Minimum Wage Study Out

Monday, March 26, 2007 11:06 AM

The report on minimum wage in Canada calls for the wage to be raised to $10.00 an hour in all provinces. The study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives concludes not a single province pays a minimum wage that would lift working Canadians out of poverty.

Study co-author and researcher with the CCPA's BC Office, Stuart Murray, says "Depending on where you live, working at minimum wage full-time, all year
round, will leave you four to six thousand dollars below the poverty line,"

The CCPA says boosting the minimum wage to $10.00 an hour would put a person just above the poverty line. The report also calls for minimum wages to be indexed to the rate of inflation.

Last week Ontario announced it would boost its minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010, but that isn't fast enough say the report's authors who say this isn't a matter of principle, it is a matter of financial survival for thousands of people and their families. The study also indicates about half earning minimum wage are over the age of 25.

In B.C. 5.6% of the working population works for minimum wage which is $8.00 per hour in this province.

Here in Prince George, Chamber of Commerce President Michael Kerr says the minimum wage is not an issue at the moment "Good businesses are already having to offer wages that are $10.00 or more in order to attract and retain good employees." Kerr says right now, the wages are being driven by a strong economy and a labour shortage so changing the minimum wage to $10.00 an hour wouldn't likely have a major impact. Kerr says he is concerned about what could happen if the wage is legislated and the economy takes a down turn.

The B.C. Federation of Labour is pushing for a minimum wage boost in B.C. A "Make it Ten" campaign has been launched, and the Federation is pushing to get thousands of signatures on a petition.

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Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 11:06 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 26 2007 12:50 PM

I wonder how much these rocket scientists were paid to figure out what most people already knew?
Especially the ones working for minimum wage?

Posted by: Gofaster on March 26 2007 1:54 PM

You can bet they didn't get paid minimum wage!

Posted by: REALIST on March 26 2007 2:01 PM

Interesting that the Chamber of Commerce was whining that increasing the minium wage would seriously effect businesses who could not afford this rate. Now these same people claim they already are paying $10.00 an hour and doing just fine. Typical schizophrenic propaganda spewed by the wealthy to maintain their greedy ways. Guess the Chamber of Commerce takes yet another credibility hit.

Posted by: Harbinger on March 26 2007 4:08 PM

Have to sell a lot of coffee and donuts to pay those wages and benefits. Then again, they could lay off staff or raise the prices. Good ol' socialism. Just speculating, I must add. Not clear on facts. Sorry. Just an opinion. I hope I haven't upset anyone.

Posted by: metalman on March 26 2007 6:33 PM

Good people are worth $10.00/hr as a minimum, and one should be happy to have them. Anybody with a bit of ambition and smarts will easily find a job that pays more than that as a starting wage. I think the Liberals had the right idea a few years ago with the training wage, but the minimum after 'training' should be set a little higher in my view. The fast food outlets say they will suffer, but how? If all the franchises have to pay the same minimum, who is going to lose business because they had to raise their prices? Are they saying that no one will want to stop by Timmies anymore? Or that people won't be buying Big Macs anymore? I doubt it. If they raise the minimum wage, it might even help to get a few people off welfare, those who have the ambition to better themselves, but are restrained by the system, which makes it easier to stay on the dole, than to go out and work for the same amount of money (or less, if you have to pay for child care, or transportation)
metalman.

Posted by: dow7500 on March 26 2007 10:21 PM

Realist, the only one taking a credibility hit is you. If higher minimum wages don't hurt businesses, then why not raise it to $20/hour. I suspect even a brain washed marxist like you know that answer.

Posted by: REALIST on March 27 2007 6:30 AM

Good one Dow. Don't let the fear of treating others as you would be treated interfere with your greedy intentions. At least you are consistant. I remain amazed at how you guys immediately scream marxist whenever your ability to aquire your false god is threatened. i guess you figure that you will not be around to see what your ideology will have brought your children so it is o.k. to live a life of greed and ill will to your fellow man. For me I do not care to associate with people like you so good-bye.

Posted by: owl on March 27 2007 8:23 AM

dow also does not seem to be able to read very well, otherwise he would have read the recent reminder by the hosts of this site for some decorum rather than resorting to calling people "names".

Posted by: Free Enterprise on March 27 2007 8:27 AM

People start businesses to make money, not hire people. Hiring people to make money is an expense. The higher the costs of employees the less they hire or you the 'customer' that cry that prices go up have to pay for it. If an employee is good and makes money for the owner they will get paid well.

Posted by: snappi on March 27 2007 8:37 AM

You said it owl..once again. But do you want to know what my great deduction is on this matter? Well I think that we should go back a few years to the day when business people weren't so concerned about once again (that God almighty dollar). I'm talking about when the employer gave up hanging on to awesome devoted employees so that they didn't have to pay the benefits etc. The whole system went to hell when they decided to hire only casual and part-time employees for this reason. I have watched the turn over in these places. And thus I believe its probably costing allot more money in training when one of these employees moves on. My husband is a small business owner and he pays his staff well to keep them happy. Its worth it in the long run for sure. Personally I would rather have an employee that was looking out for my best interests.

Posted by: REALIST on March 27 2007 8:37 AM

Too true Owl, but these neocons are scared. They know that their free ride is coming to an end. World politics is shifting from supporting the greed mongers towards supporting a better society. South American countries are leading the way, That and the fact that even the American public have had enough of the greed and coroption to have elected the democrats, scare the bejebbers out of the neocons. That is why they are so angry. Like the dinosaurs, they fear their demise. I personally can not wait for our Canadian society to catch up and get rid of politicians like HArpo and Campbell. At least these money grubbers have been so tactless, they have blown their cover and alerted the general population to the scandalous loss of humanity and caring. I think that the crisis of opur environment will finally deal the death toll to these greed merchants who are responsible for the depleated resources of our planet. They have signed their own death notices. It has always been this way as the pedulum of public support of ideologies shifts back and forth. Neocons were started in the eighties with Regan and Thatcher. Twenty-seven year of control is enough and the pedulum is swinging back towards the economy being here to support society instead of the neocons misunderstanding ideology of society being here to support their economy. Good ridance.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 27 2007 12:31 PM

We owned very good fast food/takeout joint up until we sold it last June.It was my retirement project and it did very well.
We had very good staff (5) and paid them all between 10 and 13 bucks an hour.They deserved it and they earned every dime.We also had very little staff turnover over the 3 years.It made our lives much easier and we could afford it.And they appreciated it.
The other take out joints paid minimum wage of 8 bucks.They were always looking for staff and running short handed.There was little or no loyalty to the job or the owners.In 3 years,we saw 4 of them close and others open up.None of them could even come close the level of service or quality that we had.We were not very popular with the other operators either.Most of them did not survive.At one point,we had 3 or 4 different people all interested in buying us out.
So why did we succeed when others failed?
Honesty,quality,and service.Our staff always went the extra mile while the others really didn't give a damn.We could leave the place in good hands anytime we wanted to get way and not worry about it.That's what a few extra bucks does.It makes people feel like they matter and are not just lackies for crap wages.
And the ones who say they can't afford the 10 bucks? They need to put a little more effort into their business.It will come back in profits but unfortunately,most operators just don't get it.Pay the 10 bucks and respect your staff and customers.It's long over due.

Posted by: dow7500 on March 27 2007 9:00 PM

Be careful what you wish for Realist. If you think that South American Socialism is the new political model for humanity, you are beyond debate. Ya, the neocons are scared. Chavez will one day crush capitalism and the ensalved masses of corporate greed will be free. Keep drinking the kool-aid comrade.

Posted by: Mcfly on March 28 2007 8:42 AM

dow,
you do not actually believe anything you post do you?
I assume you just like to "stir the pot" so to speak.