November 19, 2007

Holiday Food Drive Starts Today at Best Buy


Stick with this and SEE THE SHORTFALL. And CHILDREN are the largest population of the poor in TORONTO (well, everywhere). I see them at my food bank where I can go three times per month, and I wonder if they ever have a dime to their name. I try to give them a toonie each when I see them. It feels like REAL money and will buy them one lousy candy bar, full size, at a convenience store. SIGH.

    Stores across the country to collect donations for local food banks and
give cash contribution

BURNABY, BC, Nov. 16 /CNW/ - Starting today and continuing until
December 16, Best Buy Canada stores will collect non-perishable food items and
other household items for local food banks in each of the communities where we
have stores. In addition, a cash donation totaling over $50,000 will be made
by the company.

Food bins have been placed in an area at the front of the stores, making
it simple for customers already planning on visiting the retail locations and
also convenient for others just driving by the stores to contribute to an
important cause at a crucial time of year.

"The holiday season is a time of need for too many in our local
communities across the country and we are thrilled to be able to bring some
holiday cheer into these families' lives with what we're hoping will be
thousands of pounds of food and other essential items," said Charles Tobin,
vice president of operations, Best Buy. "With over 750,000 people across
Canada using a food bank in one month
, food banks are always in need of
additional support. Best Buy has chosen to hold this food drive during our
busiest season so that it's easy for the thousands already planning to visit
our stores to help support a number of the over 34% of food banks across the
country that can't meet their demand."

Details of Best Buy's Holiday Food Drive are available at
www.BestBuy.ca/fooddrive, including a list of some of the items in highest
demand. While any non-perishable food item or household product will be
accepted, please consider contributing the following:

<< - Soup - Juice boxes - Cereal - Baby supplies >>

Best Buy is partnering with Volunteer Canada, the leader on volunteerism
in Canada, for national logistical and communications support of the food
drive. The organization is a vital conduit in this project, facilitating the
distribution of goods to the various food banks.

About Best Buy Stores - Canada

Best Buy stores in Canada are a division of Burnaby, BC-based Best Buy
Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY). Best
Buy is Canada's fastest-growing retailer and e-tailer (www.BestBuy.ca) of
consumer electronics, computers and entertainment products and also operates
the Geek Squad (www.GeekSquad.ca), a technology service provider specializing
in computer support and home theatre installation. There are currently
48 stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and
Quebec.

Best Buy offers consumers a unique shopping experience with the latest
technology and entertainment products, at the right price, with a no-pressure
(non-commissioned) sales environment. The Company is committed to kids and
their local communities and has a comprehensive community relations program
described at www.BestBuy.ca/community.

For more information about Best Buy, including store locations, visit
www.BestBuy.ca.For further information: Heather Seabrook, Best Buy Communications,
(604) 412-1011 or hseabrook@bestbuycanada.ca; Scott Morris, Best Buy
Communications, (778) 452-3412 or scmorris@bestbuycanada.ca

Monthly Household Budget for Three Household Types Supported by

Ontario Works Benefits and Living in Market Rental Accommodations
September 2007

One Person Household (male, aged 25-49)
a)
Single-Parent Household (female, aged 25-49, boy age 10 and girl age 3)
(b)
Reference Family of four
(male and female age 37, boy age 13, girl age 8)
(c)
Monthly Income
(Data for social assistance rates provided by Toronto Social Services)
Basic Allowance (d)
$206.00
$559.00
$644.00
Shelter Allowance (d)
$342.00
$583.00
$634.00
Winter Clothing Allowance (e)
$0.00
$18.00
$18.00
Back-to-School Allowance (f)
$0.00
$5.92
$16.84
Ontario Child Benefit (g)
$0.00
$41.66
$41.66
Canada Child Tax Benefit (h)
$0.00
$292.81
$292.81
Universal Child Care Benefit (i)
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
Federal GST Benefit (j)
$19.75
$60.33
$60.33
Total
$567.75
$1,660.72
$1,707.64
Selected Monthly Expenses
Food (k)
$ 201.32
$ 356.67
$576.06
Average Monthly Rent (l)
(assuming rent includes heat, electricity)
$738.00
(Bachelor)
$1,073.00
(2 Bdr.)
$1,280.00
(3 Bdr.)
Telephone (m)
$25.39
$25.39
$25.39
Transportation (n)
$99.75
$99.75
$283.25
Total
$1,064.46
$1,554.81
$2,164.70
Monthly Funds Remaining
(for other basic needs, e.g., household and personal care items, clothing, child care)
- $496.71/month
+ $105.91/month
- $457.06/month
a)
Only basic and shelter allowances factored into estimated OWA
net income for calculation of GST credit. Net annual income =
12 months x $548.00 Basic & Shelter Allowances = $6,576.00

b)
Net annual income calculation = 12 months x ($1,142.00 Basic &
Shelter Allowances + $18 Winter Clothing + $5.92 Back-to-School
+ $41.66 Ontario Child Benefit + $292.81 CCTB + $100.00 UCCB) = $19,204.68
c)
Net annual income calculation = 12 months x ($1,278.00 Basic &
Shelter Allowances + $18 Winter Clothing + $16.84 Back-to-School
+ $41.66 Ontario Child Benefit + $292.81 CCTB) = $19,767.72
d)
Basic and Shelter Allowance does not take into consideration the
2% increase announced in
he March 2007 Provincial budget. Scheduled to take effect in November 2007
e)
Based on a one time payment of $108.00 for every eligible dependent
divided over 12 months
f)
Back-to-School Allowance is $71 for dependents aged 4-12 and $131
for dependents aged 13-17.
g)
The Ontario Child Benefit in July 2007 will provide all social assistance
families with children below the age of 18 with a lump of $250 per child.
Starting in July 2008, monthly benefits will be issued.
h)
CCTB includes Basic Benefit and NCBS (this figure is based on income
remaining after the maximum chargeable amount (clawback) per number of
dependants is deducted).
i)
UCCB paid to children below six and is based on net annual incomes as described in notes 2 & 3.
j)
Based on net annual income. GST credit issued on a quarterly basis.
Figures derived from GST Guideline Table effective July 2007-June 2008.
k)
Based on Nutritious Food Basket 2007.
l)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Average Rental in Toronto, April 2007.
m)
Based on Bell Canada rates August 2007, does not include long distance.
n)
Transportation takes into consideration TTC transit fares as of April 1, 2006.
Monthly adult Metropass is $99.75 and student Metropass is $83.75
(aged 13 to 19 years old). Child fares are not calculated.
The monthly shelter allowance in the Ontario Works Benefits does not reflect
the high cost of market rental accommodations in Toronto.
For this reason, many low and/or fixed income residents have to choose
between paying the rent or buying food.



Toronto’s cost of living – How far will $10,000 go?

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Health care
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Food Costs for a Family of Four
The average weekly cost for food for a family of four in Toronto is $124.35 ($538.43 per month). This cost is based on 2006 prices and includes 66 items from the four food groups recommended in Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating.



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