The living wage for a single person in Whitehorse is $28.39 per hour, the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition announced today. It’s the first time it has released such a figure.
“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 coalition said.
“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).”
In April, the Yukon’s hourly minimum wage rose from $16.77 to $17.59.
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, the coalition said, and are at a higher risk of having unsafe living situations, food insecurity or core housing needs.
“Financial and social supports are crucial for single individuals in the Yukon,” said Kristina Craig, the coalition’s executive director.
“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,” Craig added.
The 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.
The coalition plans to hold a public barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to officially release the single wage calculation and to gather community recommendations on ways to take meaningful action to address the affordability challenges facing Yukoners. Everyone is welcome.
The event will take place at the coalition’s offices at 509 Hanson St.
The living wage, the coalition said, “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.”