Cost of Living on the rise

The report notes there are 14 BC municipalities, like Quesnel , that have adopted living wage policies. There are also several private-sector that pay their employees at the living wage rate. Integris Credit Union locally is one of them.

“We believe that paying a living wage to our employees is just one way for us to try and improve employee recruitment, retention and engagement,” explains Van Tay, the VP of People at Integris. “And really, if you think about it, it is a long-term investment in the prosperity of not only our employees, but ultimately our businesses and the communities we serve.”

Tay says paying a living wage helps with employee recruitment and retention when turnover is such a challenge. But she adds, there is more to the picture than just a dollar figure.

“And I think what maybe is not always in the forefront for people to realize is that a living wage is not just an employee hourly rate. It can also include benefits. So there may be other ways to have a win-win situation with the employee and the employer group to be a living wage employer in a more cost effective way by thinking outside the box.”

The Centre policy alternatives acknowledge that government policy has kept child care costs from skyrocketting. It once, but no longer, held the second spot behind what is perennially the highest-cost driver there is. And housing continues to take top spot.

“What can they do to make sure that housing is more affordable,” says French. “And there’s sort of two different approaches, but we’re advocating both. So one is that they they invest more, they build more affordable housing and that they’ve kind of there’s been a lot of talk about it, and we want that to follow.”

Housing costs have risen 16.7 percent, while food costs have risen by a whopping 16.9 percent over the past year.

by Cheryl Jahn

Cost of Living on the rise

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