Business advocate makes plea to government on minimum wage

With economic indicators showing deteriorating conditions, one business advocate is taking a stand on behalf of small business owners.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is urging provincial lawmakers to cancel a planned increase to the minimum wage.

Given the state of the economy, CFIB addressed concerns over the wage increase and subsequent effects on small businesses in an open letter to Ontario labour minister Peter Fonseca.

"Let's remember that small and medium sized employers not only employ more than half of all working Ontarians, but they also do whatever they can to hold onto their valued employees, even if it means a cut in their own pay," said CFIB's Ontario director Satinder Chera.
 
Instead of a wage bump, Chera and the CFIB suggest increasing the amount workers can earn tax free.  This would give low-wage earners more disposable income and at the same time not hinder small business owners, according to Chera.
 
Ontario has witnessed the minimum wage hike 28 percent since 2004, the CFIB says.

---------------------------------------------

Copyright NEBS Canada Business Products.

For more than 30 years, Canadian small business owners have turned to NEBS to help start, manage and grow their business.