Cost of living on the Sunshine Coast continues to soar, with a gap of over eight dollars between the local living wage estimate and provincially mandated minimum wage. At its regular meeting on Jan. 17, Sechelt council directed staff to create a report on becoming a certified living wage employer.
The resolution came as council received a delegation from the Sunshine Coast Labour Council, which urged them to create a living wage policy.
Presenter Miyuki Shinkai, president of the Sunshine Coast Labour Council, stressed that the estimated living wage on the Coast is now $25.61, the third highest in B.C. of the municipalities listed by Living Wage for Families BC, and $8.86 above the province’s minimum wage.
She said that living wage employment is crucial to sustaining public services and infrastructure on the Coast.
Fellow presenter Anastasia French, provincial manager for Living Wage for Families BC, shared that the organisation has three main mandates:
- Calculate living wage;
- certify employers who pay their direct staff and contracted workers living wage; and to
- advocate for policies that both lift wages and lower costs.
French said the main reasons for such a significant gap between the cost of living and minimum wage are the costs of housing and food.
So far, 10 municipalities across B.C have committed to becoming living wage employers. None are on the Coast.
It was clarified that while the District of Sechelt is not officially a living wage employer, none of its employees are paid below the living wage.
The motion to direct staff to report on the impact of becoming a living wage employer passed unanimously.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
