Unlike the low-income measure, the market basket measure is an absolute measure of poverty. It doesn't change necessarily over time in the way the low-income measure does, based on how everyone else is doing in the country. The low-income measure is a better measure of income inequality, for example, than whether or not someone has the absolute necessary goods to be above the poverty line.
The market basket measure is based on the amount of income required to purchase a basket of goods and services that includes food, clothing, shelter and transportation and that would allow Canadians to have a modest standard of living and participate in their communities. The benefit of the market basket measure is that it's available regionally. It's actually available in 50 different regions, including 19 specific communities. It allows Canadians to say where they stand relative to the poverty line in their community. It's being expanded to the territories as well.