[Alberta's Child]

I don't know why any able-bodied person in Canada would be homeless.

There are fast-food joints in Alberta that pay starting wages of $14+ per hour for people right off the street -- and they still can't stay open all the time because they can't get enough help.

[Rumierules]

Nothing in the article indicates that he is homeless.

[G8 Diplomat]

There are fast-food joints in Alberta that pay starting wages of $14+ per hour for people right off the street

Yeah, but he's in Toronto. That's a long walk.

[ASOC]

alberta is a plenty expensive place to live.

Makes you wonder what the mines pay.

[-YYZ-]

Of course, you’d likely need a large percentage of that $14 per hour just to pay for an apartment in Edomonton or Fort Mac, assuming you can find one.

One of the causes of homelessness, by the way, is city zoning regulations that have pretty much driven the rooming house out of existence. For a single person of limited means living in the city, these used to be an important source of low-cost housing. Sure, most people might prefer to have a space all of their own, although then again a rooming house might be good for the socializing and shared food preparation facilities.