Whitehorse - The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition is pleased to release its first ever “Living Wage for a Single Person” on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
This calculation shows the living wage for a single person in Whitehorse is $28.39/hr. This is significantly higher than the living wage needed for each person in a reference household consisting of two adults and two children ($22.72/hr ). The wage difference is mainly due to a profound increase in the cost of living in recent years coupled with changes to government policies that benefit households with children (e.g., the Canada Child Benefit, universal low-fee child care and the Canada Dental Benefit).
The Single Person Living Wage calculation highlights that there are very few income supports targeted to single individuals in the Yukon. Single people experience higher rates of poverty in Whitehorse and they are at more risk of having unsafe living situations, food insecurity or core housing need.
"Financial and social supports are crucial for single individuals in the Yukon. They provide a safety net that ensures everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. These supports help bridge the gap between poverty and stability, fostering a community where every person can feel secure and valued." – Kristina Criag, Executive Director of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition
The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition has calculated the living wage for Whitehorse every year since 2016 based on the methodology outlined in the Canadian Living Wage Framework. The living wage is equal to the amount a person must earn while working full-time to ensure their basic needs, including housing, food, and clothing are met. In recent years, other Canadian jurisdictions have calculated the living wage for single-person households. These calculations have consistently shown that a single person typically needs to earn much more per hour working full-time to meet their basic needs than those in the reference family.
YAPC will be holding a public BBQ on Thursday July 18 to release the Single Wage Calculation and to get community recommendations on ways to take meaningful action to address the affordability challenges facing Yukoners. Everyone is welcome. BBQ will take place at the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition ( 509 Hanson Street) from 11a.m. to 1p.m.
Living wage calculations are an effective way to measure the cost of living in a community in a way that directly integrates the role of public policy, including the provision of social services and the tax-and-transfer system. The living wage goes up when government does provide sufficient supports to low- and modest-income Yukoners. The living wage goes down when government introduces good public policy such as universal low-fee child care, the Canada Child Benefit and the Yukon Dental Benefit.