EyesWideOpen

these are the most recent figures I could find with a VERY quick google search http://www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/fs_lic01.htm If we take the figure of a single person living in a community of 30,000-99,999 people, according to these figures that would calculate to an hourly wage of about $8.21 "A family of four living in a very large Canadian city with an income (after transfers and before taxes) of less than $35,455 in 2001, would have been living below the poverty line" that's slightly more than $18 an hour (split that between two wage earners if you wish) It says the table uses a "1992 base" sobering, non?

I think what you may be talking about is the "living wage' that many anti-poverty groups tout.

I've been employed by various federal dept's for over 20 years and in my experience it's common practice everywhere.

But we know there are no rewards for efficiency are there? Just look at purchasing starting about….oh, mid February. Make sure you've spent all your budget….Lord knows if it will be there when actually need it, if you don't.

right you are and that was poorly worded...what I meant was the pension is clawbacked to even it out with the CPP...so basically, once we collect CPP at age 65 our pension is reduced-not your CPP as I stated erroneously.

exactly the point I was making about the pension surplus being used last time I ask also, how many private pension plan members get their CPP clawed back? Part and parcel of a fed. gvmt. employees pension...but we don't pay reduced CPP contributions - even tho it's a given our CPP will be clawed back! And this BS about being able to retire at 55? IF, and that's a big IF, you can....this is the last 'cycle' that can do so, as we were employed coming out of high school ...the kids joining the PS today won't be able to retire at 55- they won't have the required 35 years service by then. Half the information makes for an uninformed opinion, folks. Ask yourself this..if you had payed into a system for 25-30 years, know your CPP is going to be reduced and now you're told your pension is in jeopardy? Would you be mad as hell? Damn right you would be. And is it right? No, it's not. And no one can convince me otherwise

delete.double post

It's scary as hell when you look at the stats of low-income earners paying rent or groceries with credit cards...just to make it from one pay cheque to the next.

This is a long time coming, and all we get is lip service. Canadians charged 267 billion dollars to credit cards last year and carry 78 billion dollars in credit card debt! And the folks who owe are falling further and further behind - thanks to the banks tightening up. If you're late on a payment now, they can raise your interest rate and shorten the 'grace period'.

let's see....last time it was the 30 billion $ surplus in the fund - and what they claim is an uneven contribution scale NOW, wasn't an issue when they wanted the whole kit and kaboodle, eh? What will they rely on next time they post a deficit, I wonder?? Of course, their pensions are extravangant and Harper's cabinet is THE most bloated one, bar Mulroney's....

you fergot Zep.....if it's not AC/DC it's Zep. You'd think nothing else had ever been recorded.......ever.

since it's winter, I'd have to say 'anyway warmer" buuuuuttt...ask me in the summer, when the Canal is full, and the festival season is starting ....or in the spring when the tulips are in bloom ...then it's a resounding 'no' for all it's flaws, it really is a very pretty city.

Also, a lot of this can be blamed on the use of high fructose corn syrup. Soft drink manufacturers, etc. KNOW our bodies can't digest this the same or regulate the rate of sugar absorbtion in our blood stream from this product. BUT, it's cheaper, easier to transport, and in many countries (such as the US) a combination of subsidies and tariffs make it cheaper to use/produce. Look at the diabetes stats. It will scare the crap outta ya.

Does no one else find it weird that this too comes down in March? Proroguing Parliament is a sure fire way to make sure no questions are asked until the report is tabled.

I KNOW!!!! First nobody cares....then when you point out that more than one poll disproves that theory, it's 'well, they say they care in the poll 'cause they wanna look informed, but they don't REALLY care'...he KNOWS!! His crystal ball never lies!!!