The following appeared in Frontline Magazine, a members’ publication. It is one story of the struggle some members face. Please feel free to discuss and leave your thoughts in the Discussion section.
Cindy* didn’t want to live in the Lower Mainland. She had a comfortable living in the British Columbia interior, with a house spacious enough for her and her three kids. However, when a disability confined her to an office job, the only available position for her was in Vancouver.
She moved from Cranbrook to Abbotsford, because it was the most affordable option available to her - not that it did much good. She doubled her mortgage and spent an average of two hours a day commuting to work.
Now, with over $15,000 in credit debt, a mortgage that takes up 41 per cent of her monthly income (the recommended maximum mortgage payment is 27 per cent, according to the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation), and gas prices soaring, Cindy can’t afford to drive her car on days off.
“My church has been buying my food since last fall,” says Cindy. “They also provided our Christmas presents.”
She went into the Lower Mainland debt-free, and successfully avoided debt until last year. However, with her disability and a custody agreement which prevents her from leaving the province, Cindy was required to take a position in what is considered to be the most unaffordable housing market in Canada, and is ranked 15th most unaffordable in the world (according to the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey).
“Members who do relocate can find themselves in financially dire situations,” says SRR Mike Ingles (E Division). “I’ve heard of members who can’t afford to fill up their gas tanks to make it into work. Some members are considered the working poor.”
Cindy says that her situation was unavoidable. She was financially assessed by her church and found that after making her mortgage payments, her car payments, paying local taxes and filling up the tank, she had no money left over for food.
“I work hard, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I don’t do anything. I should be able to feed my family,” she says. “I have to be on an assistance program to pay for my son’s medication because I
cannot come up with the money up front to pay for his medications or glasses.”
In the end, SRR Eddie MacDonald (E Division) intervened on her behalf. As a result of working with the appropriate people, MacDonald helped Cindy obtain a transfer to Chilliwack Detachment, which is only 20 minutes from her home in Abbotsford.
She hopes the shorter commute will help save on gas and day care costs. “I’m not going to be living like a queen anytime soon,” she admits. But she hopes the move will improve her quality of life.
*Name has been changed.
Displaying 3 Comments
When are the politicians in Ottawa going to wake up?? They cry and scream when the Harper goverment was going to cancel the susidies they enjoy .But where are they when the goverment wants to break the contract with the men and woman who dedicate their lives to protecting the citizens of Canada???? We don’t see politcians voting to cut their wages or benefits. If they want to save money its about time the politicians lead by example and cut their wages and benefits first and by not breaking their agreement with the people who put their lives on the line everyday to keep Canadians safe.
Welcome to reality. How do all the other members in the lower mainland manage on their wages?
Toronto officers have been dealing with this for years. Touted as the best paid in Ont (by $50.00 year and until the next force settles their contract in more affordable communities)
RCMP members need to form an association (union) and proceed with job action.
These financial woes for Members trasferred to the Lower Mainland has been going on for as many years as I recall. It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Members in places like this NEED to be compensated. Compare this Member to one living in small town Pairies — one lives like a King, the other like a pauper! I could go on and on about this but its time the Force clued in, after all, those are supposed to be the elite decision makers we pay the big bucks to and they probably could care less about the clawback of wages. They are the ones making too much money! Thanks.
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