Thanks for posting that article Wanker.
Prior to reading what the effects of a $15 minimum wage would have on our economy and its coordinating impact on the availability of employment opportunities for Canadians I would have been in full support of such an increase; but now I'm able to see that the well meaning intent of mandating such a minimum wage could realistically cause more damage than good to the very persons who I would be presuming to help by supporting such a notion.
I realize this thread is about minimum wage; but alongside the realization of how this all works to serve a negative impact on those in need, it makes me wonder,
"what is the answer to addressing the ever present, underlying, poverty which exists in Canada?", because there are many people who are in fact living in poverty (or just above the poverty line) in our local communities, all across the country, and as someone who would very much like Canadian poverty to end, I'd really like some viable answers here.
What is the answer to national poverty?
Education?
This works for some, however there are many people who haven't the means to upgrade their education due to any number of reason, including, but not limited to; financial restrictions, mental afflictions/instability, physical limitations, priority obligations (providing for children, caring for ill family members, etc...), language barriers, ineligibility to higher learning due to poor past grades/incompletion of prerequisite studies, additional personal complications which leave higher learning and/or loans which would provide such an unattainable personal option...
What's left for the uneducated to do in their efforts to ensure they, and their families, are not limited to a life of poverty?
Working 2nd and 3rd jobs?
This works for some, however not everyone has the means or availability to do such for any number of reasons (including those I've listed above), not to mention the simple fact that if one is constantly working to ensure a better quality of life, when are they in turn permitted the time to live that life (outside of work) enjoying the fruits of their constant labours- one in turn has become life impoverished (poverty of quality of life), thus has poverty been truly addressed in this situation, or simply displaced?
What about those who have children? Outside of the gross expense of child care, if mom and/or dad are always working, when do the children have the opportunity to have their needs met; to be nurtured and supported, to be taught the important life lessons through parent influence and examples, to develop strong relationships with parents wherein the concept of family values and parenting skills can be experienced and in turn truly accepted by the child(ren) within the home, to be provided the availability of the parent to express these things freely/as needed by the child(ren) throughout their various trials and difficulties- a parent's most important "job" is the rearing of their children; 2nd and 3rd jobs are not conducive to a child's needs, especially within a single parent household, lest the child(ren) become developmentally impoverished in the process.
What is the answer here? How do we prevent all forms of poverty within our country?
Social Assistance?
Social Assistance/Ontario Works/Welfare/Disability is poverty.
A single parent house hold with one dependent child is allotted a mere $600 per month for shelter. A single parent household with 2 dependent children is allotted approximately $750 per month for shelter. When was the last time you saw a 2 bedroom apartment for $600, or a 3 bedroom for $750- in the 80/90's but these are the maximum allotments for families in 2015! Canadians who are receiving government assistance are in fact living in poverty, and should a person become employed while receiving any of the aforementioned forms of assistance, their wages are deducted; keeping them and their family in poverty and unable to get ahead.
What is the answer here? How do we allow for the already impoverished to achieve a life outside of poverty?
FACTs:
- Poverty in Canada is a very real problem.
- People are left to live in poverty for any number of reasons.
- No one chooses a life of poverty.
- Children are the ones who are most deeply impacted by the effects of poverty.
- Once a person/family has become impoverished leaving poverty is highly improbable, if not completely impossible by using what the Canadian government/social system currently has in place.
What is the answer?
How do we reach an end to poverty within our country?
I realize that this is an almost "rant" of a post; taking us slightly off topic, but I'd love to see others thoughts, opinions and/or any ideas concerning Canadian poverty which might follow because IMO something has to be done about this for the benefit of our country's children and its future.
If wage increases are not the answer,
what IS?
