Affordability front and centre in Alberta election as cost of living spikes
CBC
It costs more to live in Alberta now than it did during the last provincial election.
Inflation hit a nearly 40-year high last June and many living on fixed or lower incomes have been struggling. Inflation is now easing, but eight consecutive interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada are making mortgages and other debt more expensive.
It's a perfect storm that's putting affordability front and centre in the Alberta election.
Parties are making promises around the cost of living, but there's only so much the provincial government can do to tackle interest rates or inflation.
CBC spoke with three voters to hear what affordability promises they'd like to see during this election.
Meghan Smethurst, an Edmonton mom of four, didn't want to go back to work full time. With careful budgeting, her husband's income used to be enough to support the family.
By January 2021, the family needed more money.
"The cost of utilities was going up, groceries were costing more and more and I just couldn't stay home," Smethurst said.
Smethurst found childcare for her youngest son, now four years old, and started working as a preschool teacher.
Even with the second income, grocery shopping for the family means tough choices. Smethurst said she never buys brand-name products, and staples like milk, bread, pasta and canned goods all cost more.
"We eat a lot less protein," she said. "I cut it with rice or add a little extra water. The prices are up so high."
WATCH | What matters to you this election? We've been hitting the streets to hear from Albertans
Smethurst said her family qualified for payments the provincial government introduced in February. They offer $100 per child each month, for six months.
That helped, Smethurst said, but the biggest help has been the federal-provincial daycare deal. That reduced daycare fees for her four-year-old by $700 per month.
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