Advocates say latest increase to minimum wage in Nova Scotia isn’t good enough

CITYnews halifax /  /By Dan Ahlstrand

Advocates say the recently announced increase to minimum wage in Nova Scotia isn’t good enough as people struggle with a high cost of living. The province announced on Wednesday that the minimum wage will increase by 20 cents as of April 1st.

The Houston government said that the increase is based on recommendations from the Minimum Wage Review Committee to adjust the wage based on the National Consumer Price Index plus one percentage point.

Danny Cavanagh, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, who sits on the wage review committee, said he was the lone dissenting voice in the report the group handed to the government in December.

“I’m not suggesting that we need to close it overnight.” Said Cavanagh. “I think this needs to be an indexing plan that will be workable solutions for all parties.”

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Nova Scotia Director Christine Saulnier said that a 20-cent per hour increase isn’t enough for people to get by.

“There are misconceptions about who we are talking about here,” said Saulnier. “They are not students, not high school students, not working part-time, many are working full time.”

Jill Balser, Nova Scotia’s Labour Minister, says the minimum wage review committee hears perspectives of employees and employers, saying that ensures a balanced approach to increasing the minimum wage.