* An extract from Issue 1 of the Newsletter on "Measuring the Progress of Societies".

[On the Right Track - Canadian Index of Wellbeing]
By Roy J. Romanow, Founding Chair, CIW Institute Board

The OECD's groundbreaking Measuring the Progress of Societies Project is shining the world's spotlight on the central role that wellbeing indicators can play in underpinning democratic debate and promoting effective government policy-making. Now, we are working on initiatives that advance overall societal progress. I look forward to reading about your advances around the world as much as I hope you will with the Canadian Index of Well-being(CIW) project.

The CIW's vision is to enable Canadians to share in the highest wellbeing status by identifying, developing and publicizing measures that offer clear, valid and regular reporting on progress toward wellbeing outcomes Canadians seek as a nation. Wellbeing is the presence of the highest possible quality of life in its full breadth of expression: good living standards, robust health, a sustainable environment, vital communities, an educated populace, balanced time use, high levels of civic participation, and dynamic arts and culture.

The CIW is in an advanced state of development within seven of these eight abovementioned categories or 'domains' under the leadership of world-class experts and backed by rigorous Canadian and international peer review and public consultation. Each domain is further distilled into eight headline indicators. It is our goal that these indicators, 64 in total, will be quantified and blended into a composite index with a single number that will go up or down, much like the TSX or Dow Jones. The composite index will give a quick snapshot of whether overall wellbeing is changing for better or for worse. It is anticipated that the composite will be the doorway to a new way of collecting, aggregating and communicating statistical knowledge about what really matters to Canadians.

The CIW is a tool that will measure progress, tap into the values of Canadians, motivate decision-makers to act and that will ultimately help Canadians assess whether we are indeed 'on the right track'. Until now, Canadians haven't had a clear, coherent and compelling alternative to the dominance of economic measures. So imagine what might happen if every time my fellow Canadians hear about the GDP, they also hear the results of another new and important index - an Index of Wellbeing? An Index that measures the variables that really contributes to, or subtract from, the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of Canadians. We believe the CIW will be that type of measuring stick. For more detailed information on this initiative, please see www.ciw.ca or email to info@ciw.ca.

* For further information, please visit www.oecd.org/progress/newsletter.