Poverty rates are only part of the story. There are so many living pay cheque to paycheque. EI is not effective. We are jailing the disadvantaged. Income inequality is a problem. The context is largely Edmonton, but much here, I imagine, rings true for your community as well.
The Income Gap between the wealthiest and poorest citizens tend to have a higher degree of crime, incarceration, mental illness, and health problems...The growing chasm between rich and poor contributes to isolation, insensitivity, and intolerance.
If you ask me if I support a living wage, I will say "yes," but if you also tell me that the living wage (at least in urban centres like Edmonton) is about $14.00 per hour, I might be a tad skeptical.
