Sask. people share how affordability crisis affects them

The cost of living in Saskatchewan has affected everyone from families to students, seniors, small businesses, and those who rely on income assistance.

While Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe touts increases in tax credits for families, seniors, those with disabilities and for children. NDP’s Carla Beck has been campaigning on an affordability platform since late August, promising to suspend the provincial gas tax and not hike any other taxes to help residents struggling financially.

Krunal Chavda, the University of Saskatchewan’s student union president, said he’d like to see student housing and food costs addressed, the rising cost of tuition, along with more money for student bursaries, scholarships and loans.

“Rent has gone up significantly from the last two years. Two years ago I could feed myself groceries with $100 for a week and a half or two weeks. Now, I can’t do that,” he said.

For Grenfell area senior Don Kirkham, there have been very modest increases to the Old Age Security, and the Canadian Pension Plans and many seniors are struggling to make ends meet. Especially if they don’t have their driver’s licenses anymore and have to pay to travel to Saskatoon or Regina for appointments or health care services.

“Seniors without a private pension plan, or seniors without a sizable amount of money behind them, are simply falling further and further behind,” he said.

While he admitted that increases in the senior’s supplement could potentially help, it’s not enough.

“There’s a lot of talk about young people (who) can’t afford anything. Pretty soon seniors won’t be able to afford anything either. Somewhere along the line, some bubble has to burst, somewhere,” Kirkham added.

Peter Gilmer, Regina Anti Poverty Ministry spokesperson, said day-to-day living for those who are on the Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS)  or the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) programs, has become virtually impossible.

“People (are) having to choose between paying for utilities, paying for rent, or paying for food,” he said.

“It’s a question of the inadequacy of the benefits,” he added.

It’s no cakewalk either for many small businesses, especially those in the hospitality industry.

Jim Bence, Hospitality Saskatchewan President and CEO, said more restaurants are closing. The staff is harder to find, and profit margins are “razor thin.” Insurance, food and wages are all constantly on the rise.

“At some point, operators are going to have to pass some of that — and we’ve seen it — pass it on to the customer. But then the customers are in the same spot.”

“They’re looking at their own expenses — what’s discretionary — and saying ‘you know what? We might have to cut back here.’ So, it becomes a real challenge to operators to strike that balance,” he said.

It’s a balance Jordan Lohenis, Pig and Pantry Craft Butchery owner and operator has also had to consider.

But for him, the affordability and sustainability of his business and keeping his staff, are more than just a quick or short-term tax break.

“I think those are pretty obvious gimmicks for politicians. Those are easy ones,” he said, adding that affordability is a big issue and one he hopes Saskatchewan politicians are thinking about long term, rather than simply short-term.