A/HRC/22/50/Add.1 the average amount remaining per person per day after rent and utilities are paid is $5.67, and 46 per cent of people living in subsidized housing have reported not eating for an entire day because of lack of money for food.31 36. The direct and indirect costs of securing adequate housing must not compromise the ability of people to pay for food and other essential needs guaranteed by human rights law. In the case of housing, a threshold of 30 per cent of income has been widely adopted as a measure for assessing affordability. Spending more than 30 per cent of household income on shelter can jeopardize the amount of money available for food, health care, education, transportation and other basic necessities, particularly for people living in poverty. Though the Government of Canada invests about CAN$1.7 billion annually to provide low income households with affordable and suitable housing, benefiting some 605,000 low income households across Canada, the issue of housing affordability remains a source of concern for many families. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living in his 2009 report, including the need for a comprehensive and coordinated national housing policy.32 37. Despite the best efforts of provinces and territories, social protection schemes and minimum wages fail to meet peoples’ basic daily needs. An increasing number are turning to food banks in Canada. The reliance on food banks serves as a moral release valve for the State. But it is symptomatic of the need to step up social protection systems to align them with the increased costs of living. B. Minimum wage legislation 38. Canada seeks to promote labour market participation as a long-term strategy to overcome poverty. The Special Rapporteur commends this approach, however he would recall that the minimum wage set in legislation should be, at least, a “living wage,” that “provides an income allowing workers to support themselves and their families,” as required under articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.33 C. Maximum available resources 39. Under the Covenant (art. 2, para. 1), Canada has a duty to dedicate the maximum amount of available resources to progressively achieve the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to food, and to prioritize the needs of the most marginalized. The concept of progressive realization recognizes the obstacles faced by countries, even developed countries like Canada. Like others, Canada has experienced an increase in its public debt in recent years. Nevertheless, the current situation does not justify refraining from taking action that could guarantee the right to food. 40. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that the 2012 federal budget reportedly envisages a reduction of public spending of CAN$5 billion annually, with total reduction in spending of CAN$37 billion over five years, without the implications for the realization of 31 32 33 12 www.dailybread.ca. Ibid. See A/HRC/10/7/Add.3, paras. 88-111. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 18 (2005) on the right to work, para. 7.