Population decline
Just as rats leave a burning ship, so too do people move out when opportunities dry up and cities fall into decline. Needless to say, a declining population hurts the tax roll and becomes an unstoppable spiraling force; fewer people means a shrinking city budget. That means fewer city services, which in turn drives people away. Canada's worst cities for population decline: Summerside P.E.I. (below), Cape Breton, N.S., Baie-Comeau, Que., Timmons, Ont. and Portage la Prairie, Man. and 30 other cities.
| Category | Rank out of 179 |
| Overall ranking | 172 |
| Affordable housing | 25 |
| Household income | 172 |
| New cars on the road | 143 |
| Job prospects | 151 |
| Population growth | 144 |
| Access to health care | 43 |
| Overall Crime | 136 |
| Walk or bike to work | 85 |
| Violent Crime | 104 |
| Total Precipitation | 126 |
| Pollution | 127 |
| Culture | 154 |