With recent wage hikes in other Canadian provinces such as Ontario and Alberta, Saskatchewan’s modest minimum wage is being re-evaluated by some groups and members of the province.
While Ontario made the boost to $14 an hour for its minimum wage just this month and as Alberta moves towards a $15 minimum wage later this year, Living Wage Saskatoon, an advocacy group in the city, is asking for a “living” wage of $16.19 in the city of Saskatoon.
According to its website, Living Wage Saskatoon notes that while a minimum wage is necessary, a living wage is something quite different. “A living wage reflects what an employee needs in order to live… this is the amount needed for an employee to remain healthy, productive, and support themselves and their families with confidence.”
The minimum wage boosts in Ontario and Alberta are not being hailed with delight in every corner as the Bank of Canada estimates that as many as 60,000 could be cut by 2019 if the wage hikes continue. They went on to also note that the number of jobs lost could be lower if hours worked were decreased.
In Saskatchewan, roughly 23,000 workers received the minimum wage of $10.96, an increase made in October 2017.
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