Thoughts on BC Politics and More

How much money do you need to get by in BC nowadays? That’s the question our team at the CCPA-BC in partnership with Living Wages for Families BC set out to answer .  Our latest calculations on the living wage in BC are out now, and they paint a grim picture. As rent and food prices have risen sharply in communities across the province, families in Metro Vancouver have to spend over $4,000 more than last year for the same basket of goods—and other communities are not far behind ... CLICK HERE for the full report

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 1 st ... 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 1 st 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 . T...