/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Student and community groups call for $14 minimum wage and $5 billion boost to the economy/

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - On November 14, community, labour and student groups across Ontario will be calling on Members of Provincial Parliament to support a $5 billion boost to the economy by raising the minimum wage to $14. Students on dozens of campuses will join the day of action, calling for a $14 minimum wage and highlighting concerns about rising student debt and low-wage jobs for students.

Community members across Ontario will present over-sized cheques to over 50 MPPs representing the $5 billion boost a minimum wage increase would generate for the Ontario economy.

What:	Student and community Raise the Minimum Wage day of action
Date:	November 14, 2013
Time:	Various times.
Locations:	Actions will be taking place in Barrie, Brampton, Brantford, Burlington, Chatham, Guelph, Hamilton, Kenora, Kingston, Kitchener, Lindsay, London, Mississauga, Oakville, Oshawa, Ottawa, Oxford, Peterborough, Toronto, St. Catharines, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins and York Region.

"It is possible to strengthen the local economy and create jobs," said Mary Long, President of the Hamilton and District Labour Council. "A minimum wage increase puts money in workers' pockets and over $5 billion into our local economy. That's good news for everyone." 

"Ontario students are contending with the highest tuition fees in the country, unprecedented levels of student debt and high youth unemployment," says Alastair Wood, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "With more and more students and young people working in low-wage jobs during school and after graduation, raising the minimum wage would immediately improve the lives of Ontario students and youth."

For more information on the campaign, visit: www.raisetheminimumwage.ca.

Follow the campaign Twitter account @fairwagesnow and hashtag #14now.

The Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage is coordinated by ACORN, Freedom 90, Mennonite New Life Centre, OCAP, Ontario Campaign 2000, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Put Food in the Budget, Social Planning Toronto, Toronto and York Region Labour Council and Workers' Action Centre.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario represents more than 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students in all regions of the province. 

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario

For information on campus actions:
Kaley Kennedy
[phone] or [phone]
[email protected]

For information on MPP actions:
Sonia Singh 
[phone] or [phone], ext. 221
[email protected]

Local contacts:

Barrie:     David Bradbury: [phone]

Brampton/Mississauga:  Motilall Sarjoo (Sarj): [phone]

Brantford:   Garry MacDonald: [phone]

Burlington:   Cathy Stokes: [email protected]

Chatham:   Jeff McFadden: [phone]

Guelph:    Peter Miller: [phone], [email protected]

Hamilton:   Mary Long: [phone] x1

Kingston:    Lisa Marion: [phone]

Kitchener:   Ian Stumpf: [phone], [email protected]

Lindsay:   James Mulhern: [phone]

London:   [email protected]

Oakville:    Dave Millar: [phone]

Oshawa:   Jim Freeman: [phone], [email protected]

Ottawa:    Jill O'Rielly: [phone], [email protected]

Oxford:     Broderick Carey: [phone]

Peterborough:      Paul Brown: [phone], [email protected]

Toronto:   Sonia Singh: [phone], [email protected]

St. Catharines:    [phone]

Sault Ste. Marie:    Dave Pettalia: [phone]

Sudbury:    Shelley Condratto, [phone] ext. 4356

Thunder Bay:   Terri Carter: [phone], [email protected]

Timmins:   J.P. Desilets: [phone]

York Region:   Yvonne Kelly: [phone], [email protected]