Why is a $15 minimum wage good for business?
Armine Yalnizyan: Why? Because it increases purchasing power for ALL businesses. Consumers, especially in the biggest cities, are being squeezed by stagnant wages and rising housing costs. That means less truly disposable income for actually buying goods and services.
Dan Kelly: Those who argue that raising minimum wage helps business, and that it does not negatively affect employment, need to explain why $15 is the magic number. If higher minimum wages have zero negative consequences, why not hike to $100 per hour? Or do we admit that there is a level at which jobs and hours dry up, workers get replaced by technology and/or price hikes for everything eat up the higher income levels?
Armine Yalnizyan: Here are four pages of arguments on why $15 is about the right level right now. The point is to anchor it to some proportion (ideally 60 per cent) of the average hourly wage. We don't have to get all dramatic about $100 an hour minimum wages, but $11.40 just isn't anywhere near enough to get by, even if you are lucky enough to find a full time job at minimum wage.
Will we see price hikes in Ontario?
Dan Kelly: I've spoken to dozens of business owners who have told me they will have to hike their prices to accommodate the higher wages. Obviously labour isn't their only cost, but costs of almost all input — particularly those under government's control — have been rising fast, too. If prices go up, how are workers any further ahead?
Armine Yalnizyan: You are right that some businesses will pass on the cost through price hikes. Others won't, because they know by keeping prices low they can attract bigger market share and grow their top line.
Dan Kelly: And if they don't hike prices, where does the increased cost come from? The fantasy of those giant profits small business owners are taking home?
Armine Yalnizyan: Don't forget that 50 per cent of the minimum wage workers in Ontario work for big businesses (workplaces with more than 500 employees). Low wages help maximize profit. Period. Some establishments will take a little less in order to increase more sales.
Will a $15 minimum wage be good for Ontario? Two experts debate - CBC News | Opinion