Nunavut minister backtracks on highest minimum wage promise
Cost of living and cost of running a business to be considered before committing to rate
The Government of Nunavut is seeking feedback on its minimum wage rate. (Screenshot)
Nunavut’s justice minister has apologized for promising to introduce the highest minimum wage rate in Canada, saying proper consultation must be done first.
“At the present time we cannot commit to the final amount in which the minimum wage will be set,” Jeannie Ehaloak told members of the legislative assembly on Oct. 23.
On the first day of the fall sitting, Oct. 17, she told the house, “we will have the highest minimum wage in Canada.”
This was in response to a question from Hudson Bay MLA Allan Rumbolt about the minimum wage rate, and the survey the Department of Justice has launched to get feedback on the minimum wage rate.
Ehaloak said she did not mean to make this commitment, as the consultation process on this issue is still ongoing.
“First, we must do our proper consultation and due diligence to ensure individuals and private businesses in Nunavut have input and we can determine what impact an increase to minimum wage will have on Nunavummiut as a whole.”
She said the department is working hard in this area, reaching out to business owners to find a wage that would both support workers but keep businesses viable.
Drawing on Ehaloak’s comments, Rumbolt said he appreciated that a final dollar figure could not be put on the new minimum wage, but asked for a commitment that it would still be the highest in the country to fit the cost of living.
That, he said, could be somewhere around $16 or $17 an hour.
“My question for the minister is this: is the minister telling Nunavummiut today that the government is seriously prepared to have a minimum wage in place that is not the highest in Canada even though Nunavut has the highest cost of living in the nation?” Rumbolt asked.
Ehaloak responded: “At this time I cannot commit.”
The survey to get input on the minimum wage launched on Sept. 30. Ehaloak said once the department has reviewed responses from this and other consultation with businesses, it will determine an appropriate increase for the territory.
She said the input received on the minimum wage survey will be tabled and made available to all members.
The survey is open until Oct. 31.
It’s important we maintain the facade that we have “consulted” everyone. In some cases that makes sense of course, I’m not sure why it would in this one. It must be important to hear from those who might oppose a higher minimum wage; Northern, Arctic Cooperatives, perhaps? Just guessing.
Changing the minimum wage is a tricky business. Yes we live in the mostr expensive jurisdiction in Canada and the costs for everything is horrendous. So it seems a simple thing to up the minimum wage so people in minimum wage paying jobs will have more money to spend in their pockets. However, ask yourseld the question “which workplaces pay minimum wage?’ Generally it’s the stores, small businesses etc…..who can’t afford to pay the same rates as the GN or Iuit orgs etc…… so when you increase the minimum wage those increases will get passed along to the consumer for goods and services. Catch 22.
They should have increase the minimum wage awhile back, when the cost of food went higher…
A lot of ppl wonder why Nunavumiut mainly buy ready to eat food, as it’s much cheaper than fruit itself!!
Proper consultation in GN’s eyes is to consult business owners in this case. Individuals are left with filling out an online survey to participate in the said consultation.
I bring cashier at northern store, and not too many people buying groceries very expensive here too in pangnirtung.