High approval rate for minimum wage hike
Two- thirds of Ontario residents support the province’s minimum wage increase, although the perception of whether it will benefit the economy breaks down largely along party lines, according to a new poll.
The survey by Forum Research, which questioned 1,022 random Ontario voters, found that 62 per cent of those who responded were in favour of the increase, which saw the minimum wage jump from $ 11.60 to $14, with 38 per cent strongly in favour.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the survey showed those who make the least are most enthusiastic about the change. Of those who make between $20,000 and $40,000, 74 per cent favoured the hike. The survey was conducted between Jan. 11 and 13.
“We’re not surprised by the high approval rate,” Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research, said. “I think it seems like free money to people, so what’s not to like?
“But what is surprising is that support for the move is spread across all income groups. A lot of people are in favour, even though they themselves aren’t affected.”
Seventy- three per cent of people aged 65 and over voiced approval, as did 70 per cent of women and nine out of 10 Ontario Liberal Party supporters. Seven per cent offered no firm opinion.
One- third of responders disapproved of the move, which was considered a negative by 40 per cent of all men surveyed. Among those who vote Progressive Conservative, 53 per cent thought the raise was a bad idea.
However, people earning between $ 40,000 and $ 100,000 showed no more than 37- per- cent disapproval across four wage brackets, indicating many higher earners were in favour of the increase.
The 20- per- cent increase in the minimum wage has seen business owners lash out about unsustainable costs, and the public rebuke them for attempts to pass the hike on to employees and customers.
Owners have few options, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
“It’s only the middle of January and already we’re hearing about prices going up and jobs being cut,” said Julie Kwiecinski, director of provincial affairs for Ontario at the CFIB.
Her group conducted a survey of 2,906 Ontario business owners in December, with over half saying they had already increased prices with 2019’s $ 15 minimum wage in mind.
“It’s free to the government; the government doesn’t pay for it,” she said of the wage increase. “This is not about helping low- wage earners. It’s about getting reelected.”
John Isbister, an economics professor at Ryerson University, cited the recent Tim Hortons case as a sign that employers are on edge, but he isn’t sure it’s for good reason.
“I’m not persuaded by the people who are so distressed,” he said. “I think that’s an overreaction. Most businesses are going to figure out how to cope.”
Some 45 per cent of respondents felt the increase to the minimum wage would ser ve t he Ontario economy well; 38 per cent said it won’t. Around one- sixth think nothing will change.
How voters perceived the impact to the economy broke down along party lines, with 76 per cent of Liberal voters believing it will have a positive impact on the economy, while 59 per cent of Conservative voters said it will have a negative effect.