A “living wage” in Haliburton County for a family of four is estimated to be $5 higher than Ontario’s current minimum wage.
Local health officials say the gap is “worrisome” at a time when well-paying full-time jobs continue to decline and part-time employment can be unstable and unpredictable.
New calculations from the Ontario Living Wage Network show a family of four in Haliburton County – with both parents working full-time – would each have to earn a living wage of $19.42 per hour in order to cover basic expenses in 2018. That is more than $5 per hour higher than Ontario’s current minimum wage of $14 per hour. Among the 22 Ontario communities for which a living wage was calculated in 2018 Haliburton County had the second highest total – only trailing Toronto.
“The living wage is what a family of four – two parents and two children – needs to earn in 2018 to pay its bills and avoid living in poverty” says Rosie Kadwell a public health dietitian with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “It is worrisome that the living wage in Haliburton County is higher than what someone would currently earn in a minimum-wage job. Unfortunately with many support programs being cancelled or delayed and the growth of unstable employment the income gap in Haliburton County is only going to get worse leaving low-income earners facing an even greater financial crunch.”
The Ontario Living Wage Network calculates the living wage using local data collected by the health unit and a community partner including the cost of food housing (including rent utilities and tenant insurance) phone internet transportation child care continuing education (one college course per year per adult) and medical/life insurance.
The Living Wage Network uses a standardized spreadsheet to calculate each community’s living wage while also accounting for government transfers such as child tax benefits child care subsidy and government deductions and taxes. The living wage calculation also factors in a set amount across Ontario for clothing footwear and contingencies.
“A living wage is different than the minimum wage” Kadwell said. “While a living wage reflects the true cost of living in one community a minimum wage is legislated and is the same across Ontario.”
The local living wage calculation comes as the provincial government cancelled a $1 per hour increase in the minimum wage – which was to take it to $15 per hour. The province has also cancelled the Basic Income program which was being piloted in Lindsay and two other Ontario communities.
The program provided people with a guaranteed minimum income. Data from the Basic Income pilot indicates that 70 per cent of participants were employed but not making enough money to meet their basic needs.
While disappointed that government income-support solutions are being cancelled Kadwell said businesses and employers can still be proactive by paying their staff a living wage.
“Many employers in Ontario do this and reap the rewards” she said. “Generally businesses that pay a living wage see an increase in productivity experience less staff turnover and save on hiring and training costs. When low-paid workers earn a living wage they also tend to spend most of it in their local economy which contributes to stronger economic growth.”
Along with a living wage Kadwell says affordable housing child care and transportation are also essential for people to be able to meet their basic needs and avoid having to live in poverty.
S ubmitted by the HKPR Health Unit
