The municipality of New Westminster has just mandated the first ever living wage in North America. How sane is that? Pay people enough that they can live in your community. What an innovative idea.
I know too many families with two incomes who are forced to visit foodbanks because they can’t afford to live on the wages they get. Minimum wage in BC is just over $8 an hour. That means if you work eight hours full-time you earn $64 a day, $320 a week, $1280 a month before income taxes. Well, $1280 if you can even get full time work.
From the $1280 you have to take shelter, food, clothes, and transportation. Add in all the taxes on top of the goods, medical… It boggles the mind. New Westminster has decided to pay all city staff or those working on city contracts double the minimum wage.
Congratulations New Westminster for having the common sense to know that people who are paid fair wages can afford to support an economy. Not only can a person earning a living wage afford nutrious food, a comfortable place to live and to get to work. They may actually also be able afford to buy a coffee now and then at a cafe, go for a movie, have a meal out, put their kids into sports, and support charitable causes.
Thanks New Westminster for your new ideas on ministering best to those who live in your community.
Shawn L. Bird 
thats all good if you have a government job. now what about the poor independant business owner who doesn’t get to cover his/her payroll from tax dollars? I would be offering double minimum wages too if all I had to do to cover it was force every person to pay more property tax. shoot i’d even create a few poisition to monitor the the whole thing for me.