Seeing more people joining a campaign for a $15 minimum wage in Quebec, employers are getting ready to push back.
The Canadian Press has learned that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business has launched a petition and a letter-writing campaign aimed at Labour Minister Dominique Vien.
On Tuesday Senior VP Martine Hebert said that even if spread over several years, an increase of minimum wage from $10.75 to $15 per hour "remains a raise of 40 percent" and that this "would not be without consequences" on employment and working hours.
Meanwhile the Quebec Council of Employers (Conseil du Patronat) said it is doing research on the topic.
CEO Yves-Thomas Dorval said the Council has hired an outside firm to research the topic and to question employers throughout the province.
So far, Dorval believes the Liberal government will resist the pressure, but he said it is always possible that the Liberals could bend.
Last week the 5-10-15 group launched a ten-day campaign to hike the minimum wage.
