VICTORIA – A report released today credits the New Democrat government for a decrease in the cost of living for Greater Victoria families, says Esquimalt-Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean. Greater Victoria’s living wage has decreased for the first time in 11 years, and is largely attributed to B.C.’s investments in child care. The report also recognizes the New Democrat government’s removal of the MSP, and its effect on making life more affordable for British Columbians.
“Families in Greater Victoria have been struggling for too long with increasing costs, especially for things like child care,” said Dean. “We still have a lot of work to do, but this report shows that our government is on the right track and families are already seeing the results.”
The report prepared by economist Iglika Ivanova and Lincoln Saugstad states that “the new child care investments rolled out by the BC government significantly improve affordability for modest and middle-income families with young children.”
Dean said that the New Democrat government has been focused on making life more affordable for families in BC. Investments in child care, such as the Fee Reduction Initiative and the Affordable Child Care Benefit are already saving some families more than $19,000 per year. The elimination of MSP premiums in January 2020 will be one of the biggest middle-class tax cuts in B.C. history, and will save families up to $1,800 annually.
CCPA Report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/livingwage2019