In response to reports that the City of Vancouver are evaluating their commitment to Living Wage, Anastasia French, Provincial Manager of Living Wage for Families BC said:

“We would be incredibly disappointed if the City of Vancouver walked away from its Living Wage commitments. As Canada’s largest Living Wage municipality, the City of Vancouver has done an incredible job of inspiring many other municipalities and businesses over the years to pay a living wage to their staff and contracted workers.

The Living Wage is the hourly wage that two adults working full-time need to earn to support the basic expenses of a family of four. It is a barebones calculation that does not include debt repayment or savings for retirement. The Living Wage for Metro-Vancouver is currently $24.08 an hour.

This Mayor and his team ran on a platform of affordability, and the rising cost of living underscores how paying a Living Wage is more important than ever. People across the city are struggling with rising rents and growing grocery bills. It’s vital that anyone working on behalf of the City of Vancouver can afford to live in Vancouver.”

Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment employers make to invest in their communities and local economies. Organizations can certify as a Living Wage Employer if they commit to ensuring their direct staff and contracted workers earn a Living Wage. The living wage can be made up of base wage and other benefits they offer.

“We’re grateful for the hundreds of employers across BC, including the Cities of Port Coquitlam, Quesnel and Victoria that have committed to pay their staff the new Living Wage. These employers have found that paying a living wage is good for workers, good for business and good for the local community,” said Anastasia French

See the full list of organisations that have recertifed as a Living Wage Employer.