Protester raises questions about poverty

Kim Johnston

A Lower Montague woman launched a week-long one-woman hunger strike outside Province House last week, attempting to raise awareness of the impact poverty has on people.
Deborah (Kelly) Hawkes spent four nights camping out in front of the landmark in a rusty '87 Hyundai Pony her mother gave her in case someone decided to tow the rusted blue vehicle away during her protest.
The family counsellor, who commutes two days every month to counsel rape victims in Summerside explained a fair wage for Islanders would be more than $10.
"(I think) $10.26 is a livable wage," said the mother of two."It is what an adult with one child needs to cover the bare necessities including food, shelter and transportation."
The woman dined only on bread and water from Monday at noon until Friday at noon last week.
The four-day protest was a result of Hawkes doubling her efforts from last spring when she spent two days in her car raising awareness for poverty in the same location.
"I knew I could spend two days in a car so I thought I might as well double it. It gives me a better chance to talk with people. They don't have to rush," she explained.
She added poverty is everyone's business and all Islanders should try to do something about it.
Hawkes said one of the things people can do to help is make sure the establishments they frequent are offering their employees a fair salary.
"Ask to know if the staff is making
a livable wage. We all have to do something," she said.
The activist has gotten a fair share of feedback from Charlottetown residents and visitors, some willing to lend a helping hand or tell their stories, others who wish to believe an increase in wages may lead to an increase in costs in goods and services such as fast food.
"There's a belief that lower wages keep costs down. People have to live in poverty so (the people with that belief) can have a cheap hamburger," said Hawkes.