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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

While many have called for what they term a ‘living’ wage, the question has to be asked, exactly what should that be?


I’m not sure why, however I woke up this morning wondering what the minimum wages were for BC, and across western Canada.

Both the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba had increases to their minimum wages on October 1st ... Saskatchewan to $11.32 per hour, while in Manitoba a 30-cent increase took it to $11.65.

Meantime in Alberta, they have a two-step minimum wage.  Those under 18 receiving $13 per hour, while those over 18 receive $15 per hour.

Here in BC, the minimum wage is $13.85 an hour; that rate was set back on June 1st of this year.
 
'Living' wage requirement in BC according to
the Living Wage for Families Campaign
According to a BC government media release, our provincial increases are the result of recommendations from the independent Fair Wages Commission, established in 2017 to advise government on an approach to raising provincial minimum wages with increases that are regular, measured and predictable.

The release went on to say by June 2021, the provincial minimum wage will reach at least $15.20 per hour.

While many have called for what they term a ‘living’ wage, the question has to be asked, exactly what should that be?


Would it be, for example, the ‘average’ weekly earning for employee’s in British Columbia?  According to Statistics Canada, that currently is $993.66 – or roughly $25 per hour.  I think it’s safe to safe that would be suicide for our economy and prices would escalate to unimaginable levels.  It would also send employment levels spiraling downwards as thousands of people would be laid off.

The Living Wage for Families Campaign, thankfully, has a different idea of what is required stating:

The living wage is the hourly amount that each of two working parents with two young children must earn to meet their basic expenses (including rent, child care, food and transportation) once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies are taken into account.

So how much is needed then?  Again, looking to the Living Wage for Families campaign, they have indicated that ...

... the 2019 living wage for Metro Vancouver is $19.50 per hour ... Columbia Valley ($15.92) ... Comox Valley ($15.97) ... Cranbrook ($14.38) ...Fraser Valley ($15.54) ... Greater Trail ($18.83) ... Greater Victoria ($19.39) ... Kamloops ($15.93) ... Nelson ($18.46) ... North Central Region ($14.03) ... Parksville - Qualicum ($15.81) ... and Revelstoke ($18.90).

I am unsure how many two-parent families are bringing in a combined hourly wage of between $30 to $40, however I would have to think that number would be low. I also have to think that single-parent families are well below that figure, making it extremely difficult to care for, and raise, and young family.

Even more low-income housing ... universal pharmacare ... universal childcare ... universal dental care ... food subsidies?

There’s only two places that monies for this can come from; taxes from those in the workforce, and for businesses. 

Given the current state of BC resource industries however, which in the past have funneled a large portion of revenues to government coffers, this seems highly unlikely – highly unlikely unless changes are made so that BC’s forest industries can get off life-support, and the resource sector, especially oil and gas, have an opportunity to begin operations without years of red-tape and roadblock to navigate.

That seems unlikely however with our current NDP government of Premier John Horgan.

So, what thoughts do you have on this topic of minimum wages, a living wage, and how far society should go to aid and assist single parents and families?  I’m interested in what you have to say.


NOTE:
The living wage cost is calculated annually in Working for a Living Wage: Making Paid Work Meet Basic Family Needs in Metro Vancouver, a report published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC office, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition and the Living Wage for Families Campaign
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