Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **ESPC News and Announcements

  • ‘Vital Signs’ report shows new immigrants still attracted to Edmonton

    'Vital Signs' report shows new immigrants still attracted to Edmonton

    Without current immigration levels, or increased fertility, the population will start to shrink in 20 years

    Min Dhariwal | CBC News

    Immigrants settling in Edmonton are more likely to be younger than the average population, more likely to be self-employed, and the vast majority arrive as economic-class immigrants.

    Those figures are just some of the dozens of statistics released on Tuesday in the annual Vital Signs report, by the Edmonton Community Foundation. 

    The report is like a snapshot of Edmonton's demographics. 

    For example, it shows the number of people arriving as 'permanent residents' in Edmonton has increased 178 per cent over the last ten year and stood at 16,739 in 2015.

    Read more on the CBC.

  • Vital Signs Launch

    We cordially invite you to join us for the report launch of VitalSigns(TM) in conjunction with the Edmonton Community Foundation!

    We'll serve a light lunch while you find out why immigration is important to Edmonton, how immigrants and refugees contribute to our society, and more!
    Join us at the Stanley Milner Library, Edmonton Room, on October 4th at 11:30 am

  • Edmonton’s 2016 living wage: $16.69 per hour

    Edmonton’s 2016 living wage: $16.69 per hour

    Edmonton Social Planning Council releases annual report

    By: Alex Boyd Metro Published on Thu Jun 23 2016

    Two working adults living in the city with two kids would each have to make $16.69 an hour in order to make ends meet, according to the Edmonton Living Wage Report released Thursday.
    The Edmonton Social Planning Council calculates the living wage every year, using cost of living estimates for Edmonton. They also take into account dollars coming in from government transfers and additional costs like EI and CPP premiums.

    The living wage for 2016 is actually 67 cents less than last year, because of child benefit increases from both the federal and provincial governments.

    “Our hope is that more Edmonton employers will rise to the challenge and commit to paying a living wage to all their employees,” said ESPC Research Coordinator John Kolkman in a release.
    “Research indicates that employers paying a living wage benefit from decreased staff turnover, improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.”

    Read the whole article on the Metro.

    Download our Living wage report.

     

  • Edmonton’s 2016 living wage calculated to be $16.69 per hour

    June 23, 2016
    For Immediate Release

    Edmonton’s 2016 living wage calculated to be $16.69 per hour

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council estimates that two working adults, caring for two children, would need to each earn $16.69 per hour in 2016 to meet their basic needs.

    The living wage is calculated using detailed financial accounting based on actual Edmonton living costs with government transfers added in, and EI and CPP premiums and federal and provincial income taxes deducted.

    Edmonton’s living wage dropped by $0.67 per hour in the past year. The decrease is almost entirely due to increases in benefits from the federal and provincial governments.

    “Starting in July 2016, this Edmonton family of four will receive an additional $239 per month from the new Canada Child Benefit compared to the previous child benefits plan. This family will also receive an additional $44 per month starting in July from enhancements made to the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit,” said ESPC Research Coordinator John Kolkman.

    While a minimum wage reflects the hourly wage employers must legally pay their employees, a living wage represents the hourly wage needed to maintain a modest standard of living in a specific community.

    “With the significant increases in child benefits contributing to a reduced level of living wage, our hope is that more Edmonton employers will rise to the challenge and commit to paying a living wage to all their employees. Research indicates that employers paying a living wage benefit from decreased staff turnover, improved productivity and reduced absenteeism,” noted Kolkman.

    The City of Edmonton’s End Poverty in Edmonton report specifically lists advocating for living wages for Edmontonians as a priority. “In the coming year, we plan to work with the City and community partners to recognize employers who provide living wages, and challenge others to do so as well,” Kolkman concluded.

    For more information:
    John Kolkman, ESPC Research Coordinator
    (587)989-4442
    jkolkman@edmontonsocialplanning.ca

    More than Minimum: Edmonton's Living Wage Report: 2016 Update, and a fACT Sheet on the minimum wage, are available at https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/.

    Information about living wage calculations in other Canadian cities available at: http://www.livingwagecanada.ca/

     

  • More than Minimum: Calculating Edmonton’s Living Wage: 2016 Update

    The living wage is meant to provide families with basic economic stability and maintain a modest standard of living.The living wage, unlike the minimum wage, is the actual amount that earners need to make to be able to live in a specific community.

    The 2016 living wage for Edmonton is $16.69 per hour. This is the amount that a family of four with two parents who work full-time require to live in economic stability and maintain a modest standard of living. This includes being able to afford basic necessities (food, shelter, utilities, clothing, transportation, etc.), to support healthy child development, to avoid financial stress, and to participate in their communities.

    The living wage for Edmonton was first calculated in 2015. Each year the living wage is updated to reflect social and economic changes. Since last year, Edmonton’s living wage rate dropped by $0.67. The drop in the living wage is due to changes in government taxes and transfers, particularly in increased benefits through the new Canada Child Benefit (CCB) as well as the Enhanced Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit (AFETC).

    Moving forward, the ESPC hopes to work alongside stakeholders and community partners, including the City of Edmonton, to begin the process of formally recognizing living wage employers.

    Download the full report, More than Minimum: Calculating Edmonton’s Living Wage: 2016 Update, here!

     

  • ESPC 2016 Strategic Plan

    For 76 years, the ESPC has been an important player in social research and advocacy in the Edmonton region and beyond.

    To build on this strong history, and to guide future success, the ESPC has developed a new Strategic Framework. The Framework defines a bold, new organizational vision that positions the ESPC as the community’s go-to organization for relevant, quality research on social issues.

    Developed between October 2015 and March 2016, both board and staff members worked together to identify options for the future of the organization. Mark Holmgren Consulting aided the planning process by providing advice and facilitation assistance through several working sessions. These sessions allowed staff and board members to grapple with defining the way ahead for ESPC. The result is a framework that will guide decision making in the organization and clearly articulates ESPC’s role in the community.

    An important component of the framework is a revised mission statement: “Through rigorous research, detailed analysis, and community engagement, we deepen community understanding of social issues, influence policy, and spark collaborative actions that lead to positive social change.”

    The Framework also establishes three impact statements—high-level statements that define the organization’s desired outcomes—through our work, we seek to achieve:

    • An informed community that is knowledgeable about social issues, challenges, and potential actions;
    • An engaged community that works together to determine priorities and organize efforts; and
    • A changed community that benefits from positive social change.

    A set of guiding principles help to describe the type of organization we strive to be. For example, the Framework directs the ESPC to be an independent and nonpartisan organization that prioritizes research that can lead to action. The plan also prioritizes working with diverse partners and ensuring a wide range of audiences can access our reports.

    The Framework also defines a set of strategies to guide the operational activities of the ESPC. These strategies confirm the Council’s leadership role in conducting and disseminating research to help Edmontonians understand current issues, policies, and potential courses of action. The strategies also reaffirm our commitment to work in partnership with other organizations to leverage resources and achieve shared goals.

    The Framework defines several strategic shifts for the organization. For example, the Framework directs the Council to focus on supporting learning outcomes and capacity building for our partner organizations. The Framework also commits to enhancing the way we share information, whether through online forums or in-person events.

    Moving forward, the Framework will guide the development of an operations plan and a communications strategy for the organization. Click here to download the ESPC 2016 Strategic Framework.