The challenges of living in rural Nova Scotia may differ in some ways from living in the Halifax area, but one thing is same across the province: low-wage workers need to make more money if they are to break the cycle of poverty.
The living wage for a hypothetical family of four where both parents work full time, one child is in full-time daycare and the other needs after-school care is $19.17 an hour in Halifax, while in Antigonish it's $17.30. The province's minimum wage is $10.70.
"The wage rate is designed to first and foremost allow the family to escape financial stress, enable a family to be adequately housed and food secure," according to the report.
"The living wage supports the healthy development of their children and the participation of the family in the life of the community."
The majority of the budget calculated in the report is consumed by shelter and utilities (27 per cent) and child care (23 per cent). But there are also allowances for one of the parents to take community college courses to upgrade
The majority of the budget calculated in the report is consumed by shelter and utilities (27 per cent) and child care (23 per cent).
Christine Saulnier said that expense is crucial for families to be able to get ahead.
"When we think about the workers we have in mind — low-wage workers — those are the workers that we want to see being able to increase their skills and actually move up the wage ladder," she said.
"And that's how you do it: if you are able to get additional skills. This is how we break the cycle of poverty, as well."
Nova Scotians need $19/hour to keep heads above water, report says - Nova Scotia - CBC News
The living wage for a hypothetical family of four where both parents work full time, one child is in full-time daycare and the other needs after-school care is $19.17 an hour in Halifax, while in Antigonish it's $17.30. The province's minimum wage is $10.70.
"The wage rate is designed to first and foremost allow the family to escape financial stress, enable a family to be adequately housed and food secure," according to the report.
"The living wage supports the healthy development of their children and the participation of the family in the life of the community."
The majority of the budget calculated in the report is consumed by shelter and utilities (27 per cent) and child care (23 per cent). But there are also allowances for one of the parents to take community college courses to upgrade
The majority of the budget calculated in the report is consumed by shelter and utilities (27 per cent) and child care (23 per cent).
Christine Saulnier said that expense is crucial for families to be able to get ahead.
"When we think about the workers we have in mind — low-wage workers — those are the workers that we want to see being able to increase their skills and actually move up the wage ladder," she said.
"And that's how you do it: if you are able to get additional skills. This is how we break the cycle of poverty, as well."
Nova Scotians need $19/hour to keep heads above water, report says - Nova Scotia - CBC News
