Letter to the editor FileArticle contentLabour Day is a time to reflect on working conditions and the vital role of workers in our society.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe 2025 living wage rates for Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and P.E.I. that were just released reveal a lot about the status of workers in these provinces. The living wage provincial averages are $27.60, $25.31 and $22.77, respectively – this is the full-time hourly wage workers need to earn just to keep the lights on and food on the table. The living wage report illustrates something the public understands – the cost of living has shifted dramatically over the last five years, and many households have fallen further behind in their ability to cover necessary, basic expenses.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAlthough minimum wages have risen in recent years, this followed a long period of neglect when rates lagged behind the increases in the cost of living. Minimum wages have become less effective at ensuring working people can cover their basic living costs. For residents of Atlantic Canada, the minimum wage is between $6 and $12 an hour, less than the living wage, significantly below what would be necessary to afford basic living expenses.Article contentFor anyone whose employment income is less than a living wage, their options for meeting their needs are considerably narrowed. This often detrimentally affects their health, denies them adequate housing, and contributes to food insecurity. And yet, many workers, from 30 per cent to 50 per cent, depending on the province, are trapped in the gap between the living wage, which is what they need to earn to afford essentials, and their current earnings.Article contentArticle contentMinimum wages must promote equity, not disregard an expansion of wage injustice. Low-wage workers are disproportionately female and members of visible minority communities; the living wage gap is targeting some members of our community in a systematically unjust way.Article contentWorse yet, because the gap has been allowed to grow so large, it is becoming increasingly hard for employers to imagine the kind of wage increases that would be needed to restore the balance. Employers routinely lobby for the status quo, to keep minimum wages down, but this worsens the problem and results in significant labour force shortages.Article contentThe living wage calculation is a conservative estimate, based on averages. Therefore, whether the annual income for two full-time working adults covers expenses, or half of that suffices for one person, depends on many factors affecting costs, often influenced by luck and market availability.
LETTER: Many households falling behind
