Why in a civilized society should hard working people who work diligently at full time jobs not earn enough to make ends meet? There has to be something seriously wrong with our system for this to occur right here in Ontario, but we aren’t doing anything to fix it.

On March 31st Ontario’s general minimum wage increased to $8.75 from $8.00. With the new minimum wage increase in place the pay cheque for a 40-hour week will be $350 before deductions. Yearly increases are planned, with the goal of reaching $10.25 in 2010. However, according to New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo of Parkdale-High Park, the poverty line right now is $10.25. Approximately 200,000 people living in Ontario currently earn the minimum wage. And, approximately 1.2 million people living in Ontario currently earn less that $10.00 per hour. Do the math. This means that almost 1.5 million full time workers in Ontario are currently living in poverty. This is unconscionable!

Ms DiNovo plans to introduce a private member’s bill calling for a minimum wage of $11.00 hourly within three years. Anti-poverty activists agree. People must be able to work at jobs that they can survive on. However many economists are saying that the increase in minimum wage with lead to job losses. There are studies to prove the theory. But, there are studies that prove that raising the minimum wage does not lead to job losses. Both sides agree that raising the minimum wage in an economic downturn will lead to the trimming of jobs. But, wouldn’t that happen in an economic downturn with or without an increase in minimum wage?

I don’t know what the answer is but I do know that the minimum wage should ensure that anyone working full time is not living in poverty.