Prince Edward County council will consider joining the Ontario Living Wage Network.
At Thursday’s Committee of the Whole, the network’s Anne Coleman told councillors that a living wage – the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their family’s basic expenses within their community – is a practical tool for reducing poverty through paid work.
As of 2019, the living wage calculated for the Hastings Prince Edward region was $17.35.
Council was only scheduled to hear Coleman’s deputation, but Councillor Bill Roberts also asked that staff prepare a report on the County becoming a designated living wage employer.
“I’m hopeful this motion does exactly what Anne was talking about – bringing awareness to the community. That we as a municipality have an ongoing political awareness of the issue of poverty and working poor and the need for a decent living wage.”
Council supported Roberts’ request so staff will prepare a report and bring it back to council in November.
