What the hell – Part 2

This is the second series of my post. I will break down the cost of living verses minimum wage in Ontario, Canada. I have already done the simple Math in my head – before beginning my little research. I plan to focus on The Greater Toronto Area. And I will also be fair about this post and focus even closer on the suburbs - such as Mississauga, Ontario. I am almost 100% sure a single person without any children will have a better chance for a basic life in Mississauga, Ontario rather than Xenia, Ohio. Just for the simple fact that Mississauga offers shared accommodations and high rise buildings.

Minimum wage in Ontario, Canada has gone up, as of tomorrow - From $8.00 an hour to $8.75. First off let me say: The people who complain about this should be ashamed of themselves. If everyone is so worried about the economy why do the gas prices keep increasing, why must we spend $20.00+ for a “value” pack of chicken or $7.00+ for TWO chicken breast -- in the grocery store? Drop the cost of living and balance out the minimum wage. It’s not that hard – use your damn common sense. Canada could be a superpower in the world today - if they would just ease up on their taxes.

Anyways, that's a different story, for a different post.


In Ontario with the rate at $8.75 an hour -- pulling in 40 hours a week. You will gross $350.00 (before taxes). The lowest rent in Mississauga, Ontario I was able to find is $445.00 a month. Luckily that includes all the utilities - but that is also shared accommodations. Heaven forbid that you have children. The lowest amount for a 3 bedroom would cost you a cool $1000 in a not so friendly building! It's so sad really.

Now our basic Math skills. $350.00 a week = $1400.00 a month. (NOT TAXED) With your basic rent at $445.00 - you'll have $955.00 left for the month. Again,(NOT TAXED).
Time for the grocery.
(I myself spend $400.00+ a month at the store - which includes Shampoo, Soap, Toilet paper, food. All the necessities. That amount is also based on a two person family - zero children. We can chop that amount in half to base it on a single person.) This individual will have $755.00 left for their bus pass or gas for the month to get back and forth to work. The bus pass is about $100 a month.

So without all the taxes in Ontario, Canada – a single person could live a basic life in Mississauga making minimum wage. And not missing a days of work. We also have to keep in mind that all the numbers I posted where NOT taxed. So, the $200.00 a month for the necessities will look more like $210.00+. Which again may not seem like much. But, it does add up and what happens if one month this person is sick and doesn't get the full 40 hours a week in? That extra $10+ would help out.

It's really weird to me but in Canada they seem to take off very little personal income taxes at the beginning of the year on their Citizens/Permanent Residents but then quickly begins taking A LOT.

Don't get me wrong I am not opposed to paying taxes. I think it is necessary actually. But, I am against the amount that is being taken. And the amount taxed when I am trying to buy food - what is up with this PST & GST?!. GST makes zero sense to me.

If Ontario would ease up on the everyday taxes that would help balance out their cost of living and help people get ahead instead of people living a basic life or struggling.
The thought of adding children to these numbers make my stomach turn. It’s just awful. See link -- Hungry Families

I feel all that goes back to the cost of living in our communities along with minimum wage. The government needs to take care of our people in each country. Whether it is in Canada or The United States. Both governments work for the people and I think it is high time that our government steps it up!

There has to be a balance with the cost of living. And, I truly feel Canada could figure it out before anyone else can if they try! They have less people to focus on than The United States. They have less debt too.

I hope I will see the day when our governments truly do their jobs!

What the hell?! (Part 1)

I want to know how the government expects its citizens to live off of minimum wage.

In this post I will break down a few States/Provinces in The United States and Canada’s minimum wages and the cost of living in each place. I base the cost of living on the average rent in those places. Let's face it if you can’t pay the basic rent – then you are homeless.

Let’s start with my home State. Ohio’s minimum wage is $7.25 - $7.30. See the link and it will quickly break it down for you. At that rate (if you actually find a job that will give you 40 hours a week) you will gross $229.00 a week. That is not counting taxes withheld from you. That is not counting missed days due to illness, or missed days due to your children being ill or missed days due to Doctors appointments for yourself or children.

Let’s base this on a single person without children. One would gross $916.00 a month. You may be able to find a rental property (see this link) for $400 a month. 1 bedroom.

It’s time for us to do basic Math: $916.00 - $400 = $516.00. Now your rent is paid. Time to pay your basic utilities - which are water, heat and electric. You have to eat too! Plus, you need gas to get back and forth to your job, not to mention your toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. I do not have all the numbers for the cost of utilites but use your common sense and you will realize people can not live off of mininum wage in Ohio! Some may think: can I get any help from the government such as ‘welfare’ to help with the cost of food? Since we are basing this on a single person – hell no! If we base this on a family of 3. Two Adults working with 1 child, both adults making minimum wage, again no. They will "make too much" to qualify. Which, I agree with that – those programs are in place for people that can not find a job. But, with that said something needs to change.


1)The cost of living needs to decrease

Or

2)The minimum wage needs to increase (without the cost of living increasing.)

As I am complaining about the State of Ohio. I can say that I do know Green County, Ohio does help the 'poor families' and I applaud them for it. They help train them for interview, etc. etc. But, the government needs to put a program in place to assist the working poor. The ones that do get off their asses everyday and flip hamburgers to only gross $916.00 a month.

If they DO have programs that assist these people. Then, you are doing a LOUSY job of promoting these programs. Maybe you need to spend more on letting your residents know they are not alone. Something needs to change, and quickly.

I know there has to be people out there reading this and they are thinking: "why didn't this individual" go to college? Well - this individual was raised in that family of 3 I mentioned. They couldn't afford paying school fees, which was a constant embarrassment - not to mention the embarrassment of not having school supplies, clean clothes, soap. They would go to school hungry, etc. Our individual dropped out of High School ...

I planned on breaking down a few locations in this post but, I wasn't aware it was going to take this much time. So, I will post a few with the same subject just different locations.

Until next time----


Kel ... out ...


lol