Sask. to have lowest minimum wage in Canada by April
Saskatchewan is on track to have the lowest minimum wage in Canada come April following a significant increase to New Brunswick’s wage earlier this week.
New Brunswick announced it would boost its minimum wage from $11.75 to $12.75, then up again in October to $13.75.
The Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry said through talking with people who are struggling financially, it’s clear that Saskatchewan’s $11.81 wage isn’t enough.
“We need to have a minimum wage that’s an actual living wage. The starting point that we’ve been calling for is 15 dollars an hour, but even 15 dollars an hour falls below what’s been calculated as a living wage,” Peter Gilmer, an advocate with the anti-poverty ministry, said.
Gilmer added the 15 dollar per hour mark does not take recent inflation rates into account.
“Recently, the cost of basic needs including food has been rising very rapidly,” he said. “[Saskatchewan] is consistently competing for the lowest minimum wage in the country and that does cause considerable hardship.”
Gilmer said low minimum wage ties into other poverty issues that are persistent in Saskatchewan.
“When we legislate a low minimum wage, when we legislate income assistance rates that don’t meet basic needs, we’re indexing poverty and we’re legislating poverty,” he said.
In addition to a higher minimum wage, Gilmer said adequate income assistance benefits and quality and affordable housing and child care options would all go a long way in terms of poverty reduction.
A significant increase to minimum wage isn’t welcomed by everyone.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said many small businesses in the province are still feeling the financial burden of COVID-19.
Kathleen Cook, a senior policy analyst with CFIB, said many small businesses already pay their employees more than minimum wage if they are able to. She said a lower tax burden from the province could be once way to help employers pay a higher wage.
“A significant jump like we saw in New Brunswick would just not be feasible for many small businesses, so I think it’s important for the Saskatchewan government to consult with the small business community before implementing any change,” Cook said.
The Government of Saskatchewan said each increase to the minimum wage is calculated based on its minimum wage formula which gives equal weight to the percentage change in the provincial Average Hourly Wage and the Consumer Price Index for the previous years as published by Statistics Canada.
“We’ve had, for the last decade, a highly predictable formula,” Don Morgan, minister of labour relations, said. “We’re in a challenging time in the nation and in our province. We’re coming out of COVID-19 and we don’t want to do anything that puts a damper on the viability of businesses that are trying to work, so it’s something we’re going to maintain the stability.”
The minimum wage increased by 36 cents on Oct. 1, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.