Despite Saskatchewan's low unemployment rate, some people across the province continue to struggle financially on a day-to-day basis.
The Tax Fairness tour bus, which was in Estevan on Sept. 18, carried several individuals touring the province in cooperation with Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union, set up shop next to WalMart to hear people's concerns and spread their own message of labour equality.
"What we're trying to do is go across Canada and engage Canadians, talking to them about some of the things that they see in their daily lives," said Bob Stadnichuk, tour lead for the Fair is Fair tour. "Sure we have a low unemployment rate, but let's take a look at where those jobs are being created. A lot of those jobs are created in the service industry; pumping gas, working in the restaurants, minimum wage, part-time jobs. Sure they have jobs, but it's not fulfilling work that can sustain them in the long-run."
While sporting a green shirt that matched the colour of the large tour bus, he said they've talked to people who struggle with home care, who have to work two part time jobs "just to make ends meet," and who have a hard time finding adequate housing.
"The overall message for this whole thing is fair taxation. We see that corporations aren't paying their fair share," he said, noting the large amount of people who make twice the amount the average Canadian makes.
"We want people to ask the questions, why is the tax system unfair? A lot of that has to do with government policies, they tend to favour the rich and favour corporations over the poor and the middle class," explained Stadnichuk. He talked about the recession and the handful of corporations he said were bailed out with the help of tax breaks and subsidies.
"We know for a fact we have documentation that shows through the process there was $600 billion that was saved by corporations that they continue to horde. We're asking them to create strategies for job creation, good paying jobs. Not minimum wage jobs, but jobs that provide people and their family a decent style of living," said Stadnichuk.
The tour leader stressed the fact that they're not out to protest or approach these corporations directly, but are intent on spreading a message among residents and to provide them with information.
"We're not politically motivated and we don't have an agenda," he said.
The Fair is Fair tour began last year in Atlantic Canada during the month of September and lasted until October. It's gone through Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Manitoba. Saskatchewan is the last stop.
Stadnichuk said the feedback they've received has been extremely positive and they encourage anyone to come and have a chat.
"People like the idea of someone spreading this message," he said.
