Provincial NDP leader Horwath commits to $20 minimum wage
Posted November 30, 2021 10:27 am.
Last Updated November 30, 2021 10:49 am.
A substantial jump in Ontario’s minimum wage by May 2026 is what NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is promising if elected as the province’s premier in June.
Horwath made the announcement about her plan to guarantee workers a $20 minimum wage at Queen’s Park on Tuesday.
Respect is more than just saying thank you, or calling folks heroes. It means paying people a wage that pays the bills.
As Premier I’ll make the minimum wage $20 an hour, increased gradually by the end of my first term.
Let’s get it done. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/9nminLbWpQ
— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) November 30, 2021
She says that dollar amount can be reached within her first term through steady, stable increases that will begin next October following the provincial election in the summer.
“Whether you are stocking grocery store shelves or cleaning a hospital you deserve respect. All workers deserve respect. Respect is not just saying thank you and calling someone a hero. Respect means paying people a wage that pays the bills,” said Horwath.
The NDP’s wage increase also includes a plan to raise the minimum wage by $1 each year until the $20 an hour goal is reached.
“The price of everything is going up – from gas to housing to hydro bills – and with Doug Ford’s low-wage policy, everyone is feeling the squeeze. Minimum wage earners are working their tails off and still can’t get ahead of the bills. They make sacrifices to buy the necessities for the kids, and often pick up a second or even third job to make ends meet,” added Horwath.
Early last month, Premier Doug Ford said the general minimum wage would increase from $14.35 to $15 per hour on Jan. 1.
In addition, Horwath’s plan offers local businesses a stable, predictable path so they can be prepared for any changes, and will also include a fund to help struggling small and medium sized local businesses, farms and agribusinesses.
