Ontario May Delay Minimum Wage Hike
Posted March 27, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The ink’s barely dry on this year’s provincial budget, and already, there’s talk of changes.
Less than one day after the government’s blueprint for recovery was unveiled, a key commitment is in doubt. Premier Dalton McGuinty says although Wednesday’s planned minimum wage hike will go ahead, bringing the rate to $9.50 an hour from $8.75, next year’s increase to $10.25 an hour may have to be put off, depending on the state of the economy.
No surprise, the opposition parties have something to say about the about-face.
“To see 24 hours later Dalton McGuinty is changing his mind – it’s an embarrassing lack of leadership. And I’m embarrassed by the minister’s answers today,” stressed PC Tim Hudak.
And although some believe the finance minister was sideswiped by an off-the-cuff comment by the premier, NDP leader Andrea Horwath says that’s no excuse.
“If it was off-the-cuff, then he should get a cuff across the head because it’s not good news for the people of Ontario and for the hardest working people living in poverty right now,” she noted.
And minimum wage earners aren’t impressed either.
“They’re all helping the big boys, and the small guys are just going down,” argued Carlo Paperela.
Any number of the promises in the budget could be thrown out if economic conditions change. But the finance minister insists the sales tax harmonization and cheques for families earning less than $160,000 are ironclad.
