Today’s meagre increase in the minimum wage to $11.06/hour, the second lowest in the country, leaves Saskatchewan workers struggling to make ends meet.
“When the minimum wage has been so low for so long, an extra dime an hour just doesn’t cut it,” said NDP Leader and Jobs Critic Ryan Meili. “People earning minimum wage work incredibly hard, and they’re still falling behind because of this conservative government’s inaction. No one should be working full time and still living in poverty.”
Speaking at Saskatoon business, The Better Good, Meili committed to phasing in an increase in the minimum wage to $15/hour within the first term of an NDP government.
“The evidence is clear: raising the minimum wage improves health outcomes, decreasing public costs for social supports, and improves the economy through increased local spending without negatively impact employment,” said Meili.
“When workers earn enough to meet their families’ needs, everyone does better, including local businesses,” said Laura Neufeld. Her small business, The Better Good, has been a Living Wage employer since 2014. “I’ve seen firsthand the positive difference paying good wages makes in both the success of my business and the lives of my employees.”
Toronto-based economist Armine Yalnizyan also touts the benefits of a higher minimum wage. “When lower-income households see a sustained rise in incomes, they spend virtually all of it, and almost all of this spending stays in the local economy,” said Yalnizyan. “Boost the minimum wage and you boost the economy from the bottom up.”
Alberta, whose economy is growing much faster than Saskatchewan’s, saw their minimum wage increase to $15 an hour today. That means a full time worker in Alberta is seeing a larger monthly raise ($212) than a worker in our province will see all year ($182).
“Slow-walking the minimum wage hurts people and stunts our economic growth,” said Labour Relations Critic Warren McCall. “The Sask. Party government is ignoring this vital economic stimulus tool and the economy is suffering for it. Saskatchewan people deserve better.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.