Time to raise the floor for all workers in Ontario with a $15 minimum wage: NDP

Today in the legislature, Parkdale-High Park NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo called on the Premier to support Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath’s call to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all Ontarians.

“In Ontario, over 750,000 workers are taking home a minimum wage that is simply too low to help anyone get ahead,” said DiNovo. “It is the responsibility of government to lift people up, to make life better and to make sure that people no longer have to work multiple jobs simply to make ends meet.” 

The appeal follows Horwath’s announcement last week at the Broadbent Institute’s Progress Summit 2016 in Ottawa that the Ontario New Democrats support a $15 minimum wage in Ontario. 

“Ontario’s New Democrats want to make it clear that if the Liberals won’t stand up for Ontarians, the people of Ontario will have a choice to make in two short years to elect one that will,” said DiNovo. “Fundamental change is needed to address a fundamentally changing workplace.” 

Premier Wynne dodged the question over to her Minister of Labour, who incorrectly claimed Ontario has the highest minimum wage in North America. 

DiNovo explained that, at the rate the Liberals are currently raising the minimum wage, it will not reach $15 in Ontario until 2037.