Pressure builds to boost Manitoba's minimum wage
With Manitoba set to have the second-lowest minimum wage in the country, there is pressure to give it big boost.
Last week, New Brunswick announced it will be hiking the minimum wage next year by $2 per hour in two stages to $13.75. That would put Manitoba second last in the country at $11.95, ahead of only Saskatchewan at $11.81.
Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, said the province's minimum wage is embarrassing.
“I think the idea of making it acceptable to still pay poverty wages needs to come to an end,” said Rebeck.
Anti-poverty advocates have been calling for a $15 per hour living wage for years. They now say the number is around $16.
Josh Brandon from the Social Planning Council said Manitoba’s rate is too low.
“Far too many kids are going hungry living in housing that’s unaffordable or in poor condition or overcrowded,” said Brandon.
Manitoba does small inflationary increases every year to its minimum wage.
A government spokesperson sent CTV News this statement:
“As we continue to address the ongoing economic and public health challenges posed by COVID-19, our government remains committed to making life more affordable for all Manitobans.“
A big hike could be bad for businesses still reeling from pandemic lockdowns.
Kathleen Cook from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said any increase in costs right now would be very tough for small businesses to handle.
“Only a third are back to their pre-pandemic revenues and over 30 per cent actually say they’re losing money every day that they’re open,” said Cook.
To counter this, the MFL said support for businesses could offset the added costs as long as it is targeted.
“The government giving these blanket dollars out to businesses that don’t need the support because they’re saying we’re treating everyone equally is wrong,” said Rebeck.
The province said less than five per cent of the labour force is based on the minimum wage.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.