'It's a scary struggle': Vancouver Island families grapple with the rising cost of living
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has released its Living Wage report. It says two full-time earners in Greater Victoria need to make $25.40 an hour in order to support a family of four.
“We’re always one pay check away from being homeless basically, which is an obscene amount of stress,” said Erika Zapata, a Langford resident.
In the Zapata household, Erika’s husband Emiliano makes a decent living, but is the sole income earner for the family of four.
“Both my kids have different needs to make it where I can’t work,” said Erika.
This family isn’t alone.
“There’s five of us,” said Marija Kulic, another resident of Langford.
Kulic says for her family, money is tight as well.
“We buy everything that is on sale,” said Kulic.
The living wage is calculated using a number of factors.
“Things like shelter, transportation, childcare, food,” said Iglika Ivanova, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
In Greater Victoria, the living wage jumped by 4.6 per cent, but that is a small increase compared to other communities on the island.
The Cowichan Valley saw a 7.1 per cent increase to $25.20 an hour. The Comox Valley saw an 8.7 per cent increase to $22.02 an hour, and the biggest jump was in Nanaimo. It saw a whopping 12.9 per cent increase to $22.87 an hour.
“What’s driving the increase in Nanaimo specifically is the big increase in the cost of rent that we recorded this year,” said Ivanova.
With remote work now being an option in many cases, people have moved to the harbour city searching for a cheaper cost of living. That has driven up rent prices.
“I think there’s a real difference between a living wage and a livable wage,” said Sam Jones, the owner of 2% Jazz Coffee in Victoria.
During the pandemic, Jones began paying a livable wage to his staff.
“There are a lot benefits,” said the coffee shop owner, mainly the retention of his staff.
Although now, Jones says he is tapped-out and can no longer keep up with the pace of inflation.
“Right now I’m paying $21.50 to $22 an hour to all my employees,” said Jones.
His labour costs are already 40 per cent of his total overhead.
“I cannot afford to keep paying more just because it’s a target number to hit,” said Jones.
“It’s absolutely difficult for businesses in some sectors to pay those wages,” said Ivanova.
The research institute says it puts out these numbers to spark a conversation about the current labour market, and to encourage government to act.
“Around actually tackling the affordability crisis in a bigger and more effective way,” said the senior economist.
For the most part, this year’s living wage increase was less than last year’s across the province. But that offers little comfort to those still struggling to make ends meet like the Zapata family.
“It is, it’s a scary struggle,” said Erika.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.5309015.1683576191!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
One person in hospital after falling from swing ride at Canada's Wonderland
One person has been hospitalized after falling from a swing ride at Canada's Wonderland.
Biden forcefully declares he's staying in re-election race in major news conference
U.S. President Joe Biden used his highly anticipated news conference Thursday to deliver a forceful defence of his foreign and domestic policies, and batted away questions about his ability to serve another four years even as he flubbed a reference to Donald Trump in one of his first answers.
'A terrible tragedy': 4 dead in another multiple-fatality B.C. crash
A crash in Keremeos, B.C., Wednesday morning is the latest in a string of fatal collisions, this time claiming the lives of four people, Mounties say.
Trudeau says he still has 'full confidence' in Freeland, but has been talking to Carney
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he continues to have 'full confidence' in Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, but he's also been talking to Mark Carney about entering federal politics.
'An avoidable tragedy': Calgary woman charged after dog dies in hot car
A Calgary woman is facing charges for the death of her dog, which died after being left in a hot car on Canada Day.
Oilers star engaged to marry girlfriend after proposal in Spain
Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl is engaged to be married. The 28-year-old centre proposed to his girlfriend, actor Celeste Desjardins, who said yes. Both posted about the engagement Thursday to their Instagram accounts.
Benji Gregory, former child star on the '80s sitcom 'ALF,' dies at 46
Former child actor Benji Gregory, who played the young boy on the 1980s television sitcom 'ALF,' has died in suburban Phoenix. He was 46.
At least 200 crocodiles crawl into cities as heavy rains hit northern Mexico, near Texas
Heavy rains associated with Hurricane Beryl and the earlier Tropical Storm Alberto have led at least 200 crocodiles to enter urban areas in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, across from Texas, state and federal authorities said this week.
Black bear 'wreaked havoc' on car after being locked inside, RCMP say
A black bear accidentally got locked in a car in Coquitlam Thursday, destroying the interior before being freed by police.