Slapped down
Premier Wade MacLauchlan critical of chamber’s stand on minimum wage at annual meeting
Premier Wade MacLauchlan scolded the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday for its stand on the minimum wage increase earlier this year.
And MacLauchlan took the chamber to task for that stand at its own annual general meeting at the Delta Prince Edward.
“I do think the chamber probably gave itself a hit by saying as much as it did about the minimum wage recently,’’ MacLauchlan said.
“I do think on this (that) the business community and the chamber have to be thinking about how you can speak for the overall well-being of our province and of the economy that is represented by the chamber, and that needs to be communicated in a way that is about the overall welfare and well-being and prosperity of our community.’’
The minimum wage jumped to $11.25 per hour as of April 1.
The chamber expressed concern over the sudden announcement to raise the rate. It came on the heels of two provincial minimum wage increases in 2016.
“Our members continue to express concern about the pace of minimum wage increases in this province,’’ Penny Walsh McGuire, executive director of the chamber, said on Wednesday.
“It’s very difficult for business owners to adapt to a wage increase when only given one month’s notice – especially after two minimum wage increases were introduced in 2016.’’
The provincial government seems to agree.
Government announced in April that any future increases to P.E.I.’s minimum wage will be announced well in advance of the effective date, according to the minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning.
Sonny Gallant also told the legislature that any future changes to the minimum wage will always occur on April 1.
Beyond the chamber talk, MacLauchlan painted a rather rosy picture of P.E.I.’s economy, pointing out that in 2015 and 2016 P.E.I. had year-overyear growth of 2.4 per cent real growth in 2016, compared to 1.3 per cent for the rest of the country.
“And quite simply that is the recipe for our province to do what we need to do.’’
Exports were also healthy. P.E.I. led the other provinces in 2014 and 2015 and were again above the norm in 2016.
“Folks have heard me on this trade balance before. The more we can do to connect the gap between how much we buy and how much we sell is golden, in financial terms, in welfare (and) in our position and confidence as a province.’’
He pointed to the success of the Charlottetown Airport (traffic was up 16 per cent in 2016), the long-term commitment announced for the P.E.I.-Nova Scotia ferry service announced last week and the investment in wastewater work taking place in Charlottetown as evidence of great economic activity.