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For a lot of people there’s more month left at the end of the money than there is money.

Not included are things like spices, condiments, sauces, processed and ready-to-eat foods, and baby food and formula.

Mackenzie called the foods “basic,” and said they require some skills and resources to prepare.

The cost increase is especially an issue for those on a fixed income, Mackenzie said. When rent and utilities increase in price, the food tends to be the only flexible part a person’s remaining budget.

“Food is the thing that tends to go,” he said. “You’ll see that parents will actually do without (food) so their kids are eating. People are eating less or choosing less healthy options, and none of those are good scenarios.”

The report found the monthly cost of food for a single male to be about $300. For an individual receiving $825 per month from Ontario Works, that leaves only $525 for all other living expenses, including rent.

“I think it really has some significant implications for the most vulnerable populations in our community,” Mackenzie said.

A separate report prepared by Mackenzie calculated the 2020 living wage for Windsor and Essex County as $15.52 per hour. That represents a 37-cent increase over the 2019 living wage.

The current provincial minimum wage remains at $14 per hour.

Photo by Dan Janisse / jpg

Mackenzie said the health unit is developing a strategy to engage community members, particularly employers, and share the benefits of paying workers a living wage. Less employee turnover and more productivity were two of the benefits he identified.

“It could make the difference between really struggling and getting by,” he said.

“For a lot of people there’s more month left at the end of the money than there is money.”

Mackenzie said food prices are forecast to increase another two to four per cent in 2020.

tcampbell@postmedia.com

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