THUNDER BAY - Proposed provincial legislation that would see minimum wage in Ontario increase to $15 an hour has community organizations arguing both for and against.
On Tuesday, the Standing Committee on the Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act held a forum in Thunder Bay on proposed Bill 148 as part of province-wide consultations taking place this month.
Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act, was first introduced on June 1, 2017. If passed, the bill would amend the Employment Standards Act of 2000 by raising minimum wage across the province to $15 an hour by 2019, providing employees with more than five years’ service with three weeks’ vacation time, making it easier for employees to unionize, and provide personal emergency leave.
Debutants from various community organizations, union leaders, and business groups presented during the forum.
The proposal to increase minimum wage across the province from $11.60 an hour to $14 by the end of the year, and then $15 by 2019 seemed to occupy much of the discussion, with groups arguing for and against the increase.
“One of the biggest challenges we are facing as a business community is the increased cost of how quickly that implementation is happening,” said Nathan Lawrence, president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce.
“We are talking about a 23 per cent increase between now and January 1 to wages, and when you add in the additional dollar by January 2019, that amounts to a 32 per cent increase to just minimum wage cost.”
While Lawrence said he is not opposed to an increased minimum wage, he argued businesses across Northern Ontario would have a difficult time adjusting to such a major increase in the timetable outlined in Bill 148.
“We are not talking about large, multinational corporations, we are talking about small mom and pop shops from Thunder Bay and across the region, small and medium sized businesses that put their heart into this community and this region, and give back, and take pride in providing employment opportunities,” he said.
Lawrence said the changes over a short period of time could lead to drastic decisions being made by business owners.
“That could lead to potentially layoffs, less employment of youth and students in Thunder Bay, and quite likely the closure of some of our great Thunder Bay establishments,” he said.
Others welcomed the proposed $15 increase, however; arguing that even $15 an hour minimum wage does not go far enough.
“It puts people, at least at this point, it would put them above the poverty line,” said Sara Williamson, a member of Poverty Free Thunder Bay. “Then people can at least meet their basic needs without having to go to foodbanks and look after their kids, and spend time with their kids instead of trying to hold down three part time jobs.”
Angie Lynch, project coordinator with Anishinabek Employment and Training Services, said $15 an hour minimum wage is a good start at creating a decent standard of living by helping to provide people with stable housing, transportation, and food.
“It also alleviates a lot of the anxiety that people are experiencing and helps to improve the overall health of our community,” she said. “More money in the pocket just means people are going to live a little bit more comfortably and contribute back into the economy as well, which is a win-win for everybody.”
John Yakabuski, MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke and member of the standing committee said the most divisive issue with Bill 148 is the implementation and timetable regarding the $15 minimum wage.
“This is the first day of hearings, we have nine more days, I think that is something the committee should be listening closely to, to see what the feelings out there from people out there and have boots on the ground every day and living in the real Ontario and fighting to stay in business every day to what their views are,” he said.
Peter Milczyn, Liberal MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Parliamentary assistant to the minister of Labour, said Bill 148 was written after a two year changing work places review and he understands the concerns with issues like the minimum wage increase.
“We’re here to listen. I appreciate what I’m hearing that businesses need time to digest what this means to them and how they are going to implement it,” he said.
The standing committee wrap up consultations on Monday before travelling to North Bay on Tuesday.
