B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Canadians' budgets are being stretched thin as the cost of living climbs -- and to compensate, some are taking on a side hustle.
From reselling used items or dog walking to taking shifts driving for delivery services and acting as a brand ambassador, there are plenty of ways to earn some extra cash.
Erin Rappaport, a Montreal-based human resources generalist, has made extra money in a few different ways.
Rappaport has worked as a brand ambassador for various companies, offering free samples and proving product information at famous sites around Montreal such as the Bell Centre.
She also uses reselling platforms such as Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace to sell used shoes, clothing and furniture from around the house.
"I have weeks where I have four sales and then sometimes I have none, it really depends," said Rappaport.
New data from professional service company Accenture found that 41 per cent of Canadians plan to take up a side hustle such as babysitting, dog walking, and selling items online to earn additional income before the holidays.
Another 39 per cent said they would take on additional work hours to make up the extra cash, according to the survey of 1,510 Canadians who had purchased an item for personal use in the last six months.
Whether it is to save money in the long term or the short term, the first thing to do is to indicate the pressure point of a budget, said Anne Arbour, spokeswoman of the Credit Counselling Society
Then, understand how much time is available for the side hustle and what strengths could be used to make additional income, said Arbour.
However, there are additional factors to consider in pursuit of additional income such as reporting the earnings and claiming deductions and making sure there is not a conflict of interest with a primary source of income.
"If the purpose of this is to improve your financial situation check that the extra income isn't putting you in a higher tax bracket, so you might inadvertently be hurting yourself more than helping yourself," said Arbour.
Having a side hustle grew in popularity when many people had more time on their hands during COVID-19 lockdowns. And for those who were laid off during the pandemic, their side hustle became a full-time reality.
One side hustle that became particularly popular during the pandemic was gig economy work such as driving for a ride share company or a food delivery service.
In 2017, Jennifer Scott began working full-time as a bike carrier, delivering food for a number of delivery apps in Toronto, and has some words of caution for those with thoughts of joining the industry.
Often having to navigate traffic and challenging weather conditions, Scott said she injured her knee and had to switch to delivering on foot.
"I am constantly reminded that if I'm hurt at work when I'm delivering in these conditions, I have nobody, I have only myself to try and figure out how to deal with that," said Scott.
Workers in the gig economy are considered private contractors, which means they are not entitled to similar employment protections as other workers.
"There are no sick days there," said Scott. "There's no insurance, there's nothing."
Arbour said that when picking up an additional source of income, it is important to check with insurance to see what needs to be covered.
But for some, such as Scott, additional protections for the job such as private health care are a luxury.
"For folks who have that, that's excellent, but for most people who do this work, it's not possible," said Scott.
Whether it is delivering food or taking on shifts as a brand ambassador, it should be considered that when combined with a full-time job, the extra work hours may lead to burnout or exhaustion.
While taking on a side hustle while working full-time is tiring, Rappaport said that it is the additional money that keeps her going.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2022.
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.