Minimum wage increase not enough to lift students out of poverty

TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Ontario students applaud Premier Kathleen Wynne for announcing a minimum wage increase effective June 1, but strongly believe the government must commit to a $14 minimum wage tied to inflation. Labour, community and student groups have been calling on the Liberal government to increase the minimum wage to $14, which would bring the incomes of minimum wage earners working full-time to 10 per cent above the poverty line.

"That the Ontario government is committing to an increase at all is a testament to the hard work put in to make minimum wage a political issue," said Alastair Woods, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "However $11 is still legislating poverty, and the government must be bold enough to commit to an increase that will help hard-working Ontarians make ends meet."

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario has been actively involved in the Raise the Minimum Wage campaign coordinated by the Workers Action Centre and made an official submission to the minimum wage advisory panel. The submission recommended an immediate increase of the minimum wage to $14 followed by increases tied to the rate of inflation, an end to unpaid internships, and the elimination of the differential "student wage" for youth under the age of 18.

"With the highest tuition fees in the country and increasingly expensive costs of living, many students rely on part-time, minimum wage jobs to pay for rent, school, groceries and transportation," said Woods. "There is still time for the government to do the right thing for students and working people in this province and implement a $14 minimum wage."

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is the provinces oldest and largest student organization representing over 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students in every region of Ontario.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario

Kaley Kennedy, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator: [phone] or [email protected]

Alastair Woods, Chairperson: [phone] or [email protected]