Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: Social Issues: Income

  • A Profile of Poverty in Edmonton – May 2019 Update

    Poverty affects people from all walks of life — young, old, employed, unemployed, those who are new to Canada and those whose ancestors have lived here for hundreds of years. The structure of the economy traps people in bad situations and forces some into poverty by constraining choices and limiting options (Ghatak, 2015). Limited social housing, eroding benefits, and lack of access to stable, good-paying jobs, has created an economy that takes away many people’s choices and leads to poverty. People are increasingly forced into unstable jobs that don’t pay enough to satisfy needs, and some can’t find jobs at all. The cost of living has also gone up, which forces many people to focus on making ends meet and living day-to-day, rather than planning for the future or their children’s future. Because people in poverty lack the means to participate in their communities, they are often socially isolated (Mood & Jonsson, 2016; Stewart et al., 2009). The stress experienced from poverty can lead to negative impacts on mental and emotional health, the ability to make decisions, and even family and neighbourhood cohesion (Carvalho, Meier, & Wang, 2016).

    Edmontonians believe in helping and protecting one another, so we must work together to address poverty. For this reason, the Edmonton Social Planning Council has produced this Profile on Poverty — 2019 Update in partnership with EndPovertyEdmonton. EndPovertyEdmonton is a community initiative working towards prosperity for all through advancing reconciliation, the elimination of racism, livable incomes, affordable housing, accessible and affordable transit, affordable and quality child care, and access to mental health services and addiction supports (EndPovertyEdmonton, 2019). It uses a collaborative model, whereby governments, businesses, non-profits, and many other forms of organizations can come together to end poverty in Edmonton in a generation (30 years).

    We need to break the constraints of our current economy. Every Edmontonian deserves to have the freedom to pursue opportunities.

    It is our responsibility to ensure all people in our city have a decent standard of living.

    ESPC Documents/PUBLICATIONS/A.06.G REPORTS/Edmonton Poverty Profile 2019b.pdf

  • Living Wage – 2019

    A living wage is rooted in the belief that individuals and families should not just survive, but live in dignity, and participate in the community. The living wage is defined as the hourly wage that a primary income earner must make to provide for themselves, their families, and reach basic financial security. It allows for a higher standard of living than what is included in the Market Basket Measure, which is based on subsistence living. The living wage includes participation in recreation, extended health and dental plan, and a minor emergency contingency fund. However, it does not include items that would allow families to “get ahead”, such as putting away savings or paying down debt.

    This is the fifth year that the Edmonton Social Planning Council has calculated Edmonton’s living wage. It is based on the Canadian Living Wage Framework (2015) created by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). Living wages are calculated across Canada, with participating communities in Alberta; Calgary, Canmore, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer calculate a living wage with their community.

    A living wage is not the same as the minimum wage. The minimum wage is the wage mandated by the provincial government that employers must pay all workers. Currently, in Alberta, the minimum wage is $15.00 per hour and $13.00 per hour for workers under the age of 18. The minimum wage is typically lower than the living wage (Government of Canada, 2017).

    ESPC Documents/PUBLICATIONS/A.06.G REPORTS/Living wage 2019 – FINAL.pdf

  • CBC News – Living wage in Edmonton is going up but that isn’t good

    Radio Active with Adrienne Pan

    Interview with Sandra Ngo, Edmonton Social Planning Council.

    Click here to listen to the interview

     

  • Media Release: Edmonton Living Wage 2018 Update

    June 21, 2018

    For Immediate Release

    Edmonton Living Wage 2018 Update

    Contending with Costs

    For the first time in 2 years, the living wage for Edmonton has risen. For 2018, an income earner must make $16.48 per hour to support a family of four, an increase of $0.17 per hour from last year’s living wage. The living wage is intended to represent the wage required for a primary income earner to provide for themselves and their families, participate in their community, and have basic financial security. Ultimately, it is a call to the private and public sector to pay substantial wages that acknowledges the requirements to live with dignity and a decent quality of life.

    Total annual expenses for a family of four has gone up. Median rent for three bedroom housing has increased, in addition to costs of transportation, continuing parent education, and extended health/dental plans.

    The main question moving forward with the Edmonton living wage is whether or not indexation of benefits and government transfers will keep pace with rising costs of living. At the time of this publication, no details have been released about key government benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit and the Child Care Subsidy being indexed until 2020. Because of this, the ability of low and modest income families to maintain a decent standard of living is called into question.

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council will be working with stakeholders across community organizations and municipalities to establish an Alberta Living Wage Network. The Network has been granted preliminary funding and will encourage employers and policymakers to implement a living wage and best practices across industries. This is a positive development and will lend momentum to the living wage campaign.

    With its focus on providing high quality and timely research, the ESPC maintains a commitment to a living wage that is reflective of how people live and work while following best practices set out by our partners. This is the fourth consecutive year in which the Edmonton Social Planning Council has calculated a living wage for the capital region.

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    For more information contact: Sandra Ngo, Research Coordinator (780) 423-2031×354

  • CONTENDING WITH COSTS: EDMONTON LIVING WAGE 2018 UPDATE

    Income is a key determinant of standard of living and is a social determinant of health and well-being (World Health Organization, 2010). The Living Wage is intended to represent the wage required for a primary income earner to provide for themselves and their families, participate in their community, and have basic financial security (Canadian Living Wage Framework, 2015). A living wage is dissimilar from the minimum wage, which is defined as the lowest wage that the provincial government requires employers to pay all workers. Living wages are calculated for separately between jurisdictions in order to reflect the costs of living in a certain locale. Ultimately, it is a call to the private and public sector to pay substantial wages that acknowledges the requirements to live with dignity and a decent quality of life. Not only do employers and governments have a role to play, but as do service providers and community members to ensure the well-being of citizens

    ESPC Documents/PUBLICATIONS/A.06.G REPORTS/2018 Living Wage Final 2.pdf

  • 2018 Provincial Budget fACT Sheet

    The 2018 budget is titled A Recovery Built to Last and prioritizes economic and job diversification, protection of vital public services, and returning government spending to balance by the 2023-24 fiscal year. Real GDP for the province has grown 4.5% since 2017 and is expected increase another 2.7% for 2018-19. The yearly deficit is $8.8 billion, down from $10.3 billion in 2017. The Net Debt to GDP ratio is 8.7% for Alberta and remains the lowest in Canada across all provinces. Given the volatility of Alberta’s revenue due to the price of oil, a risk adjustment of $500 million is included for 2018-19 and increases to $700 million in 2019-20 and $1 billion in 2020-21.

    ESPC Documents/Fact Sheets/2018 Provincial Budget.pdf