Labour bill clears hurdle on road to $15-an-hour minimum wage

It's full steam ahead with labour reforms that will increase the minimum wage to $14 an hour in January and $15 the year after.

Thestar.com
Aug. 22, 2017
By Robert Benzie

It's full steam ahead with labour reforms that will increase the minimum wage to $14 an hour in January and $15 the year after that.

A legislative committee studying the bill concluded its clause-by-clause work this week, setting the stage for its passage in the fall session of the legislature, which begins Sept. 11.

Labour Minister Kevin Flynn said Tuesday the legislation is "stronger and fairer," having been subjected to summer hearings held in 10 cities across the province.

"Our amendments will address some of the concerns of small businesses, while maintaining protections for workers," said Flynn.

"By adding a new separate leave for victims of domestic and sexual violence, we're giving victims and their families the time and support they need while they deal with tremendously difficult circumstances," he said.

Flynn noted the Liberals backed NDP amendments to increase "transparency and clarification" to the collective bargaining process for unionized workers.

The bill, which, unusually, was studied by a legislative committee after first reading, must now pass second reading and possibly another round of standing-committee scrutiny before third reading and enactment.

To offset the impact on businesses when it takes effect next year, Premier Kathleen Wynne has promised relief measures that will be unveiled in the months ahead.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the legislation still falls short of what workers need.

Horwath castigated the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives for not supporting the New Democrats' bid to have five days of paid emergency leave days for all workers, up from the Grits' proposed two, and an additional five unpaid days.

The Liberal plan allows for two paid days, after which workers can take up to eight days off for an emergency without pay.

As well, the NDP wanted three weeks of paid vacation after one year of employment, instead of the Liberals' pledge of that much time after five years at the same job. Workers are currently entitled to two weeks off.

Tory MPP John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) said his party had hoped for an economic impact analysis before moving forward with raising the hourly minimum wage from $11.40 now to $14 next year and $15 in 2019.

"You have to do one that is pertinent to Ontario. I want their homework to be done, so that we can understand what the economic impact of this is going to be: positive and negative," Yakabuski said in an interview.

"Some people are going to be affected positively; other people are going to be affected negatively. We need to know that. It's the old carpenter's rule: measure twice, cut once."

With the next provincial election set for June 7, 2018, Flynn indicated the Liberals plan to use the labour changes to campaign against the Tories, accusing PC leader Patrick Brown of having a "lack of commitment to Ontario workers.

"The fact his caucus stayed out of most of the discussion and debate shows (both) his party's disinterest in these much-needed reforms, and Brown's indifference when it comes to the rights of workers in this province."