It's Living Wage Week, and we're very excited to announce 23 updated living wage rates across the province as well as a first-time calculation for Peel Region.
Since we last made calculations in 2019, new policies that provide support to families with children have been introduced by the provincial government. Combined with changing family demographics, it has become clear that expenses for a reference family of four is no longer the most representative for living wage calculations in Ontario.
New supports for families with children meant that living wage calculations were coming back with reductions over the 2019 rates. Yet we all know the cost of living has not gone down. Inflation has quadrupled since the beginning of 2019 and is at a 18-year high. Our calculation was no longer reflecting reality.
Our 2021 calculations now take into account a weighted average between a family of four, single parent with one child and a single adult. These 2021 living wage rates reflect changing demographics in our province and increases in inflation. We believe they accurately reflect the realities of costs in Ontario.
And now the 2021 Living Wage Rates:
Community |
Living Wage Rate |
| Durham Region | $17.80 |
| Guelph Wellington | $18.10 |
| Haldimand-Norfolk | $17.35 |
| Halton Region | $20.75 |
| Hamilton | $17.20 |
| Hastings-Prince Edward | $17.95 |
| Kingston | $17.75 |
| Leeds, Grenville, Lanark Counties | $18.25 |
| London | $16.55 |
| Muskoka | $18.55 |
| Niagara Region | $18.90 |
| Norththumberland County | $18.80 |
| Ottawa | $18.60 |
| Peel Region | $19.80 |
| Perth and Huron Counties | $17.95 |
| Peterborough | $18.35 |
| Renfrew County | $17.40 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | $16.20 |
| Simcoe County | $19.05 |
| Sudbury | $16.98 |
| Thunder Bay | $16.30 |
| Toronto | $22.08 |
| Waterloo Region | $17.20 |
Thank you to all our local organizers who worked to make this year's Living Wage Week the largest yet: 23 updated calculations and 1 new rate. The map is steadily getting filled in.
But #LivingWageWeek is also about taking extra time to recognize and celebrate our certified living wage employers. Be sure to check in on our twitter & facebook for this week's developments and celebrations.
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Not a single line about how expensive driving is, or what transit is being used, if daycare is being used or subsidized, if student debt is calculated, etc.? Nothing?
I can tell you for a fact 17.80 in Durham is NOT livable. Try asking anyone who lives in South Ajax or Whitby how they get to work less than 8km away? They uber or drive. It’s astoundingly expensive.
Rent in most places is a minimum of $1500/month but more realistically 2k per month. These wages after taxes are are only about $3500/month on the high end. I must be missing something. Articles like this are frustrating and completely discount the truth of what people are doing to survive.