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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-06-07, Page 66 Signal Star • Wednesday, June 7,2017 110100 Goderich ngstar Minimum wage increase VOL. 26 – ISSUE 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 Signal Star Publishing 120 Huckins St. Goderich ON N7A 3X8 519-524-2614 www.goderichsignalstar.com POSTMEDIA JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales jbauman@postmedia.com ext. 232 JANET SHRIER Office Manager jashrier@postmedia.com ext. 220 KATHLEEN SMITH Editor katsmith@postmedia.com ext. 211 SUSAN MCINTOSH Sales smcintosh@postmedia.com ext. 228 TARA CORRAN Sales tcorran@postmedia.com ext. 230 STACEY SCOTT Inside Sales sscott@postmedia.com ext. 229 RHONDA BUTT Accounting rhbutt@postmedia.com MARY JOHNSTON Accounts Receivable majohnston@postmedia.com Death to small businesses or time to move on to a living wage? Kathleen Smith Goderich Signal Star nnounced last week, the Ontario minimum wage would he increased in phases, with a 31.6% increase. Ontario is the second prov- ince to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, second behind Alberta. Currently, other provinces such as British Columbia, New- foundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Saskatche- wan all provide a minimum wage of just under $11 per hour. The increase in minimum wage and further changes to workplace laws in what can be CURTIS ARMSTRONG titled as a massive labour over - Group Director of Media Sales haul, will ensure equal pay or 519 376-2250 ext. 514301 or part time workers and will 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 increase the minimum vaca- Editorial Deadline - Friday 2 p.m. tion entitlement. Advertising booking deadline - Friday 1:30 p.m. The announcement made last week by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne that the Ontario minimum wage would increase to $15 an hour, sparked a multitude of reactions. Publications Mail Agreement For the part and full time No.40064683 workers, this increase in wages benefits them greatly, making a positive difference in millions of people's lives. The small or independent businesses might see slow job growth, and be placed in a diffi- cult position in regards to the possibility of having to slash jobs or cut hours. The small businesses in our communities do not share the larger profit margins of big businesses, and will be forced to make difficult choices. No matter the side of the SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $50.00 includes GST (12 months) Seniors $50.00 includes GST (14 months) US $249.00 plus GST Foreign $416.40 plus GST Single Copy $1.50 includes GST RETURN UNDELNERAUE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 120 Huckins St, Goderich ON N7A 3X8 For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: 519-524-2614 Goderich Signal Star is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. coin, it is quite remarkable that OCf the Ontario government has uanaua" decided upon an increase of minimum wage, in an econ- omy where the current $11.10 an hour simply is not cutting it for those trying to put food on their table and support a family. Premier Kathleen Wynne was quoted when the announce- ment was made, on how change in the workplace is here and happening now: "People are working longer, jobs are less secure, benefits are harder to come by and protec- tions are fewer and fewer. In a time of change like this, when the very nature of work is being transformed, we need to make certain that our workers are treated fairly. It has always been a challenge to raise a family on a minimum wage job, but in recent years, it has become almost impossible. And the real- ity is, more and more people are having to do it." In addition to an increase of minimum wage, workplace laws will also go through a reform. 'there will be fairer rules for. scheduling, including making employers pay three hours of wages if they cancel a shift with fewer than /18 hours notice. Will the increase of minimum wage over the next 18 months be severely detrimental to the life of small and independent businesses? Will the increase to $15 an hour make much of a positive difference in the lives of those working part and full time jobs when in the end, their employ- ers are forced to cut hours or positions in order to maintain successful businesses? The cost of living is ever changing, yet minimum wages (in some cases going towards workers with jobs that most of us would not want to do) remain too low to live comfort- ably, without worrying and having to decide upon paying bills on time or putting food on the table. Perhaps it is time that mini- mum wage was eradicated and the government of Canada announcedthat living wage would replace the $15 an hour. A living wage is the minimum income that is necessary for a worker to meet basic needs, • such as food, clothing, rent, childcare, transportation and small savings. When each town, city and province ranges in cost of rent, cost of groceries, cost of clothing and cost of childcare, the living wage would be cal- culated for a result that is rele- vant to where the worker is living. For instance, the cost of living is much less here in Goderich than in Toronto, yet minimum wage remains the same amount. So when someone settles in Toronto or any other metropo- lis, and is earning minimum wage, it becomes harder and harder for those workers to afford just to live. I believe that everyone deserves the right to live com- fortably and be able to afford the cost of living no matter where they are living. Something needs to change. As incredible as the increase in minimum wage is for workers and their families that will ben- efit from this decision, the cost of living still varies greatly. A living wage is a more appropriate reform in an attempt to mend the issues many families are facing due to low wages and high cost of living. I suppose we should cele- brate the victories we have hap- pening now and continue to strive to maintain Canada as one of the greatest countries in the world. It is admirable and incredible that the provincial government decided to increase the mini- mum wage and improve work- place laws. "'hat they decided to File photo Last week, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that by 2019, the Ontario minimum wage would increase from $11.40 to $15 an hour. stand behind the part time workers of this great province who deserve the same benefits and protections the rest of us are privy to. We should celebrate in this victory for the workers, espe- cially as other countries around the world are struggling with much more dire situations. We should be proud that we have a government willing to reform laws to benefit more than the top earners and unionized companies. Change happens constantly and this change was an improvement in labour in Ontario, but we must never fall complacent. The cost of living remains high for many, and although the minimum wage will increase, many workers and families will continue to struggle. If workers are making a decent living and have less financial worries, they can have a stronger focus on their work and motivation to do well in their position, which in turn will have a positive domino effect on the business. Perhaps this victory in labour and the increase of minimum wage will positively change the lives of millions of workers. In an ever-changing world, perhaps our next victory will be a celebration of replacing the min- imum wage with the living wage. - with files from the National Post. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Signal Star welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verifica- tion). Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. Let- ters must he signed and he in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander.