This is the ugly reality of Canada. 1.5 Million Torontonians earning almost $38,000 a year, which puts the family under the social class of "poor". And that's when several of these people earning this wage are university educated from a Canadian university. People in other countries think that residents of Canada must be rolling in cash.
Since, when I became unemployed, people are constantly telling me that this is the new reality & just take any job which is paying even $30K. What those completely ignoramuses don't realize that once you get in that tier of temporary & contract work force, earning $30K-$40K without any benefits, you are forever stuck in that tier. Life would be a little hard, not to say the least, even for myself; forget saving anything for kids' futures. That's when I have an MBA from a reputable university & 7 years of work experience.
Besides, what readers may not focus on the fact that the guy in this article is a native resident of Canada (read: white guy). The question arises then that what about all those legal immigrants & "people of colour" who may not even have "relevant work experiences" or Canadian education? They are in even worse positions (of course, depending upon which area of work we are talking about, e.g. computer-related work is still good enough).
People from developing countries think that since, Canada is a developed country, there will be lots of money to be made there. Bearing that false misconception, they move their whole family to Canada, & that's when they realize what an ignoramus they have been up until that time.
Now, such economic & financial problems might be considered temporary problems, & usually, the hope is that eventually, the economy will improve, labour market will improve, & everyone will be happy all around. The problem with that thinking is that what it is ignoring the fact that that economic improvement depends a lot on several factors; for instance, size of country's economy, government's tax policies, domestic consumption, foreign trade treaties, domestic industries (types, sizes, diversification) etc.
Canadian economy is very heavily dependent on only one industry; fossil fuels. And even then, that industry is localized in one geographical area of the country. Then what is the rest of the country should do? Wait for a handout from Alberta & Saskatchewan? Everyone relocate their whole families in those provinces (not an easy thing to do for every family)? Go back to university & shell out another $ 50,000 for another degree in oil & gas?
Canadian government, on the other hand, is more focused on spending taxpayer dollars on Kurds & the war against ISIS in Iraq & Syria, while Canadians are making the rounds to their local food banks to satisfy their hunger for basic food. Manufacturing sector is dwindling & moving to Mexico, thanks to Mexico's foreign trade treaties with several countries around the world. Canadian government can't help the country with favourable tax policies since the country doesn't have that much money (as per the government).
But, no worries, for the rich business & political elites. Their billion, million dollar wealth & 6-figure incomes are completely safe. Why do they care for small time citizens who dutifully paid taxes & now get their food from local food banks. Hey, I thought that only happened in corrupt "developing" countries. (sarcasm)
This is the ugly reality of living in a developed country.
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Every time Eric Pinsonneault visits the grocery store, it’s a nail-biter for the single father of 3 kids, all under the age of 10.
He pushes his cart down the aisle, silently hoping to find a sale, or at the very least price tags that haven’t risen too much since his last visit.
Most of the time that doesn’t happen, & so he gets inventive — price matching, only serving the family meat 3 times a week, & cooking dishes that rely on cheaper staples such as rice & pasta.
“My income is so low, it makes everything that much harder,” says Pinsonneault, who lives on $38,000 a year, just above minimum wage.
That places him among the 1.5 million Torontonians making less than $21 an hour & in a smaller group earning under $18.52 — the figure recently reported as the necessary hourly wage to meet the needs of 2 parents working full-time while raising 2 children.
These low earners are part of a growing class plagued by skyrocketing housing prices, astronomical child-care rates & a broadening sense of poverty that puts a strain on shelters, food banks & welfare organizations.
Pinsonneault, a 30-year-old who calls himself “poor,” never expected to join that category when he was fresh out of university, comfortably living in a three-bedroom Chatham house that cost him $700 a month.
That was before he had 3 kids, went through a divorce, lost a job in a brutal downsizing & moved to Toronto.
Now, the administrative co-ordinator for a local start-up finds himself watching bills grow, wondering how he will cobble together enough cash to pay them off. Recently, he had to borrow from family to cover his credit card expenses, & just before that, he accepted his children’s school’s offer to pay their agenda fees.
“There is always something else,” he says. “I just got hit for a field trip for $20.”
Meanwhile, he says, his kids are getting older, needing more food & feeling pressure from peers to wear name-brand clothing & own all the latest Apple gadgets. The family can’t afford a landline or cable TV, so fancy clothing or an iPad are out of the question, says Pinsonneault. The same goes for trips to the movies or nights out.
To make up for it, Pinsonneault treats the family to breakfast at Sunset Grill once a month. Other times, he will shell out $15 on 3 $5 pizzas, giving the family enough food for lunch & two fun dinners.
“(My kids) understand that it’s only my money & that we are poor,” he says. “I try to give them as much as I can, but it’s hard.”
...
After tucking them into bed one evening, he told the Star, “I’m struggling, but emotionally, as a parent, I am bogged down knowing that they don’t get everything. That’s the hardest part.”
One day, he envisions things could be more manageable — he’ll move up in the fast-growing company he works for &, perhaps, the government will listen to collective pleas for lower child care & housing costs & a higher minimum wage.
But even then, he says, “I never put my hopes up high. It’s one day at a time.”
Since, when I became unemployed, people are constantly telling me that this is the new reality & just take any job which is paying even $30K. What those completely ignoramuses don't realize that once you get in that tier of temporary & contract work force, earning $30K-$40K without any benefits, you are forever stuck in that tier. Life would be a little hard, not to say the least, even for myself; forget saving anything for kids' futures. That's when I have an MBA from a reputable university & 7 years of work experience.
Besides, what readers may not focus on the fact that the guy in this article is a native resident of Canada (read: white guy). The question arises then that what about all those legal immigrants & "people of colour" who may not even have "relevant work experiences" or Canadian education? They are in even worse positions (of course, depending upon which area of work we are talking about, e.g. computer-related work is still good enough).
People from developing countries think that since, Canada is a developed country, there will be lots of money to be made there. Bearing that false misconception, they move their whole family to Canada, & that's when they realize what an ignoramus they have been up until that time.
Now, such economic & financial problems might be considered temporary problems, & usually, the hope is that eventually, the economy will improve, labour market will improve, & everyone will be happy all around. The problem with that thinking is that what it is ignoring the fact that that economic improvement depends a lot on several factors; for instance, size of country's economy, government's tax policies, domestic consumption, foreign trade treaties, domestic industries (types, sizes, diversification) etc.
Canadian economy is very heavily dependent on only one industry; fossil fuels. And even then, that industry is localized in one geographical area of the country. Then what is the rest of the country should do? Wait for a handout from Alberta & Saskatchewan? Everyone relocate their whole families in those provinces (not an easy thing to do for every family)? Go back to university & shell out another $ 50,000 for another degree in oil & gas?
Canadian government, on the other hand, is more focused on spending taxpayer dollars on Kurds & the war against ISIS in Iraq & Syria, while Canadians are making the rounds to their local food banks to satisfy their hunger for basic food. Manufacturing sector is dwindling & moving to Mexico, thanks to Mexico's foreign trade treaties with several countries around the world. Canadian government can't help the country with favourable tax policies since the country doesn't have that much money (as per the government).
But, no worries, for the rich business & political elites. Their billion, million dollar wealth & 6-figure incomes are completely safe. Why do they care for small time citizens who dutifully paid taxes & now get their food from local food banks. Hey, I thought that only happened in corrupt "developing" countries. (sarcasm)
This is the ugly reality of living in a developed country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every time Eric Pinsonneault visits the grocery store, it’s a nail-biter for the single father of 3 kids, all under the age of 10.
He pushes his cart down the aisle, silently hoping to find a sale, or at the very least price tags that haven’t risen too much since his last visit.
Most of the time that doesn’t happen, & so he gets inventive — price matching, only serving the family meat 3 times a week, & cooking dishes that rely on cheaper staples such as rice & pasta.
“My income is so low, it makes everything that much harder,” says Pinsonneault, who lives on $38,000 a year, just above minimum wage.
That places him among the 1.5 million Torontonians making less than $21 an hour & in a smaller group earning under $18.52 — the figure recently reported as the necessary hourly wage to meet the needs of 2 parents working full-time while raising 2 children.
These low earners are part of a growing class plagued by skyrocketing housing prices, astronomical child-care rates & a broadening sense of poverty that puts a strain on shelters, food banks & welfare organizations.
Pinsonneault, a 30-year-old who calls himself “poor,” never expected to join that category when he was fresh out of university, comfortably living in a three-bedroom Chatham house that cost him $700 a month.
That was before he had 3 kids, went through a divorce, lost a job in a brutal downsizing & moved to Toronto.
Now, the administrative co-ordinator for a local start-up finds himself watching bills grow, wondering how he will cobble together enough cash to pay them off. Recently, he had to borrow from family to cover his credit card expenses, & just before that, he accepted his children’s school’s offer to pay their agenda fees.
“There is always something else,” he says. “I just got hit for a field trip for $20.”
Meanwhile, he says, his kids are getting older, needing more food & feeling pressure from peers to wear name-brand clothing & own all the latest Apple gadgets. The family can’t afford a landline or cable TV, so fancy clothing or an iPad are out of the question, says Pinsonneault. The same goes for trips to the movies or nights out.
To make up for it, Pinsonneault treats the family to breakfast at Sunset Grill once a month. Other times, he will shell out $15 on 3 $5 pizzas, giving the family enough food for lunch & two fun dinners.
“(My kids) understand that it’s only my money & that we are poor,” he says. “I try to give them as much as I can, but it’s hard.”
...
After tucking them into bed one evening, he told the Star, “I’m struggling, but emotionally, as a parent, I am bogged down knowing that they don’t get everything. That’s the hardest part.”
One day, he envisions things could be more manageable — he’ll move up in the fast-growing company he works for &, perhaps, the government will listen to collective pleas for lower child care & housing costs & a higher minimum wage.
But even then, he says, “I never put my hopes up high. It’s one day at a time.”
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