Annual report on Montreal-region's strengths, weaknesses

The annual Vital Signs report is out on the strengths and weaknesses of the Montreal-region. It's put together by the non-profit Foundation of Greater Montreal.

The reports finds, for one, that Montrealers are fatter than other Canadians. The obesity rate last year in Montreal was just a pinch below 15%, compared with 12% in Toronto and about 8½ per cent in Vancouver.

The monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment was also found to be cheaper in Montreal than the other big cities, averaging out to $647 a month, compared to about $960 in Ottawa and close to $1100 in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

Some of the other highlights:

Nearly one in four Montrealers smokes. That's up 4% over the previous year, and three percentage points higher than the Canadian average.

And Montreal's unemployment rate appears to have climbed, albeit slightly, from 7% to 7½ per cent.