NSNDP

October 1st, 2018

Nova Scotia again has lowest minimum wage in the country, NDP calls for $15/hour

Halifax - This morning, Nova Scotia became the province with the lowest minimum wage in the country and Alberta became the first province in Canada to reach a minimum wage of $15 per hour. The NDP Caucus will introduce legislation tomorrow to boost the minimum wage in Nova Scotia to $15 an hour by 2020.

“Ontario and Alberta have dramatically increased their minimum wages, and the results are impressive, leading to higher incomes, job growth, and more opportunities,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “This is what we need here in Nova Scotia. Our economy can’t grow if we are stuck as the lowest minimum wage jurisdiction in the country.”

As many as 130,000 Nova Scotians work for wages below $15 per hour. An increase in minimum wage would improve workers’ buying power. Many small business owners also support a higher minimum wage.

"A starting wage of $15 lets our staff know they are valued, and also lessens turnover which means less time and money spent on training," said Marshall Haywood, owner of Venus Envy in Halifax. "A $15 minimum wage means more people will have more money to spend in the local economy, and ultimately that will help small businesses in Nova Scotia."

The NDP bill would increase the minimum wage to $13 on August 1, 2019 and $15 by April 2020. The legislation also eliminates the ‘training wage’ for inexperienced employees.

-30-