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Minimum wage in Ontario is still at a minimum, critics say

Starting tomorrow, the province's minimum wage is set to increase by 15 cents an hour.

Advocates want the province to make minimum wage $15 an hour

CBC News ·
More and more U.S. states have gone to $15 minimum wage. In Canada, Alberta will be implementing a $15 minimum wage in 2018. (Lynne Sladky/Associated Press)

Starting Saturday, the province's minimum wage is set to increase by 15 cents an hour.

Hourly pay will go from $11.25 to $11.40.

But the NDP wants that figure raised even higher.

The New Democrat MPP for Nickel Belt says her party supports a minimum wage of $15 an hour.

"More and more U.S. states have gone to a $15 minimum wage," France Gelinas said.

"Here in Canada, we have Alberta who will be implementing a $15 minimum wage in 2018, so I wish Ontario would move in that direction. The sooner, the better."

Nicole Beaulieu is the director of labour programs and services for the Sudbury and Nipissing Districts of the United Way. She says bringing minimum wage to $15 per hour "would bring most people in Ontario 10 per cent above the poverty line. (Olivia Stefanovich/CBC)

'Not enough'

Nicole Beaulieu says she constantly hears from people who are struggling to get by on minimum wage.

Beaulieu, who works for the United Way in Sudbury and Nipissing, says minimum wage as it currently sits, is simply not enough.

"You need to usually plan ahead and try and pick between can I afford bills right now? Can I afford rent right now? Do I have to forego something to be able to afford food tomorrow?"

Beaulieu says minimum wage needs to be brought up to 15 dollars an hour.

"That would bring most people in Ontario ten per cent above the poverty line."

A woman with a large tray of full plates in front of her holds a small notepad. Another person holds a plate behind and to her left, while a third person, in the background on the right, appears to be placing something on a plate.
Ontario's minimum wage will rise from $11.25 to $11.40 per hour. But critics say the wage should be boosted to $15 per hour. (Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)

Increasing spending power

The executive director of the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre agrees.

"Studies have shown that with the rise of minimum wage, it helps people put more money into the local economy," Jenny Fortin told CBC News.

"So it helps boost the local economy. When you give people more spending power, then they spend it locally. Then they go to the movies. They're able to support farmers and local industries."

This is the third consecutive annual increase in the minimum wage.

But Fortin says it's just not enough.

"The government is literally nickeling and diming us with this increase."

The hourly pay for students is increasing from $10.55 to $10.70  an hour.

The wage for liquor servers is increasing from $9.80 to $9.90.

With files from Olivia Stefanovich. Edited and packaged by Wendy Bird.

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