With condos selling for 18 million dollars (and that’s an apartment, not a building) it seems pretty clear that the current minimum wage in B. C., isn’t keeping British Columbians, especially those in the larger centers above the poverty line.
The province’s opposition party, the NDP has begun the debate to try and force the provincial government to increase the current minimum wage from $8.00 to 10 dollars (not to mention the entry rate wage level of $6.00, for which we assume there is a wonderful cardboard box, split available somewhere). The talking points on wages are in a bid to try and improve the lot of the working poor, who must gaze up at those towers of gold in The best place on earth (TM), with more than envy in their hearts.
An increase in the low end of the province’s pay scales, most likely won’t help anyone reading this blog as they dream of 18 million dollar apartments with a view, but a subtle increase as the one recommended, could at least maybe help make the next insurance payment on the car that gets you to work or maybe help bring in some extra groceries for the family.
The call for an increase comes on the heels of the government’s improvement to their own remuneration scales, which recently saw the Premier realize a 54 per cent increase in his salary.
The issue was addressed at the recent UBCM bunfest in Vancouver, where municipal delegates from across the province, discussed and recommended that the increase be made.
There is some opposition to the plan, as some business leaders claim that an increase in the minimum wage could make the difference between profit and loss, but in an era where residents of the province’s cities and towns have seen a giant increase in their expenses at home, the need for a raise has never been more required or indeed more urgent.
The Wednesday Daily News examined the NDP’s position including the comments of the local MLA Gary Coons.
'Raise B.C. minimum wage now' demands NDP leader
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Pages one and three
NDP MLA Gary Coons is joining his party leader in calling for the B.C. Liberals to respect hard-working British Columbians and alleviate poverty by raising the minimum wage, after the debate on NDP leader Carole James' bill calling for an increase in the wage was cut short on Monday.
"It's abundantly clear, whether one wants to rely on studies or old fashioned common sense, that most people working for the eight dollar minimum wage in British Columbia are living in poverty," said Coons.
"A person who is working full-time should not be living from pay cheque to pay cheque, constantly on the brink of financial disaster."
Earlier this year, James introduced the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, 2007, but the government refused to take action on it.
"It's appalling that the B.C. Liberals won't debate a bill that will give B.C.'s lowest paid workers their first raise in six years. And it's unacceptable that while our minimum wage earners struggle to make ends meet, Premier Campbell has given himself a 54 per cent pay increase," said James.
Housing prices in British Columbia have been rising for years.
Recently, Miloon Kothari, the United Nations' special rapporteur on adequate housing, was in Vancouver to assess the state of homelessness in the province's biggest city. He found disturbing levels of homelessness in the city, despite the province's booming economy.
"The U.N. has declared homelessness a 'national emergency' in Canada, yet the Campbell Liberal government refuses to acknowledge its policies on issues like the minimum wage are contributing to homelessness and financial insecurity for the province's lowest paid earners," said Coons.
"Petitions signed by thousands and thousands of people all across British Columbia have been ignored.
"Individuals and most city councils across the province are asking this government to increase the minimum wage to $10 and tie further increases to inflation; their message is clear: the government needs to act now to alleviate poverty in British Columbia."
"We all have heard that this premier seems intent on changing his image," said James.
"He says, in fact, that it was wrong to fight against justice for aboriginal people. This premier says he now sees the light when it comes to climate change. Now, both of those reversals, as we all know, are bogged down by the premier's short attention span and his penchant for getting headlines instead of actually taking action.
"But I'm going to give this one to the premier, because here's one where he can actually show that he has a commitment to do something different."
The province’s opposition party, the NDP has begun the debate to try and force the provincial government to increase the current minimum wage from $8.00 to 10 dollars (not to mention the entry rate wage level of $6.00, for which we assume there is a wonderful cardboard box, split available somewhere). The talking points on wages are in a bid to try and improve the lot of the working poor, who must gaze up at those towers of gold in The best place on earth (TM), with more than envy in their hearts.
An increase in the low end of the province’s pay scales, most likely won’t help anyone reading this blog as they dream of 18 million dollar apartments with a view, but a subtle increase as the one recommended, could at least maybe help make the next insurance payment on the car that gets you to work or maybe help bring in some extra groceries for the family.
The call for an increase comes on the heels of the government’s improvement to their own remuneration scales, which recently saw the Premier realize a 54 per cent increase in his salary.
The issue was addressed at the recent UBCM bunfest in Vancouver, where municipal delegates from across the province, discussed and recommended that the increase be made.
There is some opposition to the plan, as some business leaders claim that an increase in the minimum wage could make the difference between profit and loss, but in an era where residents of the province’s cities and towns have seen a giant increase in their expenses at home, the need for a raise has never been more required or indeed more urgent.
The Wednesday Daily News examined the NDP’s position including the comments of the local MLA Gary Coons.
'Raise B.C. minimum wage now' demands NDP leader
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Pages one and three
NDP MLA Gary Coons is joining his party leader in calling for the B.C. Liberals to respect hard-working British Columbians and alleviate poverty by raising the minimum wage, after the debate on NDP leader Carole James' bill calling for an increase in the wage was cut short on Monday.
"It's abundantly clear, whether one wants to rely on studies or old fashioned common sense, that most people working for the eight dollar minimum wage in British Columbia are living in poverty," said Coons.
"A person who is working full-time should not be living from pay cheque to pay cheque, constantly on the brink of financial disaster."
Earlier this year, James introduced the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, 2007, but the government refused to take action on it.
"It's appalling that the B.C. Liberals won't debate a bill that will give B.C.'s lowest paid workers their first raise in six years. And it's unacceptable that while our minimum wage earners struggle to make ends meet, Premier Campbell has given himself a 54 per cent pay increase," said James.
Housing prices in British Columbia have been rising for years.
Recently, Miloon Kothari, the United Nations' special rapporteur on adequate housing, was in Vancouver to assess the state of homelessness in the province's biggest city. He found disturbing levels of homelessness in the city, despite the province's booming economy.
"The U.N. has declared homelessness a 'national emergency' in Canada, yet the Campbell Liberal government refuses to acknowledge its policies on issues like the minimum wage are contributing to homelessness and financial insecurity for the province's lowest paid earners," said Coons.
"Petitions signed by thousands and thousands of people all across British Columbia have been ignored.
"Individuals and most city councils across the province are asking this government to increase the minimum wage to $10 and tie further increases to inflation; their message is clear: the government needs to act now to alleviate poverty in British Columbia."
"We all have heard that this premier seems intent on changing his image," said James.
"He says, in fact, that it was wrong to fight against justice for aboriginal people. This premier says he now sees the light when it comes to climate change. Now, both of those reversals, as we all know, are bogged down by the premier's short attention span and his penchant for getting headlines instead of actually taking action.
"But I'm going to give this one to the premier, because here's one where he can actually show that he has a commitment to do something different."
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