They work, some multiple jobs, and yet still turn have to turn to the food bank for help.
“Despite the view of some members of the public to the contrary, many of our clients are employed, some with more than one part-time job,” said Sam Robinson, president of the Manna Food Bank.
“Housing costs and dramatically increasing food costs are requiring them to rely on the food bank to make ends meet. A living wage would provide some stability in taking care of their families.”
Beth Grixti is a living wage advocate having worked much of her adult life in retail.
“I was managing a business and using the food bank at one point because it was just impossible,” she said. “I am single and cannot afford to live on my own and that’s also the hard part, even with this livable wage.”
She said, even at the new rate of $18.55 calculated in November, she could easily find herself in a difficult situation because she needs to share accommodation.
She’s also concerned for those living in abusive situations, unable to afford to live on their own, unable to leave.
In 2016, Muskoka Brewery, in collaboration with the Poverty Reduction of Muskoka Planning Team, most known as PROMPT, announced they were the first brewery in the country to commit to paying a living wage.
At that time the living wage was calculated at $15.85.
Kelly Watson, director of culture and community at Muskoka Brewery, said about a year before the announcement, the company began to determine how much their team needed to make.
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Their goal was not to follow in their competitors’ footsteps, where they were seeing a void, but instead launched a goal to figure out how much their employees needed to make to live in Muskoka. This led them to the Ontario Living Wage Network.
“They were fantastic,” she said. “They actually looped us in with PROMPT as well and we became the committee that helped to bring a living wage into the region.”
Muskoka’s living wage was updated to $18.55 this November. She said this new calculation took in several factors including the size of the family, number of earners and how much it costs to live in Muskoka.
She said the increase exceeds the consumer price index year-over-year. However, in doing the calculation they looked at not only the cost but availability of housing.
“I think it allows us to have good conversation about affordable housing,” she said, which she says is a challenge in all communities with Muskoka being no exception.
Watson hopes that in sharing their story and encouraging other business owners to learn more, “maybe we can transform this seasonal small business model into a year-round economy. When our team has enough money to live and work, then they also have enough money to contribute in a social way to our community as well.”
Although the initial incentive was to ensure their team could live and work in Muskoka above the poverty line, Watson said it became a strong rallying cry for the committee.
“We really passionately believe that no working family should be living in poverty,” she said.
Mary Beth Hartill Bracebridge Examiner Monday, November 22, 2021