After businessman floats $20 minimum wage, Quebec minister says no, but a hike is coming
Raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour would create a "significant economic shock," warned Quebec's labour and employment minister, Jean Boulet, on Wednesday.
With that, the Legault government closed the door to a proposal from the chairman of Cogeco's board of directors, Louis Audet.
He advocated the measure of "social justice" as a way of reducing income disparities.
In a press scrum Wednesday in the National Assembly, Boulet dismissed an increase that would send the current hourly rate on a jump of almost 50 per cent, from $13.50 to $20.
Legault has set himself the goal of reducing the wage gap with Ontario's average wage, but it will not be by increasing the minimum wage, said Boulet.
"We must go there gradually," said Mr. Boulet.
If the hourly rate suddenly goes to $20, "there would likely be layoffs," he said, because companies wouldn't be able to pay.
He also said there could be an increase in the dropout rate among students who would be attracted to leaving school to go straight into the job market.
"You have to be careful," he said
Boulet nevertheless hinted at a "significant increase" in the minimum wage next May due to the current upward pressure on wages.
He said he wanted to reminded reporters that the current calculation mechanism to set the minimum wage provides that it must equal 50 per cent of the average hourly rate in Quebec, which he said is currently around $26 to $27.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 27, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.