What is the minimum income to live adequately in Sherbrooke?

For a family with two adults and two preschool children, this income is set at $62,131.

The viable income calculated by theIRISInstitute for Socio-Economic Research and Information includes basic expenses, such as housing, food and travel, and also includes some leeway to deal with the unexpected, as well as expenses like restaurants or vacations away from homesays researcher Julia Posca.

It differs from the poverty line, which is 30% lower than living incomeshe says. It is considered that approximately one in five people in Quebec is below the viable level.

” We developed the viable income index to get a better idea of ​​what it takes in terms of income, not only to cover basic needs, but to get out of poverty. »

Underestimated data compared to inflation

Living income assumes that people are renters, not using cars. In his calculation, theIRISInstitute for Socio-Economic Research and Information estimates that the monthly cost of rent in Sherbrooke, for a single person, is less than $600 per month. The institute also included expenses of $72 per month for dining out or activities, and $86 per month for heat and electricity. For a couple with two children in daycare, the rent is estimated at $868 per month, and all the necessities (telephone, internet, hygiene care, vacations, etc.) at $1,224 per month.

The researcher admits, however, that the figures used to determine this minimum level are probably underestimated. The data was collected in early 2022, before inflation hit Canadians hard.

This is the first year that we have faced inflationshe argues.

She believes that these data, however, demonstrate the weak balance in maintaining a decent income, which a surge in inflation can completely upset. Rising gas prices, among other things, are hitting car-dependent households hard. In Sept-Îles, moreover, where public transit is not accessible, the viable income is estimated at $8,000 more than in Sherbrooke.

What we realize is that in regions and cities where public transport is poorly developed, households must have a car and this puts significant upward pressure on their spending.she explains. Attention will have to be paid to the effect of household inflation at the bottom of the scale.

” It remains a minimum level that we establish. There is no luxury that is possible with such a level and in an inflationary context, it increases the sensitivity of households to increased spending. »

Adjust wages and government aid

The researcher believes that the volatility of gas prices and the impact on the portfolio should influence elected officials to invest more in public transit, both for financial and environmental considerations.

But first and foremost, she points out that these data demonstrate the importance of adjusting government programs to the cost of inflation. L’IRISInstitute for Socio-Economic Research and Information also recommends that the government take into consideration the data on viable income to adjust its assistance to people receiving social assistance, the Old Age Security pension or the Guaranteed Income Supplement, which do not follow the cost of life. Moreover, for the moment, the minimum wage in Quebec is $14.25 an hour, whereas it should be at least $18 an hour to reach a viable income.

Year after year, what we see is that the minimum income only covers basic needs. That means we have thousands and thousands of workers who are considered poorsays Julia Posca.

Like Julia Posca, the general manager of Moisson Estrie is of the opinion that the increase in the minimum wage to $14.25 in Quebec is insufficient to guarantee citizens a life that is a little bit further from the poverty line.

The organization confirms that it receives daily citizens who live below the poverty line, and who are prisoners of their own socioeconomic situation.

Everything concerning the supplementary income for persons in difficulty is below the minimum threshold to meet basic needs. Currently, a employable person who is on welfare receives approximately $681 per month, which equates to $8,000 per year in total. […] Unfortunately, a minimal income like that makes it difficult for you to have the tools you need to take action to find a job.says Executive Director Geneviève Côté.

” It is easy to fall into a circle of need or poverty. »

Geneviève Côté believes that accessibility to various services for the most disadvantaged people must be improved, to partially solve the problem.

There are also plenty of actions that we can do as citizens, there are great initiatives that are carried out in each community. […] The more help there is, the better it will be, and the more prevention there is, the better the results will be.