For the last number of years lobby groups have been rallying behind a $15 an hour minimum wage in the province.
Some have come out to say an increase won’t actually make much of a difference, but one advocate says she has seen the benefits.
Deena Ladd is the Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre Ontario, which successfully lobbied for that province to increase the rate to $14 an hour in 2018.
Ladd says initially there was fear mongering from businesses saying that companies would pack up and move elsewhere and jobs would be lost.
But, she says that did not happen and there have been lots of positive effects.
Ontario has the lowest unemployment rate it has seen in 18 years and lots of industries are thriving. She says they are seeing the benefits of putting money in the pockets of those who will spend it in their local communities.
NDP Launches Minimum Wage Survey
The NDP is launching a questionnaire for those earning $15 an hour or less.
Party leader Alison Coffin says they decided to develop their own questionnaire following complaints that a similar online survey was leading and didn’t offer a full range of responses for employers.
Coffin says the NDP wants to ensure that minimum and low wage earners have a voice in how minimum wage will be increased.
View the survey at this link.