Think tank calculates first ever ‘living wage’ for Saint John

The Saint John Human Development Council and Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives have calculated what it believes to be a “living wage” for the port city.

The figure is an attempt to put a dollar sign on how much a family of four would need to meet basic living requirements.

That number is $18.18 per hour working out to an annual household income of just over $66,000.

The report includes quotes from some who said they sacrifice their own health to meet the needs of their children.

“I’m losing out on my own nutrition to make sure that they get their nutrition when really nobody should have to worry about anybody’s nutrition,” read report author Natalia Hicks of the Human Development Council

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There is almost a $7 difference between New Brunswick’s minimum wage of $11.25 and the calculated living wage of $18.18.

Even organizations who support a living wage admit there are obstacles — especially for small business.

“Do they have a lot of surplus money sitting in the bank to say, Yeah I can pay all my employees a fifty per cent increase in order to get to this living wage,?” asked Mandy Burke Evans of the Saint John Learning Exchange.

“Their rates are going to increase and they’re priced out of the market”.

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Paying a living wage isn’t mandatory and won’t be possible for some employers.

The report will be taken into the community to see how those who don’t make $18.18 can be supported.

“I think in our community that struggle is almost normalized,” said Hicks.

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“So having to think really long and hard about how you’re going to break down your next pay cheque and how much of which bill you’re going to pay to make it through…that shouldn’t be people’s normal.”

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Hicks says they hope to be able to publicly recognize employers who do pay a living wage, something done in other communities.

It’s believed Saint John’s living wage is a first for New Brunswick.