Food, housing fuel big hikes to living wage

The latest survey of living wages in B.C. is showing big increases in all areas, mostly due to higher food and shelter costs.

Vernon is not included, but Kelowna’s living wage is calculated at $22.88 by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, an increase of 23 per cent over last year.

The figure represents the hourly rate two parents both need to earn to support a family of four.

For the first time, Victoria ($24.29) edged out Metro Vancouver ($24.08) for the highest living wage for large B.C. cities due to the increased cost of food on Vancouver Island.

Daajing Giids, a remote community in Haida Gwaii, topped the survey at $25.87.

(Image credit: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives)

“With general inflation shooting up to a 40-year high this year, and with the cost of food rising even faster and rent increasing everywhere, especially for families that need to move and are no longer protected by rent control, it’s not surprising to see such big increases this year,” said Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families provincial manager.

The organizations note what they call a “strikingly large gap” between the 2022 living wages for communities across BC and the province’s minimum wage (currently $15.65 per hour).

Click here for the complete report.