An advocate for a $15 an hour minimum wage in the province is allaying fears that such an increase would negatively affect businesses and, in turn, not have much of an impact on the standard of living.
Mark Nichols is the community organizer behind the group 15 and Fairness NL.
He calls such fears a “wonderful myth.” He admits that in some cases there will have to be price increases, but argues that other jurisdictions that have increased the minimum wage have not seen the hardships people are discussing.
Nichols says the three provinces with a “significantly higher” minimum wage have lower unemployment rates and higher labour participation rates. He says it’s not the “job killer” people think it will be.