A Living Wage

Esquimalt has recently passed a living wage policy in their community. What is a living wage you ask? A living wage is a salary established above the poverty line for families to assist in the payment of housing, food, health care, basic utilities, transportation and occasional recreation. In a social democratic world everyone would be paid a living wage for their work (well perhaps even more!) However, we can achieve some positive results even in a conservative city like Langford.

While a living wage doesn't influence every workers wallet in a community, it is used as a benchmark for wages across the board. Just as an increase to the minimum wage will boost non-minimum wage jobs by an equivalent amount, a living wage policy could raise the salary of other employees in Langford. Such a policy also encompasses contracted work from the city. A living wage policy often results in increased productivity and reduced absenteeism, thus it is perceived as a win-win for both worker and employer.

The fiscal conservatives reading are probably asking: "How will we pay for this?" Well, by diverting funds away from unnecessary infrastructure projects and excessive sporting complexes (which in one project alone cost $1.2 million dollars) we should surely have enough money to pay for a living wage policy. Even during a period of budgetary deficits, raising taxes by a small amount to ensure working families are not snared in poverty for the remainder of their lives sounds right and just.

It's not just Esquimalt that's moved on a progressive policy like this either. Many other municipalities in Canada and the United Sates have either adopted living wages or are currently considering them. For the sake of families in our community, both in the present and future Langford should adopt a living wage policy. This should be a part of a growing focus on families after years of neglect. It's financially sustainable, socially just and familial driven, what more evidence do you need?