Editor:
An open letter to MP Patrick Weiler.
Sunshine Coast Labour Council recently had a speaker from First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition present about how British Columbians are doing on the fundamental issue of a living wage.
We have learned that the living wage on the coast is $16.31 (2019 Powell River). It is likely higher on the Lower Coast, but statistics are not available.
Living wages are a reflection of healthy families and communities. When we continue to have low-wage poverty, we remain with working poor families and child poverty in B.C.
Our labour council members shared that according to the recent survey, 20 per cent of residents of Sunshine Coast live below the poverty line. This is very concerning to us, as we know that the coast is going through a housing crisis. We are witnessing the frustrations of working longer hours, families falling further behind, causing constant debt, impacting mental and physical health and leading them to choose between feeding their children or heating their homes. For many families in this situation, a lot of their income goes towards paying their rent. Living costs on the coast have doubled in the last decade. Many frontline workplaces have been experiencing difficulties with retaining and recruiting staff.
The Living Wage for Families Campaign encourages employers to pay a living wage as well as advocates for our government policies that would help families make ends meet.
Could you share with us what you are doing to tackle low-wage poverty, and help the working poor in our region?
