St. Catharines submitting application to be living wage employer
City commits to paying employees, contractors base amount by 2024
The City of St. Catharines will submit an application to the Ontario Living Wage Network to become a living wage employer after a unanimous vote by city council Monday.
By sending its application, the city is committing to paying all of its direct and indirect employees a living wage by Dec. 31, 2024.
Anne Coleman, Ontario Living Wage Network program manager, told council a living wage is good for people, business and the community.
“When people have a living wage, they’re less stressed, they’re healthier, they have a greater sense of well-being and the money that they have is something that’s going right back into the local economy and supporting local business,” Coleman said.
A living wage is the hourly wage that a worker actually needs to cover basic expenses and have a little extra to participate in the community. A living wage varies from community to community based on costs.
Niagara’s living wage is calculated at $18.12 an hour, an increase from Ontario’s minimum wage of $14.25 an hour.
To be certified as a living wage employer, the city must make a commitment to pay all of its full-time, part-time and contracted employees at least a living wage and to do it by a certain date.
There are three levels of living wage certification. The city already complies with the base “supporter” level which requires all full-time staff be paid the living wage.
The “leader” level expands the living wage to all part-time employees. The final “champion” level requires external thirdparty businesses to pay a living wage to employees who provide services in city facilities.
The largest of those contractors in St. Catharines is Meridian Centre operator ASM Global.
The city is committing to a deadline of Dec. 31, 2024, to achieve all three levels after consultation with the Ontario Living Wage Network.
“You’re really setting a great example for other employers in St. Catharines, in Niagara region and in the province,” Coleman told councillors, thanking
them for making the move.
If the city doesn’t meet the target deadline, its living wage employer status could be removed and it wouldn’t be able to use the living wage branding or logo.
Council has been exploring the living wage idea since February 2019 when Merritton Coun. Greg Miller asked for a staff report on financial implications.
In November 2020, council directed staff to seek certification at the supporter level and asked them to develop a comprehensive compensation strategy. A staff report Monday recommended council approve the submission of the application and execute a certification licence agreement.
St. Patrick’s Coun. Karrie Porter said with rent going up so much in Niagara she is thrilled to see the application go forward.
“I do think municipalities should be taking a leadership role and setting the bar,” she said.
The staff report said the estimated cost to achieve the living wage status will be a $566,500 increase to the base operating budget. A review of below market non-union salaries still has to happen and the report said addressing that could cost an additional $1.5 million to $1.9 million.
The council motion will be sent to the board of St. Catharines Public Library, St. Catharines Transit and Firstontario Performing Arts Centre for their consideration. Those boards would have to make separate applications if they choose to embrace the concept.
Niagara Poverty Reduction Network lists 46 living wage employers in the region, including large and small businesses, eateries and non-profit agencies.