugs, over-the-counter medication and steroids.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 28.8%; 2009 – 28.0%; 2011 – 24.8%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have had a sexually transmitted infection

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario youth (ages 12-24) who replied that they had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection at least once.

Source: This data is based on the responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Data presented here is based on survey responses from July 2010. The Canadian Community Health Survey is conducted every year.

Sample: 3,809 youth aged 12-24 responded to the CCHS 2010 – representing a population of 2,281,583. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves and some remote communities.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2010 – 3.9%

Strong, supportive friends and families

4. Ontario youth have families and guardians equipped to help them thrive.

Indicator: Proportion of families who live in deep poverty and are struggling to afford housing

Definition: The Ontario Housing Measure tracks the percentage of households with children under 18 that have incomes below 40% of the median household income (LIM40) and spend more than 40% of their income on housing.

Source: This data is based on responses to the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, conducted by Statistics Canada. The most recent data is from 2010, released in July 2012. The Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics is conducted every year.

Sample: Approximately 10,000 Ontarians.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2008 – 5.4%, 2009 – 5.0%, 2010 – 4.2%

Indicator: Proportion of caregivers who can't afford to feed their families balanced meals

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario youth (ages 12-24) whose caregiver responded that in the last 12 months, members of their household could not afford to eat balanced meals (often and sometimes).

Source: This data is based on the responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Data presented here is based on survey responses from July 2010. The Canadian Community Health Survey is conducted every year.

Sample: 3,809 youth aged 12-24 responded to the CCHS 2010 – representing a population of 2,281,583. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves and some remote communities.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2010 – 8.1%

Indicator: Proportion of children and youth who live in low-income households

Definition: The Low Income Measurement 50 (LIM50) measures the percentage of children under the age of 18 living in households earning less than 50% of the median adjusted household income. It is a relative measure of poverty and tends to change with the economy.

Source: This data is based on responses to the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, conducted by Statistics Canada. The most recent data is from 2010, released in July 2012. The Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics is conducted every year.

Sample: Approximately 10,000 Ontarians.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2008 – 15.2%; 2009 – 14.6%; 2010 – 13.8%

5. Ontario youth have at least one consistent, caring adult in their lives.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have at least one parent who usually knows where they are

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported that at least one parent "always" or "usually" knows where they are when they are away from home.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2011 – 89.5%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who do not get along with their mothers

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported not getting along with their mother.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2011 – 4.6%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who do not get along with their fathers

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported not getting along with their father.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey, 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2011 – 6.9%

6. Ontario youth form and maintain healthy, close relationships.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who feel lonely

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of youth (ages 11-15) who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "I often feel lonely."

Source: This data is based on responses to the 2009/10 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. The self-reported survey is administered every four years by the Social Program Evaluation Group at Queen's University.

Sample: 3,691 students, ages 11-15, from 69 Ontario schools.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2009/10 – 19.7%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have someone they are comfortable talking to about problems

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement "There is no one I feel comfortable talking about problems with."

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 - 95.5%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have family and friends who help them feel safe, secure and happy

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "I have family and friends who help me feel safe, secure and happy."

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 - 98.7%

Education, training and apprenticeships

7. Ontario youth achieve academic success.

Indicator: Proportion of English-speaking / French-speaking students enrolled in academic math who meet the provincial standard

Definition: This indicator is made up of two parts: a) the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in Academic Math; and b) the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in applied math. Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results are scored on a scale out of 4, with 3 or above being defined as meeting the provincial standard.

Source: The tests are administered and the data is compiled by the EQAO. EQAO tests are administered for grade 9 students in math only. Grade 9 results for the 2011/12 academic year were published on the EQAO website on September 12, 2012.

Sample: The 2011/12 Grade 9 Academic Assessment was administered to 97,741 English-speaking students and 4,013 French-speaking students. The 2011-2012 Grade 9 Applied Assessment was administered to 41,799 English-speaking students and 1,451 French-speaking students. Data excludes students attending school on First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: Up

Data: English: 2009/10 - 82%, 2010/11 - 83%, 2011/12 - 84%

French: 2009/10 - 71%, 2010/11 - 70%, 2011/12 - 78%

Indicator: Proportion of English-speaking / French-speaking students enrolled in applied math who meet the provincial standard

Definition: This indicator is made up of two parts: a) the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in academic math; and b) the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in applied math. Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results are scored on a scale out of 4, with 3 or above being defined as meeting the provincial standard.

Source: The tests are administered and the data is compiled by the EQAO. EQAO tests are administered for grade 9 students in math only. Grade 9 results for the 2011/12 academic year were published on the EQAO website on September 12, 2012.

Sample: The 2011/12 Grade 9 Academic Assessment was administered to 97,741 English-speaking students and 4,013 French-speaking students. The 2011/12 Grade 9 Applied Assessment was administered to 41,799 English-speaking students and 1,451 French-speaking students. Data excludes students attending school on First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: Up

Data: English: 2009/10 - 40%, 2010/11 - 42%, 2011/12 - 44%

French: 2009/10 - 36%, 2010/11 - 37%, 2011/12 - 44%

Indicator: Proportion of high school students who graduate

Definition: The percentage of students from a five-year cohort who achieved their high school diploma.

Source: This data is based on data reported by school boards to the Ontario School Information System (OnSIS). The provincial graduation rate for the 2010-2011 academic year was published March 8, 2012.

Sample: Large representative subsets are drawn from a full cohort of students who started grade 9 five years earlier. Data excludes students attending school on First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2008/09 – 79%, 2009/10 – 81%, 2010/11 - 82%

Indicator: Ontario's overall reading achievement ranking according to PISA

Definition: This indicator is defined as Ontario's ranking among jurisdictions that participated in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) for overall reading achievement.

Source: PISA is an international study conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that measures the abilities of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science. Conducted every three years, each assessment has one major focus among the three subjects; in 2009, the major domain was reading.

Sample: In April and May 2009, 112 Anglophone and 61 Francophone Ontario schools took part in PISA. This represented approximately 4,100 students. Seventy-five jurisdictions (65 countries and 10 provinces) took part in the 2009 PISA.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 – Ranked 6 out of 75 jurisdictions.

8. Ontario youth have educational experiences that respond to their needs and prepare them to lead.

Indicator: Proportion of youth enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major program

Definition: This indicator is defined as the portion of grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major program out of the total number of students enrolled in grade 11 and 12 in Ontario publicly funded schools.

Source: This data is sourced from the data collected from school boards on students enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major program as well as enrolment data collected through the Ontario School Information System. Data presented here is based on the 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 school years.

Sample: The data represents all students who are enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major program.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2008/09 – 3.6%; 2009/10 – 5.1%; 2010/11 – 7.2%

Indicator: Number of students who have Individual Education Plans

Definition: This indicator is defined as the number of students receiving special education programs and services who have Individual Education Plans. An increase in the number of students with Individual Education Plans indicates that a greater number of students with special education needs are receiving personalized and precise assessment and instruction based on their individual strengths and needs.

Source: The data is reported every year to the Minister of Education by all 72 district school boards and school authorities in Ontario. Data presented here is reported by district school board by school year.

Sample: Students ages four to 21 enrolled in publicly funded schools including school authorities in Ontario who are receiving special education programs and services.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2008/09 – 270,773; 2009/10 – 283,323; 2010/11 – 290,197

Indicator: Proportion of high school course credits that are available through e-learning

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of e-learning credits in relation to the total number of course credits available in the Ontario secondary curriculum.

Source: This data is based on the number of e-learning course credits available in the 2012/13 school year according to administrative data on credit courses listed in the Ontario secondary curriculum.

Sample: This data is reported for the 2012/2013 school year and are found in the Ontario Secondary School Curriculum list, published by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010/11 – 34.5%; 2011/2012 – 38.9%; 2012/13 – 45.9%

9. Ontario youth access diverse training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Indicator: Proportion of adults who have completed postsecondary education

Definition: The share of adults aged 25-64 who have completed postsecondary education – either university or college credentials, or trade/vocational education.

Source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Census.

Sample: The target population of the LFS is the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age and over. Since July 1995, the monthly LFS sample size has been approximately 54,000 households, resulting in the collection of labour market information for approximately 100,000 individuals. It should be noted that the LFS sample size is subject to change from time to time in order to meet data quality or budget requirements. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 65% (year TBC)

Indicator: Number of youth served through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Definition: The number of annual participants in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. Participants include fulltime high school students who are over the age of 16 and have at least 16 credits.

Source: Program administrative data is collected by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

Sample: All annual Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program participants.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009/10 - (TBC), 2010/11 - (TBC), 2011/12 - 19,600

Employment and Entrepreneurship

10. Ontario youth have opportunities for meaningful employment experiences.

Indicator: Proportion of students who are enrolled in co-op placements

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of students who are taking co-operative education in a day school program out of the total number of students enrolled in Ontario secondary day school programs (grades 9-12).

Source: This data is sourced from the Ontario School Information System. Data presented here is based on the 2010/11 school year.

Sample: The data includes all students in publicly funded secondary schools in grades 9 to 12 who took co-operative education in day school programs throughout the school year.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010/11 – 14.7%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are in the labour force

Definition: This indicator is defined as a percentage of the youth population (aged 15-24) that is in the labour force.

Source: This data is based on the Labour Force Survey, which provides estimates of employment and unemployment. Both monthly and annual data on this indicator are available for the period 1976-2012. Data collection for the LFS is carried out each month during the week following the LFS reference week. The reference week is normally the week containing the 15th day of the month.

Sample: The target population of the LFS is the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age and over. Since July 1995, the monthly LFS sample size has been approximately 54,000 households, resulting in the collection of labour market information for approximately 100,000 individuals. It should be noted that the LFS sample size is subject to change from time to time in order to meet data quality or budget requirements. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010 – 61.5%; 2011 – 61.8%; 2012 – 60.1%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are not in education, employment or training

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of youth (aged 15-24) who are not students, and at the same time are not employed. It is calculated as the proportion of non-student youth who are not in the labour force out of the total youth population.

Source: This data is based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which provides estimates of employment and unemployment. Both monthly and annual data on this indicator are available for the period 1976-2012. Data collection for the LFS is carried out each month during the week following the LFS reference week. The reference week is normally the week containing the 15th day of the month.

Sample: The target population of the LFS is the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age and over. Since July 1995, the monthly LFS sample size has been approximately 54,000 households, resulting in the collection of labour market information for approximately 100,000 individuals. It should be noted that the LFS sample size is subject to change from time to time in order to meet data quality or budget requirements. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2010 – 10.1%; 2011 – 9.0%; 2012 – 9.5%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are satisfied with their job

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who reported they were satisfied or very satisfied when asked "Considering all aspects of your job, how satisfied were you with it?"

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 - 75.6%

11. Ontario youth have the skills and resources needed to develop a successful career or business.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are self employed

Definition: This indicator is defined as the number of youth (aged 15-24) who reported that they were self-employed.

Source: This data is based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which collects information about employment and unemployment. Data collection for the LFS is carried out each month during the week following the LFS reference week. The reference week is normally the week containing the 15th day of the month.

Sample: The target population of the LFS is the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age and over. Since July 1995, the monthly LFS sample size has been approximately 54,000 households, resulting in the collection of labour market information for approximately 100,000 individuals. It should be noted that the LFS sample size is subject to change from time to time in order to meet data quality or budget requirements. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves.

Desired direction: up

Data: 2012 – 1.8%

12. Ontario youth are safe and supported at work.

Indicator: Proportion of WSIB claims that are for youth employees

Definition: Proportion of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims for injuries reported by youth 15 to 24 years old where the youth suffered a work-related injury or disease that resulted in being off work past the day of the accident, loss of wages, earning, or a permanent disability or impairment.

Source: WSIB statistics.

Sample: This data is published annually by the WSIB and include all claims pertaining to youth aged 15-24 years old. Youth that suffered injuries that did not result in an absence from work past the day of the accident are excluded from these figures.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2009 – 11.6%, 2010 – 11.2%, 2011 – 11.0%

Diversity, Social Inclusion and Safety

13. Ontario youth experience social inclusion and value diversity.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who feel a sense of belonging in their community

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario youth (ages 12-24) who described their sense of belonging to their local community as strong or somewhat strong.

Source: This data is based on the responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Data presented here is based on survey responses from July 2010. The Canadian Community Healthy Survey is conducted every year.

Sample: 3,809 youth aged 12-24 responded to the Canadian Health Survey 2010 representing a population of 2,281,583. Data collection excludes First Nations reserves and some remote communities.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010 – 69.3%

Indicator: Proportion of students who have a positive attitude toward diversity at school

Definition: This indicator is defined as the percentage of students who answered "yes" when asked "Do you think that a student wanting to establish a Gay-Straight Alliance club in their school should be allowed to do so?"

Source: This data is based on the 2011 Ontario Student & Parent Survey. The Ontario Student Trustees Association-l'Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario (OSTA-AECO) conducts an annual student survey across Ontario schools to ensure that their voices are heard. Survey questions are proposed and selected by students across the province, reflecting issues important to them. Identified themes include technology, mental health and diversity. Questions change every year based on students' attitudes to these important issues.

Sample: In 2011, 7,112 students from 70 of Ontario's English, Catholic, and French school boards – and all regions of the province – participated in the online survey.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2011 – 87.8%

14. Ontario youth feel safe at home, at school, online and in their communities.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have a happy home life

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of youth (aged 11-15) who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "I have a happy home life."

Source: This data is based on responses to the 2009/10 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. The self-reported survey is administered every four years by the Social Program Evaluation Group at Queen's University.

Sample: 3,691 students, ages 11-15, from 69 Ontario schools participated.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009/10 – 76.9%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who feel safe at school

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported they generally feel safe at school.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2007 – 92.7%; 2009 – 93.8%; 2011 – 95.6%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who have been bullied online

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported having been bullied over the Internet in the past 12 months.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: down

Data: 2011 – 22%

Indicator: Proportion of Ontarians who feel safe in their community

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents to the Provincial Community Satisfaction Survey who responded they feel safe or very safe when asked "How safe do you feel in your community?"

Source: This data comes from the provincial component of the Ontario Provincial Police Community Satisfaction Surveys (CSS). Data presented here is based on survey responses from the 2012, 2011 and 2009 collection cycles (there was no provincial CSS conducted in 2010).

Sample: 1,000 Ontarians aged 16 and over responded per survey cycle.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 – 96.1%, 2011 – 96.2%, 2012 – 95.8%

15. Ontario youth respect, and are respected by, the law and justice system.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who participate in antisocial behaviour.

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of Ontario students (grades 7-12) who reported at least three of the following nine antisocial behaviours in the 12 months before the survey: vandalized property, theft of goods worth less than $50, theft of goods worth $50 or more, stole a car/joyriding, break and entering, sold cannabis, ran away from home, assaulted someone (not a sibling), and carried a weapon.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from students who participated in the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The survey is conducted every two years. Data presented here is derived from anonymous questionnaires completed in classrooms between October 2010 and June 2011.

Sample: For the 2011 survey 9,288 students (62% of selected students in participating schools) in grades 7-12 from 40 school boards, 181 schools, and 581 classes in Ontario completed the survey. Students excluded from the sample include those enrolled in private schools or home-schooled, those institutionalized for correctional or health reasons, those schooled on native reserves, military bases, or in the remote northern regions of Ontario.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2007 – 12.1%; 2009 – 10.4%; 2011 – 8.0%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who police have reported as committing a non-traffic related crime (charged and not charged)

Definition: This indicator is the proportion of youth (aged 12 to 17) who were either charged by police or diverted from the formal criminal justice system through the use of warnings, cautions, referrals to community programs, etc. The proportion was calculated based on Criminal Code incidents excluding traffic offences, calculated on the basis of 100,000 youth aged 12-17 in the population. In 2011 the total youth crime rate was 4,561 per 100,000 youth aged 12-17 in the population, which is a combination of the rate of youth accused who were formally charged and the rate of youth accused who were diverted (2,141 and 2,420 per 100,000 respectively).

Source: The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, in cooperation with the policing community, collects police-reported crime statistics through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR). The UCR Survey was designed to measure the incidence of crime in Canadian society and its characteristics.

Desired direction: Down

Data: 2008 – 2,725/2,934; 2009 – 2,606/2,915; 2010 – 2,334/2,700; 2011 – 2,141/2,420

Indicator: Proportion of youth who believe officers in their local police force do a good job at treating people fairly

Definition: Respondents were asked if they believed officers in their local police force did a good job, an average job, or a poor job at treating people fairly. This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who indicated they felt police officers in their local police force did a good job in this respect.

Source: Data is obtained from the 2009 Statistics Canada General Social Survey (GSS) Cycle 23. The purpose of this survey is to better understand how Canadians perceive crime and the justice system and their experiences of victimization. Data collection was conducted from February 2 to November 30, 2009. Respondents from Ontario were isolated for the purposes of this analysis, though the GSS uses a representative sample of all Canadians. All respondents were interviewed by telephone. Households without telephones were therefore excluded. There is evidence, however, that persons living in such households represent approximately 0.9% of the target population (Residential Telephone Services Survey (RTSS), 2008). As interviews were not conducted by cellular telephone, persons with only cellular telephone service were also excluded. The 2008 RTSS reported that 8% of households in Canada have cellular telephone service only.

Sample: While the GSS uses a national sample of respondents aged 15 or older, for the purposes of this analysis respondents aged 15 to 24 from Ontario were isolated. This resulted in a total sample of 519 respondents.Data: 2009 – TBC%

Civic Engagement and Youth Leadership

16. Ontario youth play a role in informing the decisions that affect them.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who voted in the last federal election

Definition: This indicator is defined as the number of votes cast by youth aged 18-24 divided by the number of registered electors aged 18-24 years.

Source: Data is based on Elections Canada administrative data obtained from the National Register of Electors. Data represents voting activity in the 2011 and 2008 federal elections for youth aged 18-24 registered to vote in Ontario. The estimates of voter turnout by age group have margins of error between three and nine percentage points at the provincial or territorial level, for almost all age groups. Actual participation rates should be within the associated margin of error for the estimates 19 times out of 20.

Sample: The 2011 data represents 438,444 voters of the 1,148,575 registered electors in Ontario aged 18-24.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2008 – 34.1%; 2011 – 38.2%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who are unpaid members on a board or committee

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who reported that they had been an unpaid member of a board or committee at any time between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009-10%

17. Ontario youth are engaged in their communities.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who canvassed, campaigned or fundraised as volunteers

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who stated affirmatively that they had, at any time in 2009, canvassed, campaigned, or fundraised as an unpaid volunteer.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 – 13.1%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who volunteered with schools, religious organizations or community associations

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who stated they had, at any time in 2009, volunteered by helping schools, religious organizations, community associations, etc. other than those previously described volunteering activities (as outlined in the indicator above) or by educating or influencing public opinion or lobbying others on behalf of an organization).

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 – 7%

18. Ontario youth leverage their assets to address social issues.

Indicator: Proportion of youth who started volunteering to help a cause they personally believed in

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of respondents who selected "to help a cause that you personally believe in" as the main reason for starting volunteer activities.

Source: Data is based on self-reports from youth to the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). YITS is a longitudinal survey administered by Statistics Canada. The data presented here is based on responses from Cohort A (born in 1984) on Cycle 6 of the survey (2009). YITS includes youth who were attending any form of schooling in one of the 10 provinces of Canada at the time of the first cycle of data collection. Data collection excludes schools on Indian reserves, Canadian forces bases and in some remote areas. YITS is conducted every two years.

Sample: This data is based on Cycle 6 of Cohort A respondents who were living in the province of Ontario in Cycle 1 and still living in Ontario in Cycle 6. The weighted Ontario sample for Cycle 6 is 117,182 youth.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009 - 17.8%

Coordinated and Youth Friendly Communities

19. Ontario youth have access to safe spaces that provide quality opportunities for play and recreation.

Indicator: Proportion of parents who feel recreation opportunities in their community meets their child's needs

Definition: Proportion of parents with children aged 5- 17 who responded that the public facilities and programs for physical activity in their community meet the needs of their child quite well or very well.

Source: Data is based on responses to a national, random-digit dialing telephone survey, Physical Activity Monitor (PAM), or a representative sample conducted annually over a 12-month period from April to March. PAM was developed by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute. Data presented here is based on data collected between April 2010 and March 2011.

Sample: 984 Ontario parents of 5- 17-year-olds responded to the 2010 PAM.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2000 – 60%; 2005 – 57%; 2010 – 62%

Indicator: Proportion of youth who feel there are good places in their community to spend their free time

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of youth (aged 11-15) who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "There are good places to spend your free time (e.g., recreation centres, parks, shopping centres)."

Source: This data is based on responses to the 2009/10 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. The self-reported survey is administered every four years by the Social Program Evaluation Group at Queen's University.

Sample: 3,691 students, ages 11-15, from 69 Ontario schools participated.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2009/10 – 67.2%

20. Ontario youth know about and easily navigate resources in their communities.

Indicator: Proportion of callers to 211 looking for community referrals who are young people

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of callers to the 211 community referral service who are 22 years of age or younger.

Source: This data is based on administrative data collected annually by 211 operators.

Sample: Data is based on 559,641 callers to 211 in 2010.

Desired direction: Up

Data: 2010 – 12%