Ontario's general minimum wage has been raised to $10.25 an hour on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010. This is an incredible leap from the older $6.85 minimum wage, which was frozen in place for nearly a decade. Even with this massive leap, a minimum wage job will not lift a full time worker above the poverty line. Are more increases expected? Unfortunately, last weeks provincial budget did not answer this question. Ontario cannot afford to fall behind again on minimum wages. The size and time of the next increase is something for debate. Besides a decent wage, the working poor also need full-time jobs, affordable housing, and subsidized child care. Ultimately, they need more opportunities to move beyond minimum wage jobs into employment that can support a better standard of living.
I believe that raising the minimum wage for Canadians is a good first step out of poverty. However, we cannot expect to keep raising how much people are paid if they do not work for themselves to get hired. Many people nowadays do not wish to work for payment. The rely on government funding and the charity of others to get them through the day. I believe that just as important as raising the minimum wage, the government should make getting a job seem more appealing. If the minimum wage is increased, but the eagerness to get a job is not, will this really accomplish anything? The government needs to get workers into jobs before raising how much money they earn. Only then can the poverty in Canada be dealt with.
I believe that raising the minimum wage for Canadians is a good first step out of poverty. However, we cannot expect to keep raising how much people are paid if they do not work for themselves to get hired. Many people nowadays do not wish to work for payment. The rely on government funding and the charity of others to get them through the day. I believe that just as important as raising the minimum wage, the government should make getting a job seem more appealing. If the minimum wage is increased, but the eagerness to get a job is not, will this really accomplish anything? The government needs to get workers into jobs before raising how much money they earn. Only then can the poverty in Canada be dealt with.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/787848--minimum-wage-stalled
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